The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-04-13
THE BOIL WEEVIL.
No Danger Of the Pest Via the Cotton
Meal Route.

Meal Route.
The Augusta Chronicle published
the following article on Monday morn
ing, which we are sure will be read
with interest by our farmers:
Editors Chronicle. In The Chroni-
Gle Of March 10 appeared an article,
is Cotton Seed Meal Infected?-Mr.
G. G. f. Hammond, OF Beech Island,
Confident That in This Way Boil
Weevil Pests Are Finding Their Way
to Georgia and South Carolina MIR.
Hammond is quoted as saying he is
confident that cotton seed meal i'm
ported from Texas would be found
infected in many instances
"The article does not state just
what Mr.. Hammond means by infec-
tion, but it is to be supposed he
means that the meal probably con-
tains either the living bugs or their
uninjured eggs.
"And in The Chronicle of the 2Sth
is short paragraph from the Month
cello Courier 1t is feared that the
Texas hay shipped into Georgia will
bring the dreaded boil weevil with it,
"Also your issue Of March Both, has
an article Boil Weevil is Suspected to
Have Made Appearance in Two
Georgia Counties, namely, Pike and
Spalding, the insects being therein
mentioned as 'little black bugs
Thinking might be of some SER
vice to the folks at home, 1 paid a
visit to the department Of agriculture,
and had a talk with Mr.. Charles L.
Marlatt, assistant entomologist. MIR.
Marlatt tells me it is hardly probable
that any landings have yet been made
by the boil weevil in Georgia. The
department does not know of any;
there have been many alarms, and
specimen bugs are being frequently
received, but in every case, as yet, it
has proved to be a different bug. And
that the area of it's depredations, up
to now, have been confined to the
state of Texas, with the exception OF
the western edge Of Sabine Parish,
La, which adjoins Texas, and with
the exception of two other spots in
Louisiana, where it has been exter-
minated. Thus it's presence is now
confined to the state Of Texas, fairly
speaking.
Mr.. Marlatt says that the insect
is not any more likely to be transport
ed in cotton seed meal than in any
other production or article which
might have been in or near infected
fields, inasmuch as the seeds them
selves are in no way infected, and are
not harbors for either the eggs or the
mature insect.
81 suggested to him that possibly
eggs might be laid within the kernel
of the young seed, as many seeds are
known to be pierced by insects to de-
posit their eggs, and, being minute,
these eggs, might 60 unharmed
through the machinery of the oil mills
and be transported in the meal. He
replied that even were the eggs laid
within the seed they would be destroy
ed by the machenery: but that the
eggs are not laid in the seeds; the
insect pierces the hull Of the boil, de-
posits it's eggs there; and when hatch
ed, the larvae (worms) make their
home in the young and tender lint,
that being then their food. From this
they emerge to the outer air, as ma
ture insects. AS mature insects they
travel by flights, or, in some cases,
they may he transported in any arti-
Gle in which they have obtained lodg-
ment.
'As to the color, Mr. Marlatt says
they are not little black bugs, the
color is grayish. The department Of
agriculture has issued two pamphlets
on the subject; Farmers Bulletin
No. 1879: Information Concerning the
Mexican Cotton Boil Weevil, and
Circular No. IS, Second Series, Divi-
sion of Entomology, the Mexican Cot
ton Boil Weevil, which may be pro-
cured without charge by any one in
terested by writing to the department
OF agriculture, division Of entomology,
Washington, D. G. These publlca-
tions not only describe and illustrate
the insect and it's habits, but give
advice as to methods Of determination.
Mr.. Marlatt further states that if
specimens Of any insects found, sus-
pected of being the boil weevil, are
forwarded to the department, they
will be examined and report made.
"Mr. Hammond is certainly right
in giving warning against any prob
able means of migration Of the pest;
my object in writing this is simply
to give the views Of the department
of agriculture as to the probability of
it's transportation in cotton seed meal.
Yours respectfully.
"RERRY BENSON"
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