The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-30
DENOTES SPACE ID COTTON GROWING Secretary of Agriculture Makes
 Annual Report TALKS OF HE BOIL WEEVlL Pest Is Being Fought in Texas in Two Different Ways, Either of Which May Prove
 Successful.
TALKS OF TIE BOIL WEEVIL

Washington. November 29.-(special)- The annual report of the secretary of agriculture was made public this morn- ing.
 With reference to the experimental growing of Cuban seed tobacco in the state of Alabama the report says that the filler leaf raised in the state is con si6ered fair.
 The secretary devotes considerable space to the growth of cotton and the ravages of the cotton boil weevil.
 Special work has been done on cotton with a view to bringing home to farm CTS of Texas and Louisiana, especially in the boil weevil districts the advan- tages of better methods of cultivation and the value of early maturing seed.
 The bureau of plant industry has had the advantage of closest cooperation with the Texas Agricultural college and also with the Louisiana authorities As feature of the work in the south di- versincation farms were established at various places with a view to showing the value and importance of diversified dBTlCuildIts Ht BusilltS lilA'A 19h9 AiA NAAS respective communities gladly cooperate in this matter with the bureau. So that they involve but a trifing expense to the government Thirty-two of these farms have been or are about to be established. Extensive work has been inaugurated in Texas with view of breeding new types of cotton better adapted to meet 4t bxy tIa in- vasion of the cotton boil weevil. Refer ence Is made to the discovery of the Gautemalan ant by an officer of the bu- reau of entomology Mention is also made of an effort to combat the boil weevl by producing a variety of cot ton not subject to Injury by this pest.
 The secretary believes it to be within the range of possibility that resistant varieties of cotton may be found in tropi- cal America or developed by selection. As a feature of the work in Texas a special effort has been made to obtain informa- tion as to the best methods of combating the cotton root rot, q disease which has been very serious the past season.
 The most important work of the bu- reau of entomology during the year has been it's combat with the Mexican cotton boil weevil Under the provisions of the special appropriation of $250,00O, made available last January, this work was greatly enlarged Over a thousand acres, divided among thirteen experimental farms, were devoted 10 experimental work, and 1t is believed that the cultural system these farms were designed to H. lustrate has so far proved to be the only practicable means of controlling the weevil This is the outgrowth of several years of experimentation.
 The discovery of the Guatemalan ant and it's colonization in Texas is feature of distinct encouragement The imminent danger of the spread of the weevil how ever to other states, indicates the neces- sity of continued active and energetic work on the part of the general govern ment.
 Field experiments have demonstrated that the cultural system of control rec commended for the boil sweevil furnished the very best means also against the boil worm. Spraying and dusting with arsen- teal potlons and the value of truck crops have been made the subject of careful experiments, and the department Is now able to recommend measures which will greatly reduce damage from this pest.