The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1904-01-29
Department Of Agriculture Hot Aftes
the Weeyil
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN MAPPED OUT
Special Representative Dispatched to
The Texas Cotton Fields to lnyestd-
gate and Report.

of Agriculture has approved the plans
for the cotton boil w'evil investigation
In the Southwes for which special
appropriation of s25O,000 has been
made available. Secretary Wilson be
leves that the best method, for meet
Ing the ravages caused by the bOta
weevil will be to put into actual prac-
tice the facts which have been accum@-
lated by the Department during tina
past two years in the Southwest, I0s
which special conditions, the plant
ing of early maturing varieties OF COT
ton, substitution of other crops, etc.
! The plans approved. which were sab
mitted by Dr.. T. B. Galloway, the chief
OF the bureau of plant industry. and
DR.. Howard, the chief of the division
o. entomology, embody the following
lines OF investigation:
Farmers cooperative demonstration
work. This will involve the organiZa-
ton Of farmers in Texas and adjacent
States in such way to secure the cut-
tivation of cotton under specific Ia
structions from the Department Of Ag-
riculture, thus definite working plan
will be given to each farmers, tina
farmer himself to furnish the seed and
fertilizers if such are required. These
areas of cotton will serve as object les
sons and will be planned to show tha
practibility Of growing cotton despite
the presence of the weevil. Similar
work will be carried on in Louisiana.
where the weevil has not yet advanced.
1t is planned to have 5000 to 10000
farmers engaged in this work.
Plans of breeding and selection. OF
work This work will have for its OBJ
ject the Improvement of present varia-
ties of cotton, with view OF making
them more prolific and earlier 80 az to
prevent the ravages OF the weevl.
The work will be conducted ON ex-
pertinent farms, which will be So
Iected with due respect to climatic, sD4
and other conditions.
The foregoing work will be looked r
after by the bureau of plant industry.
The division of entomology will con-
tinue it's cvestigation on experiment.
farms. Thirteen farms for the grow
ing Of cotton will be located in Texax
and the investigations conducted will
have for their object the determination
of numerous questions relative to bolf
weevil which have not yet been def
nitely settled. The question Of the ef-
feet of fertilizers on the early matur-
ing of cotton will be considered. It is
planned that these farms shall EN-
brace about one hundred acres each.
Investigation of parasites in the orig
inal home of the Weevil will be made,
the object being to introduce these
parasites into Texas with the securing
Of the destruction through them of the
boil weevil.
Inspection of cotton products, their
and general expenses at
lending the certifcation required by
State laws will be another line OF work
by the entomoogist.
Investigation into the life history
and habits Of the weevil and for tbs
general testing Of persons and ma
chimes. This work will be carried on .
in the boil weevil infected
districts.
Investigations Of other diseases than
he cotton boil weevil including the
destructive cotton boil worm, which is =
me of the most serious pests In mum
yer of the Southern cotton growing
states.
The organizationeof the work on the
cooperative demonstration farms iias
esun under the charge OF DR.. 3. A.
lnapp, whe is now In Texas.