The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1904-02-04
MEXICAN COTTON BOIL wEEvlL


reported as occurring east of IouiSi.
ana. The probability of its introduc.
ton into Georgia, as well as into other
cotton-growing states, is such that the
Board of Entomology has deemed it
advisable TO include this pest in the
list of dangerous insects. If the Boil
Weevil had to depend entirely upon its
natural means of spread, i.e., by flight
from field to field, it would require
many years for it 10 reach Georgia
from the infested area in Texas. On.
fortunately, however, the weevil is Of
zen contained in cotton seed from in.
tested cotton fields and in such seed
may be transported to any cotton.
growing section, there to begin anew
Its destructive career. 1t is also fire.
quently found in unginned cotton. AS
1t Is not likely that any of the latter
is shipped from Texas to points east
OF the Mississippi, the danger of in.
Producing this pest in cotton seed is
the principal one that confronts our
farmers and cotton planters.
While the Boil Weevil is not at
present known to infest more than
about three-fourths of the cotton-grow.
Ing area of Texas, yet it's spread is
SO rapid that within a short time it
Will be found in every county of Tex.
as where cotton Is grown. The loss
in Texas, in 1902, due to this pest,
is conservatively estimated at over
235,000 baNes or over $8,0O,0O0. (Re.
port on the Bon Weevil by
Fred. w. Mally in the annual re.
port of the State Entomologist
of Texas, 1902, page 100. This
fact alone is sufficient to warn the
planters against taking the risk OF
introducing the Boil WeeNil unto Geor.
gia. With a view to postponing the
introduction of the weevil inc Geor.
gia as long as possible, we would
strongly discourage the importation OF
cotton seed Cor unginned cotton), even
in small quantities, from Texas points.
We would also urge that farmers and
planters watch their cotton closely for
the appearance of any new or unfa.
miliar insect pest, and send to this
office for Identification, all such in.
sects. By this cooperation we hope
to locate the Boil weevil promptly,
should it become introduced into this
state, and can, in such a case, take
immediate steps for at least retarding
its spread
1t is the intention 6f this Depart.
ment to shortly publish a somewhat
extended bulletin upon the Boil Weevil
and other important cotton insects.
Any person desiring a copy of same
should write the State Entomologist,
Atlanta, Ga, and as soon as published
the bullein will be sent all such appli.
cants free of charge.
At a meeting of the Georgia State
Board of Entomology, held at the State
Capitol, Angus 2S, 1903, the following
regulation regarding the importation
of cotton seed was adopted. This
regulation has the force of law an
is now in effect
1T shall be unlawful for any firm,
person or corporation to bring into
the State Of Georgia, or to have in
possession, for any purpose, any living
Mexican Boil Weevil or any cotton
polls, squares, plants, seed containing
the adult, pupal, larval or egg stage
of the Mexican Boil Weevill.
mo cotton seed grown in the states
of Texas or Louisiana, or consigned
from points in those states, shall be
shipped into the State of Georgia
without being accompanied by Ger,
tifcate signed by a duly authorized
and has them analysed.
The chemist reports that he finds
the acid phosphate to contain ID per
cent of nitrogen, 212 per cent of phos.
phoric acid, and IL per cent Of pot.
ash, and that the kainit contains 1874
per cent OF potash With these data
to go by the manufacturer, after soma
figuring, calculates that he can make
the goods he wants by taking 1860
pounds of the acid phtsphate, $50
pounds of the cotton seed meal, 300
pounds0 Of the kainit; total 1000
pounds.
So he has this formula made up,
perhaps 500 tons Of it, by having all
these materials thoroughly mixed in
the above proportions, passing them
through his disintegrators, screens and
other machinery, until he feels salts.
fed complete mixture has been eft.
fected. Then to be sure everything
is right, he has another sample drawn
from the mixed goods and sent to the
chemist for analysis, VINO, if the mix.
ture has been properly made, ought
to report an analysis as follows:
Available phosphoric acid, SIG per
cent; nitrogen, FL per cent; potash
2.36 per cent.
Suppose now the manufacturer is
called upon by peach grower. who
has found that he needs a large guam.
tity Of phosphoric acid and potash for
his crop, to make him up a goods
guaranteed to analyze 10 per cent
available phosphoric acid, 31a per cen;
of nitrogen and ~ per cent of pos
ash. The manufacturer soon sees by
a little figuring that he cannot make
this goods up with the materials he
hn