The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-10-26
AFTER TIE BOIL WEEVIL.
Aonther Suggestion As to How to De-
stroy the Insects.

The destruction or limitation OF the
cotton toll weevil OF the South IS tie
subject discussed in a circular issued
by the bureau of entomology Of the
department Of agriculture. The de-
struction of the dead stalks Of the
plant during the fall months is the
method advocated by the departm> Mt
for the destruction OF the pest. All
other means Ct eradication, the ee-
partnent concludes, are Sing ly aics to
this.
AN early crop is necessity, but
many farmers are incli ed to stop at
this point and to lose sight Of the fa,t
that the stalks, with their loads Of
pests, must be destroyed II success is
to crown the farmers efforts. Tie
circular Is from the pen Of W. D.
Hunter, entomologiSt in charge OF cot
ten toll weevil Investigation, and
Mr. Hunter gives four reasons for the
destruction Of the plants in the fall.
First, he says, fall destruction pre-
vents absolutely the development OF a
multitude Of weevilS which would
otherwise become adult within a few
weeks Of the time Of Information.
S cord, a proper manipulation will
bring about The destruction of great
many UeeVils which are already adult:
Third, it has beea shown conclusive
ly that the only weev!ls which survive
the winter are those which reach ma
turity late in the season. Those ma
turing are unable to survive the long
period Of Information.
Fourth, clearing the field in the fall
makes it pcss:b:e to practice fall
blowing, which is not only the proper
procedure in any system OF cotton
raising. but also greatly facilitates
the early planting OF the crop tie fol
lcwirg spring.
The proper time for the destruc
tion of the plants in the fall is when
ever the weevils have become so num-
erous that there is 70 prospect that
any more cotton will be made.
There are two effective methods OF
removing the plants from the ground.
One OF these, the method to be pre-
ferred, is to cut the roots two or three
inches below the surface by the use OF
an ordinary plow or lister. The
other is pull the stalks By the use o.
lever with a too.hed notch which
grasps the base Of the plant. The lat.
ter process is better when the plants
have b.en killed by frost. When they
are green or the ground is dry it is
frequently a difficult matter to remove
them with these levers. The depart
ment's ger eral recommendation.
therefore, is that the plants should
be p,owed out. After the stalks have
become dry enough, they should be
burned.
The pint may be rai;ed that the
burning Of the plants in the fall re.
moves valuable fertilizing constitu-
ents and that the continuance Of the
practice would reduce seriously the
fertility Of the sill. Mr.. Hunters an
swer to this is that the present gen.
eral practi!e Is to burn the plants In
the spring and that therefore the only
additional draft upon the soil Is in
the burning OF many OF the leaves
and portion Of the root.
Mr.. Hunter concludes his circular
as + Lows: Concerted action in fall
destruction is, Of course: desirable.
The greatest, benefit viii result cnl!
when whole mnunities adopt the
method. But 90 planter should hesi.
tate on account ct the indifference OF
his neigabcrs. The fact that weevils
move about little until the time when
the bulk of the crop is safe will assist
materially in saving one field, though
nearby fields have net been properly
treated. Even under such circum'
stances the succession Of the method
will be a powerful stimulus t ward Its
general adoption the following sea
on"
rvrYp H1arO preDaNHc\