New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-13
BOIL WEEVIL WILL STAY
Teras Cotton Gro5cers| Thinh Pest
Cannot BE Eradicated.
fry TELEGRAPH TO THE rHrsrSn.l

fly TEIEGR aPH TKfBUStl
Austin, Tex. Dec 12.-Jeferson Johnson ex-
State Commissioner OF Agriculture ana ohalr-
man Of the board of practical farmers created
by the legislature to pass upon the claims Tor
lie award of $4,000 offered by the state OF
Texas for successful and practical remedy OF
device for the destruction OF the cotton Doll
sveevil has made his report TO Governor Lam
ham After giving detailed account OK the
various remedies and appliances which were
submitted to the board. Mr. Johnson writes IN
part;
After a full and free discussion of all plans
that had been submitted at the meetings helo
This year, we'll those Of the year previous,
this board OF practical farmers concluded mat
Tet one OF the claimants for the reward mad eS-
fablished his right TO such claim. Inc ma
Jority OF these who have addressed the board
upon this subject have depended upon cultural
methods and many of the machines examined
show great ingenuity and care in construction
Many of the plans of poisoning. II carefully 1oi-
lowed, will result in some good but none OF
rhern could be described as coming within the
requirements OF the law.
After the most careful consideration of the
subject and from every source of Information
We could gather, believe this pest is with US
10 stay. II VIII not leave the cotton growing
region. The amount OF damage zone VIII IN
crease year by year, as the territory grows
greater over which the boil weeyi is spread
The damage that will be done IN the cottoh
growing sections OF Texas cannot be oVerestl-
mated, and the importance or nnulng some
means by which can make crop IN spite OF
average planter.
- Many things coming under the observation OF
this commission incline to believe mat some
lilevia1ion Of this great evil is in slght. sec
lions OF this State where large territories grow
ing cotton have been entirely destroyed by
caterpiilars so late in the season that the plant
did not afteTWard put out squares nave SHOWN
that the next year the boil weeVil was scarcely
found. In other large territories in the South
west where the drOuth has cut the plant short
TOO late III the for il to put on forms, the
fields being pastured 10 become entirely
stripped % foliage the succeeding year has
shown this district 10 be almost free from boil
weeyil
These are object lessons that must convince
every thoughtful farmer that attempts to de-
ssToy the crop OF boil weevi must commence
with the year preceding the one in which he eX-
1ects 10 make a crop OF cotton
Boil WeeVil do not feed upon anything but cot
ION. They do not reproduce in anything but cot
ton squares and bolls If The planter can pro-
ouce d reasonable crop Of cotton from some
early maturing variety that may be picked and
out of the field on October 10 speedily destroy
ing the plant left in the field al that date, while
il is green and full of squares, he will not only
get the crop Of boil Weeyi that is in the egg, lar
Va and pupa form. but he viii destroy the food
of the adult, and by this means leave few boil
nxeevil TO enter alternating quarters, and those
= oweakened as to furnish the smallest possible
percentage that would survive the winter.
We believe that the legislature of Texas can
greatly assist in solving this, the most serious
problem that has ever been presented TO the
Texas planter. We believe that a law should be
passed requiring destruction OF the cotton fields
IT fixed date. dependent, Of course, upon the
part of the State in which the land is located.
IN those sections of the State where the boil
7Teevil has already practically destroyed cotton
planting trial should be made requiring COM
green, and a penalty should be fixed for failure
80 obey.