The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-01-28
WAR ON BOIL PEST
Department Of Agriculture Hot After
the Weevil
PLAN OF CAMPAIGN MAPPED OUT
Special Representative Dispatched to
The Texas Cotton Fields to lnvesti.
gate and Report

Washington, Special-The Secretary
of Agriculture has approved the plans
for the cotton boil wevil investigation
in the Southwest, for which a special
appropriation of s25O000 has been
made available. Secretary Wilson be-
lleyes that the best method, for meet
ing the ravages caused by the boil
weevil will be to put into actual prac-
t.ce the facts which have been aCcumu-
lated by the Department during the
past two years in the Southwest, for
which a special conditions, the plant
ing of early maturing varieties Of cot
ton, substitution of other crops, etc.
The plans approved, which were sub
mitted by DR.. T. B. Galloway, the chief
of the bureau of plant industry, and
DR.. Howard, the chief OF the division
of 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 cul-
tivation of cotton under specific in
structions from the Department Of Ag
riculture, thus a definite working plan
will be given to each farmers, the
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 the
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,
It is planned to have 5000 to 10000
farmers engaged in this work.
Plans of breeding and selection Oh
work. This work will have for its OBJ
iect the improvement of present varie-
ties of cotton, with view of making
them more prolific and earlier, so as to
prevent the ravages Of the weevi'.
The work will be conducted on ex-
pertinent farms, which will be Sc
lected with due respect to climatic, soil
and other conditions.
The foregoing work will be looked
after by the bureau of plant industry
The division of entomology will con-
tinue its evestigation on experiment
farms. Thirteen farms for the grow
ing of cotton will be located in Texas
and the Investigations conducted will
have for their object the determination
| 80 ro1otivQ fn h0l1
weevil which have not yet been def
nitely settled. The question of the eff
feet of fertilizers on the early matur-
ing of cotton will be considered. 1t 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 tht
boil weevil.
Inspection of cotton products, theii
fumigation and general expenses at
tending the certiication required by
State laws will be another line of wori
conducted by the entomologist.
Investigation into the life history
and habits Of the weevil and for the
general testing Of persons and ma
chimes. This work will be carried OF
necessarily in the boil weevil infected
districts.
investigations of other diseases thar
the cotton boil weevil includlng ths
destructive cotton boil worm, which Il
one of the most serious pests III mum
her of the Southern cotton GROWING
States. -,
The organization Of the work on tn
co-oneratiye demonstration farms ha
hegnn under the charge Of DR.. 5.
, Knapp, who is now in Texas.