New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-11-04
LOUISIANA NEWS.
FILL COTTON FARMERS FACING
AN EMERGENCY.
Entomologist Newell Gives Expert Ad-
vice as to the Warfare This.
Fall on the Pest.

Newell. Entomologist Of the Louisiana !
| Crop Pest Commission. has addressed
an open letter to the hill farmers of
| Western Louisiana, urging that they
| take immediate active measures
agains the boil weavil. Mr.. Newell, in
his letter to the farmers, says:
"On the upland farmers in the west
ern portions OF De Soto, Sabine. Yer
non and Calcas,eu parishes the cot
ton boil weevil has now become fairly
abundant-so abundant in fact, as to
have destroyed practically all Of the
top crop in those sections. The weeviE
also occurs. although in less numbers,
III the eastern parts of these same
parishes and in Caddo Parish, and in
the western parts of Red River, Match
itoches and Rapides parishes. The
boil weevil occurs in practically every
cotton field in the territory mentioned
ALTHOUGH last winter was cold
and wet one. and, although it gave the
weevil a severe setback, the wet sum
mer of 1905 has offered almost per
feet conditions for the rapid increase
of the weevil to enormous numbers.
The farmers should not allow
themselves to be misIed by the suppo'
sition that the boil weeviI will not -
thrive in louisiana for it will thrive
and do untold damage If allo we'd nc
multiply unchecked. Nor should the
farmer be Indifferent to the weeyll I'D
the home that some new remedy VIII
Ebe brought forward that Will dispose
of the boil Weevil without work OF
expense on the part OF the farmer
Every detail of the weev1L Ire MS
tory and development haw now been
carefully studied, and every possible
view to a remedy has been followed
I'D with painstaking and exhaustive eX-
periments, with the result that the
cultural method or remedy, as devised
by Dr. l.. o. Howard and Prof. WJo.
Hunter. of the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture. Bureau OF Ento'
mology, has been proven the only
feasible and practical method Of re-
ducing boil weeyil damage.
Briefly stated, the cultural meth
od consists in: Destroying the cotton
ton land in good tillable condition be-
fore planting time arrives the follow
ing spring, planting an early-maturing
variety of cotton; using a reasonable
amount of fertilizer where the land Is
poor. and cultivating the crop frequent =
ly and thoroughly in order to produce
a crop early in the season.
"Of the steps in the cultural remedy
the early fall destruction OF the cot
ton stalks is of more Importance than
all other steps combined.
THE last generation in the fall pro-
duces more boil weevils than all of the
preceding generations put together. III
the stalks. with the squares and the
leaves. are destroyed two to four weeks
before the first killing frost, the de- =
velopment of the last brood Of Weev1lS
is prevented.
"In addition to preventing the de-
yelopment Of this last brood. many OIL
the weeviis in the field at the time
stalks are destroyed must die of star
yation before the time arrives for them
10 enter Information. The weevils that
do survive until frost and then enter
winter quarters will have to do with
cut food from the time the stalks are
DESTROYED this fall until the cotton is
above ground next spring. Naturally
a much smaller per cent OF them Will
survive under these conditions than
would survive if the stalk were left
standing until late after frost, and the
weevil permitted to go into winter
sleek and well fed and with
, square meal just before retiring fof
heir winter nap.
'Tbe hill farmer in Western Louis
ana. so far as cotton production IS
is now facing an emer-
gency, and he must rise to the occa-
sion and meet it successfully. IL
rood crop of cotton is to be produced
lpon the hill farms of this section next
rear, the cotton stalk must be de-
;troyed now. Many merchants III
Western Louisiana have already sig
lified their intention of limiting, or
cutting off altogether, the credit OF
armers who depend upon cotton ana
Who fail to carry out the necessary
measures to secure crop d cotton
ma the weevil section.
"In cotton fields where the cotton
las already been completely stripped
# leaves and squares by caterpillars
he plowing and burning OF the stalks
yer the entire field is not necessary.
Usually square eand leaf remaining
,ere or there. Such fields should he
carefully gone over and every such
ouare or leaf picked off by hand and
"Where the cotton held is still green
,ver the major part it is simple
md comparatively inexpensive matter
O pillow up tn the stalks, rake them
H. or
Ind burn them. A two-horse turning
,low will bring them out rapidly, and
he expense of destroying them In this
manner OF most hill farms will not
,xceer at the outside 30 or 40 cents per
.cre. The improved condition OF the
and, resulting from this blowing now
Will more than pay the cost. II bolt
yeevil injury is prevented next year,
he cost will be repaid to the farmer
many times over"