The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-11-29
FOSTER ENEMIES
OF BOIL WEEV|L
Many Birds Eat Them and
Should Be Protected
WILSON DEALS AT LENGTH
Guatemaan Ant is a Good WeeviI De-
stroyer, But Cannot Be Wintered
Successfully In Texas-Lady-
birds Are Imported.

Washington. November 2S.-(Speciall-
The annual report of the secretary of
agriculture deals more fully with the boil
weevil than any report heretofore issued.
1t contains much of interest to the cot
ton growers of the south.
Encouraging progress has been made in
the work against the Mexican cotton boil
weevil, as shown by an extensive can
vass of the cotton planters who have fol-
lowed the recommendations of the bu-
reau.
Owing to climatic conditions in the sum
mer and fall of 1904 and in the winter
of a19O4-5 some of the area that became
infested late In the summer of 1904 was
entirely devoid of weevils in the early
part of 1906 but the fall movements Of
the weevil in 1905 more than covered
this area. This permitted studies for
which there had been previously little OPP
portunity, and many points which had a
bearing upon the possibility of the con-
tinued advance of the pest were investi :.
gated.
Experimental Farms.
The continuation of the experimental
farms at fourteen places In Texas has
been deemed desirable. as the value CT
experimental field work depends largely
upon the number of seasons through
which it has been carried. Two additional
experimental farms have been carried on
} in Louisiana The whole acreage placed
under contract in these experiments is Siz
The notifications In the cultural system
of lessening damage, made necessary by
the change in habits Of the insect, were
carefully studied in connection with the
work carried on in the laboratory.
other Field Work.
In addition to experimental plats on
large scale numerous field experiments
were conducted, including an extensive
experiment in the Manipulating OF in
tested bolls and considerable other work
directed to the solution of questions which
can not be tested with the fullest pfac-
teal effect in the laboratory
The continued spread of the weevil has
been carefully watched, and publications
regarding the new territory infested nave
been issued in cooperation with the
weather bureau. Careful study has peen
made of the conditions in western Texas
in order to determine whether the weeVll
is likely to spread to that part OF the
| state IN spite OIL lne Sthelai AuS" 1he'h
such spread will not take place.
Laboratory Work.
In the well-ftted laboratory now located
at Dallas, Tex the effects of different
temperatures and the condition of food
supply upon the development of the WeeNll
were tested. the breeding of parasites was
continued, and special study was made
of a native ant which seems to DC be-
coming more and more an important fac
tor in the natural control of the WeeVil.
Investigations of the distribution of this
ant it's adaptability to different soil con-
ditions, and the possibility of Its arti-
fetal propagation have also been made
True Parasites of Boil Weevll.
Since the weevil entered Texas native
parasites have had little effect upon 1t
until recently. During the year, how
ever, it was found that in the Browns
vile region-frst entered by the weevil
about 1S93-native parasites have accom-
odated themselves to its habits, and now
at least so per cent of the early stages
are sometimes destroyed by these para
sites Consequently much attention Is be-
ing paid to the parasite question, in
order to determine whether 1t will be
possible to assist the work of these
beneficial insects. 1t seems probable that
the small results gained from the work
of parasites down to the present time
are largely due to the recent invasion
of the cotton fields of the south by the
injuries insect
Cooperation With Louisiana.
Cooperation with the Louisiana crop
pest commission, began in 1904, was con-
tinued during the year. three assistants
being employed by the bureau for work
| in Louisiana. During the season of
| MI n X
tensive study of the so-caled migratory
| movement of the boil weevil in order
| to learn if possible, some method of
checking it's further advances, or at least
to learn more definitely the approximate
time when other regions may become in
tested. On account however. or the &C.
currence of yellow fever and the con-
sequent rigid quarantine. it was impos-
| sible to carry on this work in full, but
a number of important observations were
made In cooperation with the COM
mission more than $4,000 weevils were
carefully studied under natural condi-
tions during the winter.
The Cotton Boil Worm.
The work on the cotton bollworm dur
ing the fiscal year was largely in the
character of demonstrations indicating
the value of conclusions already reached
and detailed in the last annual report
of the entomologist, and successful ef-
forts were made locally in the extermi-
nation of the bollworm by means of
poisons.
Other Cotton Insects.
The work on other cotton insects has
been done largely in cooperation with
the Texas agricultural experiment sta
ton. field agent of the bureau was
stationed at the Texas agricultural col
lege devoting his attention to the other
insects affecting the cotton plant The
important discovery has been made that
1t is possible to propagate the predaeeous
enemies of the cotton plant-louse. an
insect which sometimes causes great dam
age to young cotton. 1t is believed that
this work will lead to a practical method
of controlling the pest
New Ladybirds From Europe.
During the late winter months and
spring of 1906 several species of European
ladybrds, well known as destroyers of
plant lice, scale insects. and soft-bodied
insects Of other groups have been i'm
ported from Germany, France and Aus
tria. All of these have been liberated in
the vicinity of the parasite laboratory at
| North SauguS. Mass, the country about