Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-05-21

greatest damage DelnS throughout tHe
two northern tiers of counties in the
state Of Texas, from Lamar and Delta
to Clay and Jack counties, and includ-
ing the southwest portion Of the
Chickasaw nation in Indian Territory.
During the past three years the In
vestigations conducted by officials
have been therefore confined to these
sections most affected, with result
that It is strongly emphasized that Inn
proved methods Of handling the situa-
ton are more than profitable from the
beginning. The planting Of so-called
trap crops, that Is, the sowing OF cow
peas and corn in convenient rows be-
tween the cotton fields, are sure
method of attracting the rapacious in
sect there and away from the cotton,
and the female will deposit the eggs
on plants along the strip, the larvae,
which causes the most destruction,
Matching there, and the cotton remain
ing comparatively free from the pest
Late fall ploughing is recommended,
as we'll as the selection Of the finest
seeds and the thorough fertilization Of
the plants to insure the early growth
and fruition Of the crop.
The idea of the trap crops being
primarily to bring on the crop Of peas
and corn about the first of August,
when the destructive hordes of the
weevils are at work, has proved sue"
cess on the experimental farms, and In
some cases the plan not only saved
greater percentage of cotton, but also
netted fair yield Of corn in addition.
Alternating Of crops Is deemed ad-
yisable, but the best results were Sc
cured by the experts in charge of the
experiments by employing the follow
ing methods:
Good returns were secured by using
King, Rowden and Gin seed, but the
best showing was made by the King
seed, fertilized with 800 pounds Of cot
ton seed meal and 100 pounds Of acid
phosphate per acre, the crop being
early and maturing before the August
appearance of the boil weevil larvae.
Fertilizers containing a large per-
centage Of nitrogen are recommended
to be avoided, as this fertilizer Will
produce much stalk and foliage, which
is favorable to the boil weevil, as well
as to the boil weevil depredations.
The close relations between the
depredations of the boil worm In cot
ton and the ravages in corn have ne
cessitated a careful study in both
crops. Injury to young corn by the
first brood of worms is rare, although
In 1905 corn in the locality of Victo-
ria, Tex, suffered severely from the
attacks Of the weevil larvae.
Poison experiments have been con-
Quoted with Paris green and air slack
ed lime, at rate Of one pound Of Par
is green to four pounds Of lime, the
mixture being in quantities OF fifteen
pounds to the acre, carefully busted
over the plants. At Ladonia and Par
is twenty-four acres were poisoned, as
well as about fifty acres at Quinian,
and satisfactory results were obtained
In all cases.
Al Suliiiah biS NAoP ~@NP
was applied and the success Of an ex-
pertinent on thirty acres was gratify-
| ing to the experts. ssf.>-
There are many influences at work
to keep the boil weevil in the minori-
ty, and not the lest of these are the
parasites, many species of which are
so small that they are nearly invisible,
yet the amount Of eggs destroyed In
this manner is enormous. Birds, In
sects, reptiles, etc., all add to the fray
and 1t Is the belief of those in charge
of the Investigations that II the farm
ers employed scientific methods that
there would be no ravages worth men,
tioning.
The plowing Of the land in the late
fall and winter is recommended, the
use of early fruiting varieties of cot
ton, the use of good fertilizers to has
ten and increase fruit production
planting Of, the crop as early in the
spring as practicable and early ire
ouent cultivation are infallible rules
for a good crop as far as the weevil Is
concerned, according to the belief OF
the departmental experts.