Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-01
ASKS B|RDPROIEC1|6N
Department OF Agriculture Calls
Attention to Importance OF
Preservation
ENEMY TO COTTON BOIL wEEvlL
Service Of Birds in Making War on
Pest Just Becoming to Be Reeos-
nixed-Wilson Plans Model Denatursd
Alcohol Plant for Exhibition Pur-
poses.

1jzed-Wilson Plans Model Oenatured
Alcohol Plant for Exhibition Pur-
poses.
Especial Washington Correspondence
Washington, July Protection for
by the biological survey of the depart
ment of agriculture. The economic inn
portance of such protection to the cot
ton industry is pointed out in a recent
circular prepared by Arthur H. How
ell, assistant in the biological survey,
who has In recent months made a min
ute study Of the extent to which the
boil weevil is destroyed by birds.
Something over year ago, the bio
logical survey took this matter up and
sent out widely literature urging bird
protection. 1t was pointed out that the
residents In the northern states could
do great service to the south by see
ing to 1t that the birds that nest In
the northern latitudes in spring and
summer and go to the south in winter
were shielded from destruction. The
interest awakened in this matter was
great and there was eager response
from farmers, school children and 9TH
ers. Now, in the light of more recent
Investigation, showing that the boil
weevil is destroyed by birds to a great
or extent than was at first realized.
another plea for the protection Of the
birds is being put forth.
The region now infested by the cot
ton boil weevil includes the greater
part OF the cotton growing area Of Tex
as and Louisiana and parts OF Oklaho-
ma, Arkansas and Mississippi. Texas
and Louisiana produced in 1906 over
100000 bales of cotton, valued at up
ward of $276.000.000. The loss caused
by the boil weevil is variously esti-
mated at from 10 to so per cent of the
crop, or even more in badly infested
areas. Even at the lowest reasonable
estimate, the loss to the cotton planters
Of Texas and Louisiana from the raw
ages OF the pest yearly aggregates
many millions. AS the weevil extends
its range eastward into the more humid
regions OF the lower mississippi valley,
the damage it does will be proportion
ately greater than in the drier regions
to the westward.
Investigations conducted by the BIZ
illogical survey on the food habits OF
birds In Louisiana in January and.
February, 1908, showed that more birds
were feeding upon the weevils and
that many more weevi1s were de-
stroyed by them than in any OF the
western localities where birds have
been collected at a corresponding sea-
son. The destruction Of weevils in
winter is much more important than in
summer since the death OF every wee
vii at that season prevents the pro-
duction OF highly numerous progeny
in the early summer and postpones the
date when the increase will become so
great as to destroy the cotton squares
as fast as they appear
1.-THE service rendered by the vast
army Of birds which occupies the cot
ton plantations Of the south during
the winter months" says MFR. Howell
"is only beginning to be appreciated.
During the first season in which birds
were studied in their relation to the
weevil only 20 species were discovered
to feed upon the insect, and it was
supposed the influence Of birds in keep
ing down the pest was slight Later in
vestigations, however, carried on dur
ing several years and all seasons, have
shown that no less than So species OF
native birds feed upon the pest many
Of them destroying large numbers OF
weev1ls during the most critical period
Of the insects life, in winter and early
spring"
Various kinds Of biackbirds, mead
owlarks, sparrows, pilpits or titlarks.
wrens and titmice, are mentioned as
useful in the destruction of the boil
weevil, and many other well known
birds, such as the oriole. the swallow,
and the mockingbird. are in the list
Of those that feed upon the pest OF
the cotton regions.
Under the direction of Secretary OF
Agriculture James Wilson, a model
denatured alcohol plant is being built
in Washington, which will probably
make alcohol from more different ma
terials and in more widely separated
localities than any similar plant which
will be built in good many years.
This plant is to be 'Tama Jim's"
travelling fuel maker, and it is esti-
mated that in the next two years the
secretary Of agriculture will be able t.
show 100000 farmers how to make
denatured alcohol from the waste pro-
ducts of the farm.
The plan is to build this alcohol
plant in Washington and move 1t to
the great national expositions, and Ia
ter it will make whirling trip around
the country to state fairs and other
meetings where the largest number OF
farmers can see the simple process OF
making something sust as good as the
civilized drug-gasoline-for power
and fuel purposes.
The first visit Of the denatured all
cohol plant and the government ex-
perts who will travel with it, will be
to the national corn exposition, which
is to be held in Omaha Dec. 9 to 10,
and will have an estimated attendance
of 100000 farmers. From Omaha 1t
viii go to one or two agricultural coli
,aoer and then across the Rocky