The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-09-17
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Editor i-eader | ann in receipt of
many inquiries from cotton planters
and others, and especially from the
heavy cotton producing sections. OF
our state, saying that the boil weevil
is doing more or less damage to the
cotton. and in some localities threat
en- much damage TO the crop, and
much inquiry is also made whether
any effective remedy for the evil has
been discovered and II so what is IL
and where can II be had. Others
want to know what wild birds are
known as weevi destroyers
! find II impossible 10 answer these
inquiries through the mails, a, d real
izing the importance OF the subject t1
one of the greatest industries OF our
| state--that of cotton growing-and
| knowing that the Leader visits every
| section of our magnificent common
wealth. / ask that YOU allow me space
| for a word or SO with the writer's pf
! these letters
So far as the subject has been in
yestigated and remedies applied, No
absolute remedy has yet been discov-
| cred, though the damage TO the grow
ing crops has been lessened by cutting
down the stalks the previous fall and
ralIing these and the trash together
aud burning them. IL may be SAID
With absolute certainty that no ef-
fectiye insecticide for the boil weevil
has yet been found There Is a GER
tain species of pedacious ant that
preys upon the weevil, but to what eX-
tent OF destructiveness is not yet full
~ determined by the goysrnment'r
expert entomologlsts.
II has, however, been fully estab
lished from years of close and scien
inc investigation by the biological
J survey of the United States depart
ment OF agriculture that foriy-twc
! species OF wild birds feed almost eX
c'usively upon the boil weeyil When
! they can get them. thus reducing ths
damage. but not exterminating ths
evil, while a dozen or more species
eat them with apparent relish. Il
! viii thus be seen how important il i
I 10 protect the birds. Among the for
ly-two birds of the first class men
toned viii only mention a few: Tn,
: large swallow family, including On,
blue marion, yellow billed cuckoo
wOodpeckcrs t15), orioles cd NATIVE
} sparrows. hobollnks. house wrcns
S certain of the black bird family. etc.
5 including the quail II let alone. vii
do iis full share. IL is stated by thl
: biological survey that the birds arr
| the most important auxiliary agent
! OF the planter In checking the rav
: ages OF the pests and reducing thi
/ damage 10 the cotton crop and thi
bulletin OF the bureau especially urgi
G uIon the planter TO employ ever
{ means possible TO protect and incroas
:. the number of weeyil eating birds. Ii
3 support OF this economic view OF tn
e value OF Wild birds 20 the cotton IN
a dusiry the department in the last yea
2 or so has established several birl
breeding stations along the Southerl
\ coast, three in The Gulf of Mexico
i one al the mouth OF the Mississippi
: Two OFF the coast OF Louisiana, be
e sides several on the Pacific coast AM
|. already most flauering results hay
a been obtained h behooyes the eoi
e ton growers and farmers throughou
s logr state 20 get a move on them an
o See tfat the legislature which meet
!. In January enact strong game an
bird law
!. They have right to demand thl
z and Il should be headed by the Law
e making power Several excellent bill
G were Introduced la the last legisla
ture. anyone of which would hay
given the needed protection
y. G. JAMISON.