The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-06-29
PRESENT STATUS
 OF BOIL WEEVIL

.shington, June 2s.-(special. )-Fol-
 ng the plan that has been pursued
 several years, the United States de-
 fnent of agriculture has recently made
 areful examination to determine the s. sent status of the boil weevil. Agents frem the headquarters at Dallas nave gisited 40 localities in the five states, aamely, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, kansas and Oklahoma, infested by the astton boil weevil. At these 40 localities
 total of 193 fields has been examined. T each locality from two to five repre- tentative fields were selected. In each me of these groups of plants were exam ned to ascertain the number of WeeVlis present. An estimate was then made or the number of plants per acre ana the number of weevils per acre could there from be easily competed. Special pains were taken to obtain representative or typical fields in each locality. Much as sistance in this matter was had from previous work in practically all Of the same localities in different years, from which those in charge of the boil weevll investigation have learned to know what can be considered typical of any parttc- ular locality. In the majority of the cases the same f1eldsswere visited as were examined several times last season and frequently for several preceding seasons. In some cases, however, the fields have been devoted to other crops In such cases nearby fields have been selected.
 The results of the present examination on the whole are very encouraging. The number of weevils per acre present at this time seems to be much smaller throughout the infested area than al this time last year. This must be due pri- mariy to the unfavorable weather last fall especially the very early first killing frost.
 In northern Texas, which includes Dem ison, Dallas, Paris and Wolfe City, Is fields were examined and an average of three weevils per acre was found. In this area in 1907 no weevils were found on the first examination. This consti- tutes the only considerable exception to the generally more encouraging report of this year. In eastern Texas the present examination revealed no weevils in 23 fields in six localities visited. An examina- ton last season showed 226 weevils per acre at this time. In southern Texas
 
 in six localities. An average of 256 wee wills was found as against an average of 30S in the same localities last season. In western Texas five fields were examined at this time, showing an average Of II weevils per acre as against 101 in this locality in 1907 In central Texas the con- ditions seemed to be almost exactly like those found in 1907. Thirty fields were visited in central Texas at Austin, Bren- ham, Corsicana, Giddings, Mexia, Maya sota and Waco. At these places an aver age of 176 weevils was found as against IA in 1907.
 In Louisiana 15 fields in five localities were visited. The localities are as fol- lows: Alexandria, Evergreen Mansfield, Marksville and Shreveport. Here an average of 174 weevils per acre was found as against 4S5 for 1907 The general con- dition in Louisiana seems to be much more favorable than last season. Never theless localities have been found in that state where the number of weevils pres ent per acre is very high. In portion of Ayoyelles parish as many as 5000 weevils per acre have been found. In Arkansas four fields were examined in two localities with a showing of "A weevils per acre in comparison with about the same nun Der in 1907 In Oklahoma, as in Louisiana, the conditions are evidently much more favorable than last year. In the state of Oklahoma five localities were visited and no Weevils were found. Of course this does not mean that weevils will not occur later since the insects have not emerged from hibernatlon or at least have not emerged in such numbers as to re- suit in their being found under the con- ditons of the rather careful examinations ! that were made.