Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1909-09-14
DIFFERENTIATION or the ooLL
WGEvlL.
War on the Pest 10 be Prosecuted BY
Agricultural Department.

Agricultural Department.
xir. 8. A. Knapp. special agent Of the
national department OF agriculture. In
his war against the boil weevil. has
Issued the following bulletin to the
cotton farmers:
without question one OF the most i'm
portant things 10 be done In reducing
the number OF weevils so that crop
of cotton can be successfully made Is
TO destroy the stalks In the fall. not
later than the 10th Of October II pos
sibie.
This has been so fully demonstrated
by the bureau Of entomology hiatt II
does not require discussion here. The
practical difficulty has been that In
most years the cotton has matured so
late that II was impossible TO get any
thing like a concerted movement
among the farmers to destroy the cot
ton stalks early enough TO be Of much
value. This fall Is an exception. In
the entire cotton belt the cotton Is
maturing SO rapidly that II VII be
possible for the farmers 10 make a
general movement to destroy the
stalks. II is OF comparatively small
value. In 30 far as the general effect
is concerned, for few farmers TO car
~ out this policy. but II Il is possible
TO induce SO many farmers to enter
into the movement that II practically
becomes universal. SO many weevils
can be destroyed that II will be easier
to make crop next year.
We therefore recommend that public
meetings be called In every county and
parish In the cotton states infested
with the weevil and strong public
pressure BE- brought to bear for the
universal destruction OF the cotton
stalks before the 10th OF October. or
earlier II possible. II Is not necessary
here to so into details for cutting and
destroying. Every farmer knows how
that Is done. As soon as the stalks
are destroyed. deep fall-break the land.
then a little later burn all the rubbish
and grass surrounding the field. In
that way almost the entire crop OF
weevils will be destroyed. II should !
be understood that the weevils that
come out the following season
and do damage are those that mature
late In the season and II there Is no /
cotton left standing II will be so long I
before winter that the weevils must
die. This advie for destroying the
stalks should apply also to distance
OF at least so miles In advance of the
present infestation OF the weevil so
that II any large number should leave
the infested territory and migrate In
the fall ms usual. we shall catch them
In their new camping grounds.
II was supposed by some that the
late hot weather would so materially
ftuutt the huuiDtf vi "ttfho thaa
some late crops would be made. This
has not been the case 10 any apprecia-
Bile extern. This season has been an
exceedingly unfayorable one for the
cotton planter: excessive rainfall at a
,ritical period Of the crop and unusual
lrouth at another with more than nor
nal infestation OF the weevil all the
line up to this date. except In few
United areas. Our demonstration work
las proven that a good crop OF cotton
an be made even under these adverse
but Il is unfair for one
armer TO winter over weevils TO de-
troy his neighbor's crop. We trust
hat the farmer will not only destroy
lis own stalks but use his influence TO
ecure the destruction OF his neighbors.
We urge that this advice be taken in
rexas. Oklahoma. Louisiana. Arkansa s
md Mississippi. The plan Is worth a
borough trial. There may not be an
lther season as favorable as this for
many years.