St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-09-18
EARLY DESTRUCTION OF
COTTON STALKS
URGED.

culture.-Without question one Of
the most important things to be done
in reducing the number Of weevils 50
that q crop of cotton can be success
fully made is to destroy the stalks in
The fall, not later than the 10th Of
October if possible.
This has been so fully demon
strated BY the Bureau Of Entomology
that it does not require discussion
here. The practical difficulty has
been that in most years the cotton
has matured so late that it was inn
possible to get anything like . con-
certed movement among the farmers
to destroy the cotton stalks early
enough to be Of much value. This
fan IS an exception. In the entire
cotton belt the cotton is maturing so
rapidly that it will be possible for
tie farmers to make a general move
ment to destroy the stalks. It is Of
comnaratiyeIy small vaIue. in SO far
as the general effect is concerned,
for a few farmers to carry out this
policy, but if it is possible to induce
so many farmers to enter into the
movement that it practically becomes
universal, SO many weevils can be de-
stroyed that it will be easier to make
1 crop next year.
We therefore recommend that pub
lie meetings be called in every county
and parish in the cotton states in
tested with the weevil and a strong
public pressure be brought to bear
for the universal destruction of the
cotton stalks before the 10th of Oc-
tober, or earlier if possible. It is not
necessary here to 60 into details for
cutting and destroying. Every farm
er 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 sur
rounding the field. In that way
almost the entire crop of WeeVils
will be destroyed. It should be nm
derstood that the wee7ils that come
out the following season and do dam
age are those that mature late in the
season and II there is no cotton left
standing it will be so long before
winter that the WeeYils must die.
This advice for destroying the stalks
should apply also to a distance Of at
least fifty miles in advance Of the
present i~nfestation of the weeyil SO
that If any large number should
leave the infested territory and mi
CRATE il the fall as usual, we shall
catch them in their new camping
ground.
It was supposed by some that the
late hot weather would 50 materially
reduce the number of Weevils that
some late crops would be made.
This has not been the case to any ap-
preciable extent. This season has
been an exceedingly unfaYorable one
for the cotton planter excessive rain
fall at a critical period of the crop
and unusual drouth at another with
more than normal infestation Of the
weeyiI all the time up to this date,
except in a few limited areas. Our
Demonstration Work has proven that
4 good crop Of cotton can be made
even under these adverse conditions,
but it ID unfair for one farmer to
winter over weevils to destroy his
neighbors' crop. We trust that the
farmer viii not only destroy his own
stalks but use his influence to secure
the destruction Of his neighbors'.
We urge that this advice be taken in
Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arksn-
sas, and Mississippi. The plan is
worth 4 trial. There may not be an
other season as favorable as this for
many years.
We especially urge all the Field
Agents Of this Department to use
their utmost endeavor to carry out
this policy. Respectfully,