The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1910-03-26
BOIL WEEVIL INFESTATI0N
Bureau Deducts Lessons From the Cotton Crop of
1909

| i
Washingten.-The season of 1908
while one of the worst we have
ever known for the cotton crop in
all but the Atlantic States, taught
some valuable lessons:
First-It demonstrated that crop
OF cotton, under heavy boil weevil
infestation, could be made after July
list, provided the farmers pick up
the punctured squares and work the
field intensively intact, there were
very few bolls on the cotton plants
in Louisiana and sdhsst Missis-
sippi on July 1sts weather
then became dry j - and
such as followed the INSTRUCTIONS Of
the Government Demonstration
Work made fair crop of cotton,
| both on the ,alluvial bottoms and on
the hill lands, and the planters who
failed to follow such instructions
made very little, Louisiana has al
ways had years of a short cotton
crop, due to adverse weather condi-
tions. The crop of 1905, though prac-
tically unaffected by the weevil, was
only 511,738 bales, which is less
than half the product of 1904. Ow-
ing to loss of labor and fear of the
bof1 weevil, about thirty per cent
less than normal acreage was plant
ed to cotton in 1909 and when prac-
tically no cotton was made up to
July 1st, such was the alarm that a
large area of cotton was plowed up
and planted to other crops. The
amount plowed up or abandoned is
estimated by good judges at forty
per cent. But allow that it was twen-
ty per cent, deducting from the pro-
511,738 bales, the thirty per cent
mot planted and twenty per cent
plowed up or abandoned, and the
crop of Louisiana, without allowing
anything for weevil damage, should
have been about 2S6,574 bales. AS
far as can be ascertained the crop
was about 100000 bales. This clear
ly proves that the fright is more
damaging than the weevil.
The second item emphasized by
the experience of 1909 is the import
ance of picking up and burning the
punctured squares. There never had
been any question but picking up
the squares in the fore part of the
season would check the weevils, but
it was proven in 1909 that 1t was
effective after the field was fully
infested IL rapid cultivation was con-
tinued.
The third item of value demon
strated by the season of 1909 is the
Importance Of having the land well
drained so the crop can be worked
as soon as the rain ceases. Under
boil weevil conditions the heavy
black land and the poorly drained
fields should be devoted to other
crops, because intensive working OF
the crop is a necessity. There must
be no weeds and no grass in the
crop.
Fourth-The past season has add
ed its conclusive testimony In favor
of the plan for making cotton under
boil weevil infestation which plan,
approved by the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture, is as fol-
lows: /
/. The destruction of the weevils
in the fall by burning all rubbish
and material in and about the field !
which might serve for alternating
quarters of the weevils, and break
ing (plowing) the soil as deep as
conditions will allow.
2. The shallow winter cultivation
Of the soil if no cover crop Is used.
3. Delaying the planting till the
soil and temperature are warm
enough to make it safe.
4. The planting of early-matur-
ing varieties of cotton.
5. The use of fertilizers.
6. Leaving more space between
the rows, and on ordinary uplands
having a greater distance between
plants in the row than is usually al
lowed.
7. The use of the section harrow
before and after planting and on the
young cotton.
8. Intensive shallow cultivation.
9. Agitation Of the stalks by
means of brush attached to the cul-
tivator.
10. Picking up and burning the
squares that fall under weevil con-
ditfons, especially during the first
thirty or forty days of infestation.
II. Controlling the growth of the
plant if excessive by deep and close
cultivation while the plant is young.
IL. Selecting the seed.
13. The rotation of crops and the
use Of legumes.
It will be noted that the system,
as outlined, has a two-fold object:
% TO reduce the number Of wee
wills and ca to aid early maturity.
The foregoing methods may require
to suit the soil and cli-
mate. Where there is too much food
and a surplus of moisture available
for cotton in any soil, common sense
dictates that these conditions should
not be increased by deep fall break
DEATH TOLL HEAVY. !
and Wagons Claim