St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-03-26
SCARE MORE DANAG.
ING Than THE BOIL
WEEVIL
U. s. Department Of ~AgFlcpItgrs TeIls Hsm ID.
Make CstisR NotHlths
standing Pest.

The United States Department If
Agriculture has just issued 4 bulletin
by S. A. Knapp, special agent ID
charge, dealing with the lessons from
the cotton crop Of 1909. The report
follows:
The season of 1909, while one of
the worst we have ever known for
the cotton crop in all but the Allan
tic States, taught some valuable les
sons:
First, it demonstrated that a crop
Of cotton, under heavy boil Weevil
infestation, could be made after July
/, provided the farmers pick up the
p~unctured squares and work the field
intensively. In fact, there were very
few bolls on the cotton plants in
Louisiar9 and Southwest Mississippi
on July |, 1909. The weather be-
came dry and warm, and such as
followed the instructions Of the gov
eminent demonstration work made a
fair crop of cotton, both on the allu-
vial bottoms and on the hill lands.
and the planters who failed to fol-
low such instructions made very little.
Louisiana has always had years of a
short cotton crop, due to adverse
weather conditions. The crop Of 1905,
though practically unaffected by the
weevil, was only 511,738 bales, which
is less than BALI the product of 1904,
Owing to loss of labor and fear of
the boil weevil, about 80 per cent
less than normal acreage was planted
to cotton in 1909, and when prac-
tically no cotton was made up to
July L, such was the alarm that a
large area was plowed up and planted
to other crops. The amount ploWed
up or abandoned is estimated BY good
Judges at 40 per cent. But allow
that it was 20 per cent, deducting
from the probable crop in such a sea-
son, to-wit: 51l,738 bales, the SO
per cent not planted and 20 per cent
plowed up or abandoned, and the
crop of Louisiana, without allowing
anything for weevil damage, should
have been about 286,574 bales. AS
far as can be ascertained, the crop
was about 10000 bales. This clear
" proves that the fright is more
damaging than the weevil.
The second item emphasized by
the experience of 1909 is the impor-
lance of picking up and burning the
punctured squares. There never had
been any question but picking up the
squares would check the weevil, but
it was proven in 1909 that it was eff.
fective after the field was fully IN,
tested if rapid cultivation was con
tinued.
The third item of value demonstra,
ted by the season of 1909 is the i'm
portance of having the land vel
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, be
cause intensive working of the croE
is a necessity. There must be nc
weeds and no grass in the crop.
Fourth: The past season has add
ed its conclusive testimony in favor
of making cotton under boil weeviI
infestation, which plan, approved By
the United States Department Of
Agriculture, is a follows:
|. The destruction of the weevi
in the fall by burning all rubbish anC
material in and about the field which
might serve for alternating quarter
Of the weevils, and breaking (ploW
ing) the soil as deep as conditions
will allow.
2. The shallow winter cultivation
of the soil if no cover crop is used.
8. Delaying the planting till TIM
soil and temperature are warn
enough to make it safe.
4. The planting of early-maturinf
varieties OF cotton.
S. The s of fertilizers.
6. Leaving more space between
the rows, and on ordinary upfandi
having a greater distance between
plants in a row than is usually al
lowed
z. The use Of the section harrow
before and alter planting end on tn
young cotton.
8. Intensive shallow cultivation.
3, Agitation of the stalks b,
means Of brush attached to the cul
%tiyator.
10. Picking up and burning th.
squares that fall under weevil condl
tions, especially during the frs
thirty or forty days Of investation.
II. Controlling the growth Of tn
plant if excessive by deep and clos
cultivation, while the plant is young
IL. Selecting the seed.
l3. The rotation of crops and th'
use Of legumes.
1t will be noted that the system q
outlined has a twofold object: g
To reduce the number If weevil an