The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-04-15
bureau OF Plant Industry Issues
Important Bulletin.
plan TO FIGHT BOIL WEEvIl
government Agricultural Department Has Ap-
proved Method For Growing Cotton Under
BOIL Weevil Tniestation.

washington, D. C.-The season of
A'oS' while one of the worst we have
over known for the cotton crop in all
out the Atlantic states, taught some
valuable lessons
flrst-lt demonstrated that a cron
OF cotton, under heavy boil weeyil in.
hesitation, could be made after July
l, provided the farmers pick up the
punctured squares and work the field
Intenslvely. In fact, there were very
lew Dolls on the cotton plants in Lou
lana and Southwest Mississippi on
July !, 1909. The weather then be-
came dry and warm, and such as fol-
AoWed the instructions of the govern.
hleht demonstration work made a fair
crop OF cotton, both on the al.
iuVlal bottoms and on the hill lands
ana the planters who failed to fol-
low such instructions made very lit
Tie. Louisiana has always had years
or Short cotton crop, due to adverse
weather conditions. The crop of 1905
though practically unaffected by the
weevll, was only 511,738 bales, which
is less than half 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 practically
70 cotton was made up to July list,
such was the alarm that a large area
or cotton 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
1t was 20 per cent, deducting from
the probable crop in such a season,
to-wit: 511,73S bales, the 80 per cent
not planted and 20 per cent plowed up
or abandoned, and the crop of Louis
lana, without allowing anything for
weevil damage, should have been
about 2S6,574 bales. AS far as cah
be ascertained the crop was about
100000 bales. This clearly proves
that the fright is more damaging than
the weevil.
The second item emphasized by the
experience Of 1909 is the Importance
Of picking up and burning the pune
tured squares. There never had been
any question but picking up the
squares in the fore part of the sea-
son would check the weevils, but it
was proven in 1909 that it was effect
i've after the field was fully infested
II rapid cultivation was continued.
The third item of value demonstrate
ed by the season of 1909 is the i'm
portance 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
lands and the poorly drained fields
should be devoted to other crops, be-
cause intensive working of the crop
is a necessity. There must be no
weeds and no grass in the crop.
Fourth-The past season has added
it's conclusive testimony in favor of
the plan for making cotton under boil
weevil infestation, which plan, ap-
proved by the United States depart
ment of agriculture, is as follows:
1. Destruction of the weevils in tne
fall by burning all rubbish and ma
terial in and about the field which
might serve for alternating quarters
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.
3. Delaying the planting till the soil
and temperature are warm enough to
make it SAFE
4. The planting of early maturing
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 allowed.
Z. 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 cultivator.
10. Picking up and burning the
squares that fall under weevil condl'
lions, especially during the first 80 or
40 days of infestation.
II. Controlling the growth or the
plant if excessively by deep and close
cultivation while the plant is young
~. Selecting the seed.
~ The rotation of crops and the
use of legumes.
It will be noted that the system, as
outlined. has a two-fold object: Cd TO
reduce the number of weevils and CIV
In aid early maturity. The foregoing
methods may require modification to
anti the soil and climate. Where there
I