The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-25
STATUS OF THE
BOIL WEEV|[
NOTHING HAS TRANSFERRED TO
SHOW THATIT WILL NOT REACH
EVERY PART OF THE COTTON
GROWING BELT.

Washington, jan. 24-Circular No.
122 of the Bureau of Entomplogy gives
The Status of the Cotton Boil Weevil
in 1909" 1t is stated that in the Unit
ed States the infested area includes all
Texas except the western cotton-p pro-
ducing counties, practically all the
state of Louisiana. % counties in Mis-
sissippi. 20 counties in Arkansas, 10
counties in Oklahoma, and this in
cludes about 80 per cent of the cotton
acreage Of the United States in 1909.
The circular says:
Nothing has transpired up to the
present time to indicate that the weevil
will not eventually reach the northern
most and easternmost portions of the
cotton belt. Its advance to the east
will be more rapid than to the north.
This is on account of the lower tenn
perature in the north, to which it
seems necessary for the weevil to adapt
itself more or less slowly. In some
seasons the northward advance will
probably be checked altogether by alb
normal conditions. but the experience
now acquired seems to indicate that
the weevil will eventually overcome
any climatic barriers that may be en-
countered. Although the advance TO
the east and north seems to be certain,
there is a large region in the west into
which the weevil can make its way
only with very great difficulty, if at
all. In the high, open plains of west
ern Texas, where cotton production has
developed enormously in the last ten
years, the conditions of the winters
and summers combined will probably
serve as an effective barrier against
the weevil. In that region there is
little timber in which the insects may
obtain shelter from the severe winters
Moreover, the normal dryness of the
summer compared to that in more
easterly regions, causing small plants
and little shade, will act as an equally
strong check upon the insect. On ac
count OF these conditions 1t can not be
considered that the boil weevil is an
import Mt menace to the cultivation Of
cotton n the territory west of about
the on hundredth meridian.
Cotton Growing Experiments.
Twelve million dollars is a stake
worth playing for. That is the value
of the Egyptian cotton imported into
the United States, which is the creates,
The variety of cotton most extensively
grown in Egypt is known as the Nit
Afif; it has soft, rather crinkly fiber
of characteristic light brown color
that renders it especially useful for
certain classes of cotton goods in
which the natural color of the fiber Is
retained.
The best Egyptian cottons bring
price second only to that paid for ths
highest grades of Sea Island, being
used solely in the manufacture of the
finest goods. They are especially suit
able for mercerizing, taking this pro-
cess better than the native American
cottons, and are largely used for mix
ing with silk and for the manufa cture
of cloths in which a high finish and
luster are required.
The United States Department Of
Agriculture is endeavoring to develop
Egyptian cotton culture In the United
States. AS result of experiments
that have been carried on for the past
seven years several distinct types have
originated from the stock OF imported
seed Of the Nit Afifi variety with which
the work was begun.
A description of the leading charac-
teristics of these promising varieties
and strains and the methods followed
in cotton breeding work in the south