The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-07-20
THE BOIL WEEVIL SITUATION IN
MISSISSIPPI. JULY /, 1871.


During the past month, the A. & M.
College in cooperation with the u. S.
Bureau of Entomology has been investi-
eating the boil weevil situation in Missis-
sippi. 1t has been found that there are
fewer weevils in the infested territory
at this time than at any time since the
advent of this insect into the state. Wealth
err conditions adverse to the boil weevil
have caused this great reduction in their
numbers. There are at least three fac
tors that have assisted in this good work
First: During last October, there was
an early freeze that caught large number
of weevils at work in the fields. Second
Early last January, over large portion
of the infested territory the temperature
was very low, between degrees and ~
degrees F, on several days. This is the
coolest weather that the weevils have
had to pass through since their advent
into the state. Third: During May
and June 1871, there was a continued
period of dry hot weather.
The three weather conditions that are
known to be the greatest aid in the con-
troll of the boil weevil are long periods
of hot dry weather during the growing
season, exceedingly cold winters, and early
fall freezes. All three of these conditions
have come to our aid in Mississippi DUR
ing the past nine months. Nature has
been of great assistance to US in the control
of the boil weevil this year but it is
necessary for us to do our part if the
boil weevil injury is to be kept to the min
imum.
WHAT TO DO NOW. At this season
of the year (midsummer) two practices
should be followed. First, the cotton
should be kept in high state of cultiva>
ton. The soil should not be allowed TO
become hard, but continuous shallow, cul-
tivation should keep the surface covered
with a fine dust mulch. Second, all pune
tured square should be picked up and de-
stroyed. When eggs are laid in the cotton
squares. the squares turn yellow and flare
open and usually fall to the ground. All
of these should be picked up, and all yell
low or unhealthy looking squares on the
plants should be gathered. If all Of
these squares are destroyed byburning, the
eggs and grubs or young weevils withi'.
them will be killed and therefore vii.
not become weevils to lay their eggs on
other squares later in the season. AS each
weevil that develops in squares may be-
come the ancestors of great number OF
weevils later on, it is at once evideaf that
it is very essential that as many as pos
sible be destroyed early In the season.
All of the adult weevils that can be
found should be destroyed at once. These
weevils are now laying their eggs and
destroying cotton squares. Each weevil
that is killed means the saving of large
number of cotton bolls. The adult wee
Wis will be most often fund within, or
around the outside of the open blossoms
and they must be found around the
squares and bolls and On the young ten
der parts Of the plants.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD THE SQUAR-
ES AND WEEVILS BE PICKED
UP?
It will pay to go over the crop Just as
often as you can do so. Until we have
more information on this subject we adj
wise doing this work once each week II
it IS possible to do so. This collecting
of squares and wevils must be done care
fully and Systematically. If 1t is done
Sin a. haphazard or careless manner, II
will probably mean wasted time.
WILL IT PAY TO PICK UP SQUARES
Many of the successful cotton raisers
in the boil weevil territory tell US that
it does pay and pays we'll when the
work is done thoroughly and carefully
Some of the people who have been doing
this work have made good crops while
their neighbors who have not picked the
syuares or who have done the work care
lessly have made almost total failures.
Address all letters concerning boil wee
vii matters to the Entomologist, Agrlcui-
tural College, Miss.
o.