St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-06-03
TO FIGHT THE BOIL WEEVIL.

In response to the general and in
sistent demand for a special circular
explaining how to make cotton under
boil weevil conditions, the following
is submitted as the result of our eX-
experience in the cotton States for a
number of years.
1t is evident that the cotton boil
weevil has come to stay; that it will
soon spread practically over the en-
tire cotton-producing portions of the
there is no known method of COM
pletely destroying it, and consequent
~ it will be factor in all future
cotton production in this country.
Fortunately there are some factors
in this apparently hopeless problem
which point to results which promise
relief. The Bureau of Entomology
of the United States Department of
Agriculture in it's outline of the life
history of this pest has brought out
among other things the following
facts:
Cd The cotton boil weevil feeds
upon nothing but cotton.
CD 1t goes into winter quarters
ildlHly Ill VI uGdI lie ASlu VI lCS
depredations.
CD A comparatively small per-
centage of the weevils survive the
winter and emerge in the spring.
ca The overwintered weevil feeds
upon the terminal buds of the young
cotton plants until the forms or
squares develop, then the femals de-
posts her eggs in the squares, ex-
clusively at first, but later may de-
pcsit in the immature bolls.
90 The life of the adult weevil
when supplied with food is about 70
days. If deprived of food it lives
only or z days, except in hiberna-
ton.
60 For a period after emergence
from winter quarters the weevil is
comparatively sluggish and while
feeding upon cotton plants it may be
picked or poisoned.
CD The weevils remain mainly in
the field where they locate in the
early spring until they become very
Their principal period of
is in the fall.
Based upon these life habits of the
Weevil, the Bureau of Plant Industry
has planned it's fight for the produc-
tion of cotton, which may be sum-
married. as follows:
Cd Under boil weevil infestation
the fields selected for cultivation
should be well drained, because q
successful crop will then depend upon
the possibility of cultivating them at
the proper time. The low, poorly
drained lands should be devoted to
other crops. They. have always been
an uncertain factor in cotton pro-
duction. 1t is not the intention TO
state that Well-drained alluvial lands
should not be planted to cotton.
30 The early destruction of the
cotton stalks before frost and the
burning of all rubbish in and about
the infested field are imperative.
60 Break the field deep as early
n,cnt that does not bring too much
of the subsoil to the surface, and
occasionally run harrow over it in
the winter, if practicable. Before
planting, thoroughly pulverize the
soil and make the best seed bed pos
siDle.
(4) Care must be taken to secure
seed of an early-maturing variety
and of the highest vitailty-not
necessarily small boil variety, for
On Uplands we have been more sue
cessful with some large boil. varieties.
90 Plant as early as the season
will permit in rows som ewhat wider
apart than under nonboll weevil con-
ditions, but it is better to delay
painting till all danger of frost is
rast and the soil is, warm enough to
produce rapid examination and plant
growth.
60 The use of the section harrow
before planting; and after planting,
and again just, as soon as the plants
are well up, is advised.
CD Use intensive, shallow cult
Vation of the crop and never lay by
the cotton till picking commences.
Late guilty alton is very important.
tS) In case it is evident that a
large number of weevils have been
overwintered, it is advisable to hand
pick or poison the early appearing
Weevils
90 AS soon as the weevil COM
to work, as evidenced by the
squares, attach a pole Or
brush to the handles of the cultivator
90 as to knock the squares off. Most
Of them will fall of their own ac-
cord in few days after they are
(1O PersistentIy pick up and
burn the fallen squares
This battle against the weevil is
m two divisions:
The first division of the work
in reducing the number of
Eeevils just as much as possible so
nat crop can be made.
The second division is to push tie
cotton plant to maturity as fast as
possible and by extra cultivation and
,eltiiization cause it to put on Gsore
'orms OF squares than it can mature,
20 that what the weevil takes is only
/ surplus-of no consideration in
making the crop.
The burning Of the stalks is very
20 the weevils in the field,
)ut its value depends considerably
IN the way it is done. 1t must be
lone early and before frost. Demon
STATIONS have meen made showing
hat it caused the destruction Of as
many as 81 per cent of the Weevils if
lone early and properly, but if de-
aged it might allow as many as IS
'er rent to escape.