Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-02-24
nov 10 eosrRoL THE ssIl.uEEsL
And Produce Cotton crsp Under Bell
MseyiI Conditions.
INTERSTATE COTTON SEED
CRUsHERS' ASSOCIATION.

from a most excellent address by DIR.
Seaman Knapp, Bureau of Plant Indus
try, United States Department of Agri-
culture, delivered before the Anti-Boll
Weeyil Conference Of the Southeastern
States at Atlanta, Georgia, November
22nd, 1910.
Also, extracts taken from circular on
Cotton Production, issued by the South
ern Railway Company.
This circular, as the heading indicates,
covers entirely the production OF cotton
under boll-weevil conditions, and in pre-
senting this subject we want to outline
fully the characteristics Of the Mexican
weeyil, the causes of its wide spread de-
velopment and suggest methods to con-
troll, and to large extent, eradicate the
pest from the cotton fields.
II is quite essential to consider the fol-
lowing facts:
l. That the cotton boll-weevil has
come to stay.
2. That in the course Of time it will
be spread over practically the entire cot
ton producing section Of the United
States;
3. There is no known method at the
present time OF completely destroying it.
Characteristics of the Mexican Boil
Weevil.
| 1. That the cotton boll-weevil feeds
entirely on cotton.
2. That it goes into winter quarters
mainly in or near the field Of its depre-
dations.
8. That a comparatively small per
cent Of the total weevils survive the win
ter and emerge in the spring.
4. That the over-wintered weevil feeds
upon the terminal buds of the young cot
ton plants until the forms or squares de-
volop, then the female deposits her eggs
in the squares exclusively at first, but
laaer may deposit them in the immature
bolls.
5. That the life of the adult weevil,
when supplied with food, is about seven
ty days. II deprived of food it lives only
six or seven day except in Information.
6. For a period after emergency from
winter quarters, il is comparatively slug
gish and while feeding upon the cotton
plants it may be picked or poisoned.
| z. The weevils remain in the field
where they locate in the early spring un-
til they become very numerous. Their
principal period of migration isin the fall
Measures Necessary Under Boil Wee
VII Conditions.
s'As soon as cotton can be gathered,
IL the stalksl are still green and growing,
kill all unmatched weevils in squares and
Iimmatured bolls, and at the same time
deprive the adult weevils Of food and
breeding grounds by Immediately cutting
and burning all the cotton stalks.
1.-THE earlier this can be done the bet
ter. Where sufficient number of Cattle
can be turned into the field to eat it clear
in few days this may be done, insteat
| OF cutting and burning the stalks.
Elm heavy soils, where the winter rair
fall is heavy, it may answer to cut thu
, stalks and pillow them under, but car
! must be taken to have the stalks com
Ipletely covered and turned as deeply a
possible.
"In the cotton producing states east o
the Sabine River, Texas, there is gener
: ally enough rainfall in the winter for tn
complete saturation of the soil, and II tn
stalks are cut and plowed under thorough
: ly in the fall few weevils will survive 70
: ispring depredations. Burn all grass an
rubbish on the bitches and borders Q
the field in the winter.
"when squares begin to drop from tn
! plant, il may be due either to the weevl
: or to other insects, or possibly to othe
: conditions. In any case il is well TO col
I lect and burn all the squares that drop
for at least the first month after th
squares commence to fall, and it viii b
wise TO continue this for q longer period
: A good many weevils viii thus be de
I lstroyed.
How TO Make q Crop Of Cotton Re
CARELESS Of the Boll-Weevil.
"The following plan, outlined briefly
! has been eminently successful"
s 1. The destruction Of the weevils i
e the fall by burning all rubbish and ms
o terial in and about the field which migf
serve for alternating quarters of the we'
villa.
2. Breaking (plowing) the soil as dee
= as conditions viii allow.
8. The shallow winter cultivation ,
J the soil il no cover crop is used.
q 4. Delaying the planting till the 50
}, and temperature are warm enough
! make it safe.
al 5. The planting of e, y maturing va
rieties OF cotton.
9. The use Of fertilizers.
! 7. Leaving more space between Ii
!. rows, and on ordinary uplands having
s greater distance between plants in Ii
4 row than is usually allowed.
FL 8. The use Of the section harrow b
fore and after planting and on the youn
2 cotton.