Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-05
THE ADVENT OF BOIL
WEEIIL IN GEORGIA

The bon weevil win shortly invest the
southwestern section of Georgia, and
Judging from analogy. X may soon oe
expected to spread across the state until
II finally reaches the Atlantic ocean. Inc
rate Of the weevfl's advance varies. Out
n Is nevertheless constant. and while II
EfI likely infest the southern part OF
the stale first, there is no reason to oouo'
that Il viii ultimately invade every sec
fon or Georgia now devoted TO the CUT
fivaffor az cotton What can be done
10 meet the onslaught OF this ruthless
invader whose advance Is certain ano
whose powers OF destruction are second
only 20 a vast invading army This van
dal OF the cotton fields knows no law ana
A. not a respector OF persons Thousands
~ dollars have been spent in studying
c.,t 49, life history by federal and state
noweruments. Much treasure has been
Invested in endeavoring to stay its ao-
vance. virtually every SUGGESTION "a
tional or irrational which mas peen
made with reference 70 attaining TINS
end having been tested oy one agency
or another.
S,rce re weevn can not be kept from
invading the state. the next proposition
10 consider Is the best means OF COM
hafkfnr the ravages which IL VIII GER
falnlv fnfIict upon our cotton producers
A resume Of what Is known OF the weev-
Il indicates that II feeds on cotton and
that IL hybernates on or near the held.
where its depradations have been the
most severe Only a comparatively small
number OF the weevils survive the winter
and come out in the spring These over
winter weevils feed upon the terminal
buds OF the young cotton plants until
the squares develop when the female
deposits her eggs in the squares effectu-
ally accomplishing their destruction. a
weevfl viii presumably live about 70
days. but without It's natural food sup
ply can not exist for more than a week
When Il first energes from its winter
quarters il Is sl-fS gish. and may at this
season be picked or poisoned The weev-
lis remain chiefly in the helds where
they locate in the early spring. their
principal migration taking place in the
autumn
With these facts before US. the sug-
gestions relative TO combating its In
furious effects may now be taken under
Amusement. and the first and most i'm
portant Is TO prepare the ground better
than IL has been prepared before. II the
lands are low or not wei drained. pro-
vision should be made for the removal
OF the surplus water. The cotton stalks
OF the previous years crop should be de-
stroyed before frost and any rubbish in
or about the field should be included
This takes away the natural cover Of the
pest and naturally reduces the number
which survive the winter. In lighting the
boil weevif intensive methods Of cu1tiva-
ton are one OF the most important ends
TO be Kept In view. This means that deep
blowing should be practiced. subsoiling
on the heavy clay lands OF the Piedmont
reEnfon being particularly desirable This
calls for the employment Of larger imple-
menfs and more horse and mule power
in addition 10 fall blowing. narrowing or
dfshing the land In the winter is ad-
visable as Il not only results In the in
cooperation OF more Of the rain which
falls. but lessons erosion. improves the
tflth. and as q consequence produces a
more desirable seed Sed.
Another point OF primary Importance
Is the securing Of early strains OF cot
ton resistant as nearly as possible to
diseases which are mot common IN
Georgia cotton fields. namely. anthra-
nose and the wilt disease II is diff
cult to secure varieties OF this char
ncter for the state has appropriated
very little money for this kind of work
and one who is at all familiar with
labor and effort involved in developing
it's fruit two or three weeks earlier
than our best varieties do at the pres
emit time and also be immune to the
diseases mentioned. This can be done.
however and viii be done IL the state
will supply the. agencies. such as the
state College OF Agriculture. with the
funds sought for the Improvement OF
the cotton plant II may be proper
here 20 digress by stating that Pro
department. has a strain which is des-
fErated BY the name OF Sunbeam. ap-
parently resistant 70 anthracnose. and
II funds are secured from the present
session Of the legislature. this strain
will be further improved and seed dis
tributed where II will serve the great
est purpose This strain Of cotton Is
suite superior as TO quality and length
n lint and yield as compared with the