The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18
THE BOIL WESVIL PROBLEM.
Its Care and It's Solution.
(By w. A. Reynolds }

the Mexican Boil Weevil crossed the
Rio Grande and ever since has stead
lily spread eastward over the cotton
belt.
No natural enemy of the pest has
ever been found nor has any artificial
means been discovered to exterminate
or control his advance or multiplica-
ton. The ablest entomologists who
have studied his habits and life lend
no hope that he shall be destroyed ss
the grasshopper, army worm or cater
pillar by some natural calamity to the
genus or from a gradual weakening
of the vitality of the breed.
To successfully meet his inroads up
on the cotton plant we should learn
what ne is like and something of his
habits.
The following pertinent cacts have
been learned after years Of careful
study and are The basis fo. sensible
and successful war upon tho dcstruc-
tive pest.
First. Only a small per cent sur
vive the winter season.
Second. Each female Laws about
two thousand eggs In q lifetime.
Third. The period of eggs to weevil
| is about seventeen days.
Fourth. Eggs are only deposited in
lie squares or forms Of the cotton
plInt
Fifth. Heat is his enemy and when
knocked from the plant onto a hot
dust mulch he likely dies.
Sixth. Wet weather and abundant
shade in the field favor his propaga-
ton.
To put the matter plainly, the only
way to produce a profitable cotton
crop in any locality where the boil
weevil exists is to produce and ma
ture the forms and squares into bolls
faster than the weevil can infest The
squares. Your cotton must beat the
weevil in the race for life.
To do this two methods must be
followed
Firsr. Produce quick growing.
heavy fruitng cotton that Hil leave q
surplus sfter the woevil taxes his
share
Second. To use such means that
prevent his rapid multiplication, thus
giving the plant handicap in the
race.
In this brief paper we will touch
only upon the first. as the second
method is now generally known tin all
infested sections and is not yet peril
nent information for the Atlantic
States where the weevil has not yet
come.
Unfortunately, each State or section
that has become infested was found
without previous preparation with
which to make a successful fight. The
natural result has been an enormous
loss and utter temporary discourage
ment.
Let the states east of Mississippi
commence the battle now, for a fight
we'll planned is half won.
Fighting the boil weevil merely
means better farming. 1t is needless
! to think that the weevil is not going
to take his yearly toll of cotton. The
farmer only gets the surplus.
How shall we produce these favor
| able conditions in advance? We take
the liberty of suggesting these few
ideas for your consideration.
First. Be equipped in advance with
the proper type Of plant that will
beat the weevil in the race for exis-
tence.
This means a plant of the following
characteristics: One that does not af-
ford an abundance Of shade to shell
ter him. One that natures it's crop
in the shortest possible time. One
that is very prolific in Its tendency so
that it will produce enough squares
for both fruit and weevil. How shall
we get this type Of plant? Breed 1t.
Don't pay fabulous prices for ques-
tionable seed shipped from some far
off section that may be totally unfit
| for the soil on your farm. Almost
| every section Of the Atlantic States
has few farmers who plant the ear
| ly varieties. Get the seed from them.
learn the first lesson of seed selec-
(. n and breeding and raise your own
| planting seed either by selection from
| the field or by means Of a seed patch
| Of cotton. Write your State Depart
| ment of Agriculture, or the General
| Fertilizer Department Of The Southern