The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1912-05-03
DIR. HUNTER SAYS COTTON MAY
BE PLANTED UP TO MAY %
BY W. D. HUNTER.
(U. 5. Department or Agriculture, Blu,
rean of Entnmnlnnr -

mas extensive areas of fprtil
farm lands, causes several question
concerning injurious insects to arise
The principal one of these question
relates to the boil weevil. 1t has beer
shown by the bureau of entomolog,
that one Of the requisites in obtaining ,
profitable crop of cotton where the Dol
weeyiI exists is early planting. This
practice has been demonstrated to such
an extent by the department that it has
become Common knowledge. The over.
flow Will make it entirely impossible
to plant in many counties in Louisiana.
Arkansas and Mississippi before about
the goth Of May. The planters desire
to know to what extent the crop of 1912
will be damaged if planting is deferred
until such time as it becomes possible
to prepare the fields.
The very great Importance of early
planting has been proven beyond any
doubt whatever. There are circum-
stances in the present situation, how
ever, which show that during the cur
rent season late planting may be fol
lowed without any great risk of the
boil weevil. 1t must be understood
that the advice about late planting now
given should not be taken to minimize
to the slightest degree the Importance
of early planting under normal condi-
tons. At this time late planting, as
will be explained, can be practiced solely
on account of the very exceptional con-
ditions that have prevailed. Iii FORUM
ate that this advice can be given, be-
cause if cotton could not be planted on
some of the areas that have been flood
ed there would be an exodus of labor
that would be exceedingly disastrous
to the owner of plantation properties.
SOME WEEyILS DROWNED.
During the season of 1911 the boil
weevil was reduced to a very low point
IN the larger part of the territory that
has been flooded. This reduction in
numbers was due to a number of causes.
among them the cold of the winter of
1901, the dryness of a portion of the
growing section of 1911, the defoliation
by the cotton caterpillar and the very
severe winter of l9l1-12. Even with
out floods during 1912 in a large portion
of the upper Mississippi delta compare
tive immunity from boil weevil damage
could have been expected. The flood
occurred before many of the weevils had
emerged from their alternating quart 9
ers; consequently very few had an op-
portunlty to escape the waterb by flight.
The overflow had therefore still further
reduced the numbers of boil weevils
present.
1t must not be supposed that all of
the Weevils have been exterminated.
A certain number find winter quarters
IN Spanish moss and under bark of trees
at some distance above the high water
line. Naturally a few of the weevils
which found shelter in such places will
be present to damage the crop of 1912; J
therefore total immunity from damage
cannot be expected. 1t should also be
understood that during the season there
will be a fight of weevils into the flood
ed area. -
One Of the several objections to late !.
planting as a means of averting danger -,
by the weevil in a normal season has "
been the impossibility of obtaining con- NJ
certed action by the planters v any
considerable area Of land. In the pres e
ent case natural conditions have pre- y
vented the preparation of the soil and ~
all planting will be late. In short, dur -,
ing the present year there will be fore y.
ed uniform late planting of cotton over =
a large area in which by a rare success A.
sion of checks the boil weevil have ~
been very greatly reduced in numbers. j.,
phis gives the planters at least a rea- ~
Nonable assurance of freedom from ex- ~.
Pnslve injury by the boil weevil in a
Fge area. The bereau of entomology -
Elses that as far south as st. Joseph, !.
plsana, cotton may be planted this -
Y with reasonable expectation of r.
o.parative freedom from weevil injury h.,
mf fields are prepared quickly after ho
upbsiding of the present overflow.
IN case, however, will it be advisable :;
'olnt cotton after about May 25th. r.,
ah of st. Joseph in the overflow h.
drel is not advisable that cotton be !,
piaN as late as May on account of
TIE essence of large quantities of e.
moss which the weevils are to be :.
lounS numbers. ho
lh4reau of entomology urges that IN
piantedo not plant large areas in cot -,
ION The overflow area. Only the j.,
qulckeand better drained soil should
DC pIari in cotton and the acreage ~
snouid small enough to allow the Az
'aoor AND to give it more than the 90
usual aAtion. Planters are aware OF J..
ue uncainty in the production of a Il,
crop on srfowed lands regardless of n
weevil. airing this in mind and also nj
the fact It there will be some infesta- -
uon by thHeevil despite the conditions
that have en- described, the planter
should dew only enough land to late :.
cotton to min his labor. ..
T%SBUFFALo GNAT. NJ
Anothf dsstion upon which inquir- W