The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-14


uraI size. DR.. w. .. Hunters Illus
tration.
lands and I know whereof I speak
when I say that it Is very difficult to
completely bury average size cotton
stalks. l have hitched three large
mules to twelve inch steer beam
turning plow with a log chain attach
ment and failed to coApletely turn IN
der average size cotton stalks on land
clear of stumps. l have failed to turn
under large size cotton stalks with
four large mules hitched to thirty
inch disk piow. In fact, farmers who
have attempted to pillow under green
cotton stalks early in the fall laugh
at the advice sometimes given to plow
under the stalks at all times and under
all conditions as a means Of Destroy
ing the food supply of the weevils.
However, let us use large plows and
strong teams and completely bury the
stalks wherever it can be done.
There is an insufficient number of
cattle on many farms and plantations
to thoroughly and completely denude
the cotton stalks Of every vestige of
foliage, squares and bolls in short
time and it is impossible to completely
bury the cotton stalks on many farms
and plantations, hence, it is absolute
ly necessary to burn the stalks as
soon as the cotton Is picked out.
When the stalks are burned the food
supply OF the adult weevils Is de-
! stroyed at once. The weevils in the
t immature stages in the squares and
! bolls are all destroyed at once, and
! the large majority of the adult weevils
perish In the flames especially when
the stalks are burned after shutdown.
Weevils retire for the night On the
cotton stalk piles at about shutdown.
They seldom move about at night. If
the farmers are careful not to unduly
shake the stalk piles when applying
the torch after shutdown, practically
all the weevils on the stalk piles will
be burned.
! OF course, If the stalks are allowed
to remain until heavy frost has come
and practically all of the mature
weevils have gone into winter quar-
tiers, it Is not advisable to burn the
stalks. It Is then advisable to turn
the stalks under as deeply as possible
Surprising numbers Of weevils have
been found alternating in cracks and
holes In the ground and under grass
weeds and other trash. In January
1907, in one instance, the bureau Of
entomology found $50 weevils pei
acre, Of which 70 per cent. were alive
Most Of the many examinations thai
have been made by the bureau of en-
tomology have showd more than 1000
live weevils per acre in the cotto1
fields. Thousands of weevils are
found alternating in corn fields in ole
sorghum and cane fields, and in hay
fields.
Deep winter breaking and the turn
Ing under Of trash, corn stalks and 81
On means death to thousands O.
weevils. The thousand or more
weevils per acre in the cracks ant
holes in the ground and under the
grass, weeds and trash and corn stalks
can practically all be killed by deel
winter breaking Of the land. Their,
Is enough rainfall in this section t,
thoroughly saturate the soil man,
times and for this reason 1t Is not q
all necessary to burn the corn stalks
grass, cat and pea stubble and othe
| vegetable matter on the tillable land
, Every acre in cultivation In the weevf
territory should be ploYed good an,
deep during the fall and winter.
Many weevils will escape from tn,
, fields but all will not fly beyond tn,
. reach Of the farmer Many will b,
, found along the fence rows, hedges
J ditch banks. and in decayed logs an.
. dead trees. The cleaning and burn
? ing OF the hedges, ditch banks an,
| fenced rows and the burning of ga,
> On logs. stumps and dead trees In an,
, around the fields will destroy man,
, weevils that would live to do grea
: damage.