Tensas gazette., 1912-04-26
By w. d. HUNTER

which by rare succession of checks the
boil weevil has, been greatly reduced in
numbers. This gives the planters at least
a reasonable assurance of freedom from
extensive injury by the boil weeyil in a
large arear. The Bureau of Entomology
advises that as far South as st. Joseph,
Louisiana cotton may be planted this
year with reasonable expectation OF
comparative freedom from weevil injury
if the fields are prepared quickly after
the subsiding of the present overflow. In
no case, however, will it be advisable
to plant cotton after May 25th.
South of st. Joseph in the overfowed
arear it is not advisable that cotton be
planted as late as May on account of the
the presence of large quantities of moss
in which the weevils are to be found in
numbers.
The Bureau of Entomology urges that
farmers do not plant large areas in cot
ton in the overhowed area. Only the
quicker and better drained soils should
be planted in cotton and the acreage
should be small enough to allow the labor
at hand to give it more than the usual
attention. Planters are aware Of the un-
certainty in the production Of crop on
overhowed lands regardless of the weevil.
Bearing this in mind and also the fact
there will be some manifestation by the
&Teevil despite the conditions that have
fbeen described, the planter should de-
vote only enough land to late cotton to
retain his labor.
Another question upon which inquiries
have been received is in relation to the
Buffalo gnat. Planters in the overfowed
area well remember that outbreaks in
variably occur during years of overhows
of the Mississippi River. The causes for
such outbreaks were carefully determined.
The comparative absence of the buffalo
gnats for many years has undoubtedly
been due to the perfection OF the levee
system and the prevention of overtiows.
No definite prediction can be made, but
the history of the insect in this country
shows that it is more than likely that il
will occur in dangerous number through
out the flooded territory during thii
spring. The gnat problem was important
enough in the early days because it re
suited in the death OF thousands of plan
!. tation mules and seemed to make the
production of live stock impractieable
: At this time an outbreak would be o
even greater importance on account O
(, the recent attention that has been giver
to animal husbandry by planters in re
gions which have been invaded by the
boil weevil.
The question arises as to whether i
: will be safe for planters to bring in lv'
stock to replace that which has been los
|, ss soon as the overflow subsidies.
: Investigations that were conducted fo
e several years showed that the latest oc
e currence of the buffalo gnats in number
d in the Mississippi Delta was May 10th
a There is no reason to suppose that out
breaks will occur at later date durin
q the present season. Consequently it ap
q pears to be safe to restock the plantation
n as soon after the present food leaves th
Q lands. There is no reason why the pres
v lent misfortune should interfere with tn
; judicious increase in live stock holding
+ which has been an important part of tn
II preparation the planters have made 70
It the changed conditions caused by the bo
.e weevil.
nj DALLAS, TEXAS, April 20, 1912.