The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-06-27


ed for moisture, had made n splen-
did growth, and at that time was
loaded with hollis and forms that
would have produced three-fourth OF
a bale to the acre; yet in three weeks
time owing to the rayages OF the boil
worm there was scarcely a boil or
uirm left on my entire crop. A new
crop put on in September but was
ractically al destroyed by an early
frost. and | gathered less than one
twentieth of bale to the acre.
II was such costly experience
u me that did not care to repeat
It. so ! began an Investigation the
purpose OF which was to ascertain
whether or not there was any known
means Of effectively combating this
apparently insignificant, but formid-
able foe Of the cotton farmer. | have
found there are three methods that
have been used with more or less
success in combating the rayages OF
the boil worm.
First. Planting early maturing va
rieties of cotton so that the bolls
have attained such size and such de-
gree OF toughness, that when the
August generation Of worms are
hatched the bolls cannot be entered
by them. This method affords but
very little protection for obvious rea
sons.
Second. The planting of strips OF
corn and COW peas through the cot
ton field This method affords con-
siderable protection here, and where
used, after planting forty rows Of
cotton a strip should be left for five
rows of Mexican June corn and con-
tinue this through the field. alter
mating with forty rows of cotton and
five rows of corn. The corn should
be planted on or near June LIST, so
as TO be In silk and tassell the last
days of July or first days of August.
This method will be found more ef-
fective II COW peas are planted In the
corn ten days after corn planting.
The moth producing boil worms
how a decided preference for corn in
the silk and tassel and viii therefore
deposit her eggs upon the corn and
peas In preference to cotton plant
and therein lies the protection of this
method
Third. by the timely and proper
application OF poisons. and this Is by
far the most effective means of com
batting the boil worm The opinion
prevails to great extent among cot
ton farmers that the boil worm can
not be successfully poisoned because
IL bores to the interior OF bolls and
squares and does not feed upon the
exterior Of the plant TO any extent.
such belief Is true only of the lat
ter stages of the larya or worm.
The average farmer seldom has
his attention attracted by so small a
creature as newly Matched boil
worm and therefore the habits OF the
worm during the early stages OF It's
larval existence is practically I'M
known to him. II Is only during this
stage that pois can be effectively
used In boil worm control. lmmedi'
ately upon it's escape from the egg
the little larva deyours It's deserted
egg shell and then begins restless
search for food. II may wander about
here and there for hours frequently
listing or rasping the surface otleal
or other portion of the plant where II
may be. in its efforts TO find suitable
food and many OF the tiny larvae per
ish In their attempts to find suitable
food. Il Is during this period thai
poison is most effective When en-
rance has once been effected into
d oil or form there is then no more
surface lttuluE anu NNH'' 'tN''+tf
poisons are Of nomore avail
! Paris Green at the rate OF TIVE
pounds TO the acre either pure o
mixed with cheap flour is an effec
tive poison. London Purple at tn
rate OF two pounds per acre nike
with from 10 TO 10 pounds OF slack
ed lime is also effective. Tnees poi
sons should be applied when the fol
iage of the plants is damp, early o
I morning or late In the evening be
! ing the best times. The usual meth
cd OF applying the poison Is by put
ting Il mixed with the lime or flou
into two ordinary jute gunny sack
\ and tieing a sack on each end OF
\ Eout pole and putting this pole
Z cross the pommel OF a saddle an
: trotting a horse or mule along b.
! tween the rows. busting two rows b