Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-03-02
BOIL WEEVILS
 MAY REAPPEAR Federal Agent Says Farm CTS Must Prepare to Wage
 War On Insect.
WARNED
PLANTERS
Gives Directions for Fighting Pest and Advises Planting of short Staple
 in Infested Districts.

Farm conditions ill general and the boil weevil prospects in particular were discussed yesterday afternoon at q meeting of number of the farmers of this vicinity which was held in the assembly hall of the Chamber of Commerce.
 W. F. Haden, district agent for the United States Department of Agricul. ture whose district includes southerr Arkansas. was the principal speaker, taking as his topic "The Boil Weevil Prospects for This Year" Mr. Haden in detail explained the prospects for boll-weevil infestation this year and warned the farmers against this dread insect, saying that it will again nfest the cototn fields of this vicinity this year.
 Many of the farmers of this sec ton of Arkansas" said Mr. Haden,
 
 il has gone and will not be here this year on account of the light infesta~ tion last year. However, this is not true and l want to warn you right now to prepare to fight this dread insect this season and begin making your preparations for this war imme- diately.
 The light infestation of 1912 was caused, first, by the appearance Of the cotton-leaf worm, which defoliated the cotton and stopped to some extent the growth of the plant and then the early freeze came. which killed the cotton This was followed by a loni severe winter and a late spring. The weevil in the larva and pupa stages had nothing more to feed on after the freeze and died. The mature weevils went into winter quarters in a weak ened condition. During the long continued winter, a great many of the mature weevl starved because they 
 their weakened condition.
 The spring being late. the small percentage of weevils emerging found little cotton to feed on and since the weevil feeds on nothing but cotton, a large percent of these starved tG death. However, a few survived and ( these were in sufficient quantities that numbers hibernated in strong condition.
 This past fall and winter have been favorable to the workmen and with an early spring We may expect to have weevils in sufficient quantities to do a great deal of damage. But il the farmers and planters will follow the governments instructions they may raise a crop of cotton regardless of the presence of the weevil.
 The methods are combating the insect are these:
 Plant select early ymaturing va riety of seed in a well prepared seed bed Give the crop rapid, intensive cultivation. Be sure to give more space between the rows and more space between the plants in the rows. At the first sign of weevil intesta- ton which will be seen by finding plctured squares on the ground, pick up and destroy the squares, preferab- ly by burning. Repeat this action twice a week until August l. Con tinue the cultivation of the cotton un- til the cotton begins to open This is the only way to grow a crop of cotton under boil weevil conditions.
 Scores Long Staple.
 Some planters in this portion Of the state are welded to the long staple varieties of cotton, It is true that the the market but it is late in maturing and will fail to make crop when the weevil is present in large quanti- ties. The short staple cotton is ear Her Tn maturing, produces hlSne. per cent of lint, is more prolific. al! acre for acre will produce as many dollars under normal conditions as the long staple and under boil weevil conditions. the short staple is the only variety which is safe to plant This is the experience of planters in the delta country of Louisiana and in all other infested territory. Forewarned is forearmed and hope to see tho planters in this vicinity start making immediate preparations to fight tho insect and also plant short staple cot ton'
 MT Haden's talk was instructiv, from she very beginning and he i making series of such addresses be fore farmers meeting all over hi district.