The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1913-10-30
But Theee Is No Occasion for Dis.
eourasement or Grave, Alarm,
II We Fight.

Atlanta, Ga. When the Mexican cot
ton boil weevfl comes to Georgia and
the chances are that a few Of him
at least are already here--he Is COM
ing to stay
Although determination is ifnpossi-
BILE, State Entomologist E. Lee Wor-
sham says there is no occasion for dis
couragement or grave alarm, five
fight. Once here he will remain
perpetual problem, and for the cot
ton grower 1t will be simply ques-
ton Of the best methods of keeping the
pest effectively in check.
Energetic enforcement of Georgias
quarantine regulations against the boil
weevil by the department is the one
thing that has kept the pest out of
the state so long The Legislature,
which has Just adjourned gave the
sum of $15, 900 for the continuation of
the fight against the weeyil. The
money is being spent largely in edu-
eating the farmers as to what to do to
minimize the effect of the weevil when
it comes.
at is our plan to organize addi-
tional cotton breeding clubs during
the winter and spring in South Geor-
gia counties" said Mr.. Worsham. 1--WE
want to render the greatest service
to the greatest possible number with
the appropriation which has been
made for this work"
Price a Strong Convert.
Commissioner of Agriculture ]. ID.
Price, az the result of recent trip
to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alaba-
ma, is complete convert to the real
ization of the damage that the boil
weevil has done and can do Com
missioner Price now declares that if it
should appear suddenly in the cotton
fields Of Georgia tomorrow, it would
throw the state into a panic. AS a val
liable method OF fighting the weevl
which attacks only cotton, Mr.. Price
urges diversifcation of crops and the
raising of more meat, forage and food
stuffs at home.
Entomologist Worsham says the
fight is going to be hard one, but
with careful effort the farmers OF
Georgia can minimize the effect of
it to such an extent that it will be
comparatively small. AS an indica,
ton of the necessity for constant Wig
ilance and attention, it is pointed out
that each female will lay about 300
eggs which come to maturity within
Is to 25 days, according to the season;
and there are about four generations
each year, so that each female may
give rise to 12,500,000 progeny
The boil weevil made its appearance
in Southwestern Texas in 1882, and
has made an annual advance OF bO
to 1875 miles eastward. 1t is now in
Southeastern Alabama, and is expect
ed to be found in Southwestern Geor-
gia before the end of the season. Mr..
Worsham says:
Attacks Squares and Bolls.
"The female deposits her eggs on
young squares and bolls, preferably
the former. During the early season
il does not attack mature bolls, but
when food is scarce in the late season,
bolls are badly infested.
1.-THE boil weevil winters under
trash and RUBBISH on the borders OF
cotton fields. Enough of them sur
vive to make breeding rapid and num-
erous in the spring.
'The boil weevil travels by means
Of its wings, and can easily fly 70 TO
SO miles at a single fight, in its
search for food.
SIN many places the weevl has pro-
duced a condition akin to panic, be-
cause of decentralization of labor and
business generally.
s'But the farmers, in infested areas
have demonstrated that cotton can De
grown successfully under boil weeVh
Conditions 1t will be at least two OF
three years before the weevn covers
enough territory in Georgia, to DO a
great deal of damage. If our farmers
begin now, they can prevent, 10
large degree. the usual demorallza-
ton and depreciation OF land values.
How to Control 1t.
saThe principal methods resorted 10
In weewl control are, first, the plant
ing az early maturing varieties. Inc
growers in boil weevil territory VINO
are growing cotton successfully, plant
as early as Is reasonably safe. ana
make ii a point to plant the varieties
which mature earliest The weeVlls
VIII not attack mature bolls early In
the season.
sIn the second place, hand picking
Of weeyiIs and infested squares Is re.
sorted to. The boil Weevil does moi
damage young cotton to any great ex
tent. but waits for the young squares
to appear. Every leaf should be turn
ed over and examined for weevts and
the bugs picked OF. Many have found
that the best time to begin picking i
about ten days before the squares
begin to form, because about 80 pei
cent. of the weevils die before thii
time. Cotton should be harvested rap
IDLY, and the best method is to ehoI