New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-07-25
USELESS PREPARATION FOR
BOIL WEEVIL.

At the request OF farlSh farnl
Demonstration BrOussard we
reproduce the subjoined artl-
Gle written by d. S. Tucker, OF
the State Agricultural Exper'-
mental Station:
Every once in a while, a claim
gains currency through news
Iapers and even banking and
mercantile channels Of publicity
declaring that a special prepara-
ton has been found which after
bein" applied upon cotton plants
will protect or save the CROP
from ravages Of the boil weevil.
Despite all that has been said or
proved by State and Govern
ment investigators to show the
fallacv of such methods of treat
ment, many planters waste their
time and money trying out some
kind of compound. Letters can
be produced by the dozen which
were written by these growers
stating that they failed to OBJ
tain the least benefit from use of
the substances.
That firms or members Of a
business concern should be de-
ceived into advocating or prac-
tically indorsing the assertions
of irresponsible experimenters
or parties in the face Of expert
testimony is nothing less than
culpab.e indiscretion. If the ad-
vice of State and Government.
specialists is to be disregarded,
these officers must then take steps
to expose the fakes and frauds
whenever they come to notice.
An idea which has been ad-
vanced to the effect that oil
soaked gunny sacks or cloths
when dragged over cotton plants
during cultivation of fields is suf-
ficient to leave an odor, especial.
ny if strong smelling substances
like tar and moth balls have
been combined with the oil, and
thus be effective enough to repei
the weevil from one plowing to
the next can have no merit in
fact. Examination will reveal
as many weevils on cotton SO
treated from the day following
the application as before it, while
conditions are otherwise the
same.
The use of compounds for the
purpose Of producing a lasting
repellent scent On plants is futile.
The impossibility of obtaining by
such measures effective immunity
of the live growth to infestation
bv pests is too evident. What
ever odor is given off by the prep
aration must be speedily dis
pelled in the air and can have no
chance to act materially upon
insects. All substances whicE
p:tuuce repellent scents or even
kliiing fumes active upon insects
are only serviceable when used
in enclosed spaces. None can be
safely or feasibly applied on ex-
posed plant growth to drive and
keep away pests. Owing to the
bracts which nature provides for
covering the cotton forms, no
practical way whatever of reach
ing or dislodging the weevils hid
ing under the enclosures can be
devised.
In speaking Of sprays, poison 8
and fumigants or smoked, Mr..
w. D. Hunter has made some
convincing statements of which
the following may be quoted
from Farmers Bulletin 344. u. ).
opartment: can insuperable
difficulty that these special prep
arations have encountered is the
impracticability of the applica-
ton in the field. Hundreds Of
known substances will kill the
weevil when brought in contact
with it. The difficulty is to apply
them in an economical way in the
field"
A final word Of advice by the
same authority deserves to be
impressed upon cotton planters
not go to the expense OF
buying special preparations for
DESTROYING the weevil. Disap-
pointments and Joss is certain TO