The Bossier banner., 1914-08-06
Useless Preparations for Weevils.

Useless Preparations for Weevils.
Mr.. E. S. Burt, farm demonstration
agent for Bossier Parish, has handed in
for publication the following article,
written by Mr.. E. S. Tucker, associate
entomologist for this State, and located
at the Louisiana Agricultural Expert
ment Station, Baton Rouge:
Every once in while a claim gains
currency through newspapers and even
banking and mercantile channels of pub
licity declaring that a special prepara-
ton has been found which after being
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 Government in
yestigators to show the fallacy of such
methods of treatment, many planters
waste their time and money trying out
some kind of compound. Letters can be
produced by the dozen which were writ
ten by these growers stating that they
failed to obtain the least benefit from use
of the substances.
"That firms or members of business
concern should be deceived into advocat-
ing or practically indorsing the asser-
tions of irresponsible experimenters or
parties in the face of expert testimony
is nothing less than culpable indiscre-
tion. If the advice of State and Govern
ment specialists is to be disreearded,
these officers must then take steps to ex-
pose the fakes and frauds whenever they
come to notice.
"An idea which has been advanced to
the effect that oil soaked gunny sacks
or cloths when dragged over cotton
plants during cultivation of fields is snf-
ficient to leave an odor, especially if
strong smelling substances like tar and
moth balls have been combined with the
oil, and thus be effective enough to repel
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 appli-
cation as before it, while conditions are
otherwise the same.
"The use of compounds for the pur-
pose of producing a lasting repellent
scent on plants is futile. The impossi-
bility Of obtaining by such measures
effective immunity of the live growth to
infestation by pests is too evident.
Whatever odor is given off by the pre-
paration must be speedily dispelled by
| the air and can have no chance to act
materially upon insects. All substances
which produce repellent scents or even
killing fumes active upon insects are
| only serviceable when used in enclosed
spaces. None can be safely or feasibly
applied on exposed plant growth to drive
and keep away pests. Owing to the
bracts which nature provides for cover
ing the cotton forms, no practical way
whatever of reaching or dislodging the
weevils hiding under the enclosures can
| be devised.
in speaking of sprays, poisons and
fumigants, or smoked, Mr.. w. D. Hun
ter has made some convincing statements
of which the following may be quoted
from Farmers Bulletin 544, u. S. De-
partment: An insuperable difficulty
that these special preparations have en-
countered is the impracticability of the
application 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 econom-
ical way in the field
"a final word of advice by the same
authority deserves to be impressed upon
cotton planters: do not 60 to the ex-
pence of buying special preparations fol
DESTROYING the Weevil. Disappoint-
ments and loss is certain to follow