The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-12-26


many sections, and this is nou =,
basis Of all farm demonstrated ~. ue
in this direction. "0fk
Mr.. Hunter has surrounded hi
for the past ten years with an ns
quate force Of trained Specialists NJ.
nave been watching every phase q, ,S0
problem. In addition TO the bo,,.r.e,
problem, Mr.. Hunter is in CHARGE =, W
insect investigations affecting ~.
ton' sugar cane, tobacco and ,,~s
But as If these were not enoroh =.
occupy the attention of this exceediDa
ly active man, he also directs tho -
Vestigation OF insects affecting -.
health OF man and animal. includin.
cattle ticks, stable flies, house sios
and the diseases of malaria, pela1r,
and Rocky mountain spot fever Ne I.
! thoroughly versed in the minu,oc.
phases of these problems A gro
deal OF his time is also taken IN ~
a member Of the federal horticr,,,S
/
raj board whose duty is to pro,sc,l
this country from the importatior
OF injurious plant and animal nests
from abroad. Mr.. Hunter is nres,
dent of the Washington Entomoloyt
cal society and editor Of its procesd
ings. He is a member of the Cosmos
club and of many other scientific or
CARNATIONS.
For the purposes of this article Mr.
Hunter has furnished the followin,
interesting statement relative to the
boil weevil:
The boil weevil will undoubtedly
reach the border Of Georgia during
the present season and may extend its
range some little distance within the
state. If it had not been for rather
unusual circumstances the invasion Of
Georgia would have been extensive.
Among these circumstances was an
early frost in 1913 which killed many
OF the weevils and drove others into
Information far ahead of the usual
date. Many of these weevils would
have continued their flight into unin.
tested territory If it had not been for
the early frost. The other reason for
an unusually restricted dispersion Of
movements in 1914 was the dry wea 4 |
er OF August and early SepteU -
This prevented the developmenX
many weevils. and is important "a
connection with dispersion, the ex.
tent of which depends largely upon
the volume OF weevils present in the
territory from which the flight takes
place. Although the movement Of
1914 will not be as extensive as the
movements Of some other seasons
there will be continuous spread from
year to year, and the average distance
covered will undoubtedly continue to i
be in the neighborhood of fifty miles
each season.
"One Of the most important recent
discoveries about the boil weevil Is
its occurrence on a wild cotton-like
plant in Arizona. This plant grows IN
mountain canyons and has furnished
food for the weevil for many centu-
ries. 1t has been found from expert
ments performed recently that the
Arizona weevils need only the pres
ence of cotton to transfer their attack
against that plant. The importance
of the discovery lies In the fact that
the Arizona weevil has acquired an
ability to stand extreme arid condi-
lions. 1t is the absence OF such pow
er on the part Of the form OF ~
boil weevil which occurs outsideI&
Arizona that has prevented the \
sion Of the drier portions Of
'In connection with the recent -
cussion of the necessity Of reduciAeS
the production of cotton in the United
States it has been proposed by a num-
Der Of persons that the time Is op'
perfume for the eradication OF the
weevil by compelling the abandonment
Of cotton for one year at least In all
Of the territory which has been reacheo
by the insect up to the present time
There are very serious practical diin'
culties in the way of this plan. Spe
cial legislation would have to be en-
acted, and a very large appropriation
would be required to enforce the reeu'
Iations. Undoubtedly in many locaif
ties there would be a strong disincllns
ton on the part of the planters 70
abandon cotton, and strict measures
would be necessary to bring ABOUT
general action. Moreover, there ~
much volunteer cotton in the Souln
each year, especially after wild WIZ
.ers. Seeds which fall from the eohs
n the fall frequently live throuY inc
winter and are planted unintentif ~
n the preparation OF the grour
season. About gins
Mills many volunteer plants -
Where the conditions are ray II
arge numbers OF such plants a q
o be found along the rights-ofi
'ailroads. In this case the
spring from seed that are
rom the passing cars. Very
work would have to be done M
ocality throughout the South
.gainst the breeding OF weevi
lnteer plants"