The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1914-07-25
USELESS PREPARATION FOR
BOIL WEEViL.

(By e. S. Tucker, Associate Entomologist,
Louisiana Agricultural Experiment
Station Baton Rouge, La
Every once in awhile, claim gains
currency through newspapers and even
banking and mercantile channels of
publicity, declaring that special prep
aration 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 Gov
eminent investigators to show the fall
lacy of such methods of treatment,
many planters waste their time and
money trying out some kind of COM
pound 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
substance.
That firms or members of business
concern should be deceived into advo-
eating or practically indorsing the as
sertions of irresponsible eXperimenters
or parties in the face of expert testi-
mony is nothing less than culpable in
discretion. If the advice Of state and
government specialists is to be disre-
! oE fhnn 70 lxn
steps to expose the fakes and frauds
whenever they come to notice.
An idea which has been advanced to
the effect that oil soaked gunny sacks
Tor cloths when dragged over cotton
plants during cultivation of fields is
sufficient to leave an odor, especially
if strong smelling substances like tar
and moth balls have been combined
j with the oil, and thus be effective
enough to repel the Weevil from one
blowing 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 9TH
erwise the same.
The use of compounds for the pur-
pose of producing lasting repellent
scent on plants is futile The impossi-
bility of obtaining by such measures
taff iy,oD, tu 0f tho live ornut n
to infestation by pests is too evident
Whatever odor is given off by the
preparation must be speedily dispelled
in the air and can have no chance to
act materially upon insects All sub.
stances which produce repellant scents
or even killing fumes active upon in
sects are only serviceable when used
in enclosed spaces None can be safe
ly or feasibly applied on exposed plant
growth to drive and keep away pests
Owing to the bracts which nature pro
| vides for covering the cotton forms
\ no practical way whatever of reach
ing or dislodging the weevils hiding
1 under the enclosures can be devised.
In speaking of sprays, poisons sanG
l fumigants or smoked, Mr.. w. D
Hunter has made some convincing
statements of which the following
4 may be quoted from Farmers Bulletin
544, U. S. Department: IAN insuper
S able difficulty that these special prep
p arations have encountered is the i'm
practicability of the application in the
field Hundreds of known substances
will kill the weevil when brought il
contact with it. The difficulty is tt
apply them in an economical way il
y the field"
J. A final word of advice by the same
authority deserves to be impressed
upon cotton planters: do not go tt
S the expense of buying special prepare
tons for destroying the weevil Dis
appointments and loss is certain tt
l. follow"