Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-01-15

Boil Weevll in Flight.
many sections, and this Is now the
basis of all farm demonstration work
in this direction.
Mr.. Hunter has surrounded himself
for the past ten years with an ade-
quate force of trained specialists who
have been watching every phase Of the
problem. In addition to the boll-weevil
problem, Mr.. Hunter il in charge Of all
insect Investigations affecting cot
ton, sugar cane, tobacco and rice.
But as IL these we're not enough to
occupy the attention Of this exceeding
ly active man, he also directs the In
vestigation of insects affecting the
health OF man and animal, including
cattle ticks, stable flies, house flies,
and the diseases of malaria, pellagra
and Rocky mountain spot fever. He Is
| thoroughly versed in the minutest
| phases Of these problems. A great
deal Of his time is also taken up as
a member Of the federal horticultu'
raj board whose duty Is to protect
this country from the importation
of injurious plant and animal pests
from abroad. Mr. Hunter Is presi.
dent of the Washington Entomology
cal society and editor Of its proceed
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 following
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. II 1t 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 fight into unin-
tested territory II 1t had not been for
the early frost. The other reason for
, an unusually restricted dispersion OF
, movements in 1914 was the dry wealth
, er of August and early September.
, This prevented the development OF
!. many weevils, and is important In
connection with dispersion. the ex.
tent Of which depends largely upon
!, /, the volume of weevils present In the
. territory from which the fight takes
, place. Although the movement OF
1914 will not be as extensive as the
> movements of some other seasons
7 there will be continuous spread from
year to year. and the average distance
covered will undoubtedly continue to
be in the neighborhood Of fifty miles
: each season.
Zone Of the most important recent
!, discoveries about the boil weevil IN
its occurrence on q wild cotton-like
!. plant In Arizona. This plant grows In
:. mountain canyons and has furnished
!. food for the weevil for many centu-
ries. It has been found from expert.
ments performed recently that the
Arizona weevils need only the pres
. ence of cotton to transfer their attack
u against that plant. The importance
y. of the discovery lies in the fact that
IL the Arizona weevil has acquired an
a. ability to stand extreme arid condi.
&c lions. It is the absence Of such pow
g er on the part Of the form Of the
le boil weevil which occurs outside Of
% Arizona that has prevented the inva
70 sion of the drier portions Of Texas
20 I'm connection with the recent dis
~ cussion of the necessity of reducing
40 the production Of cotton in the United
~ States It has been proposed by mum
20 Der of persons that the time 10 op
60 perfume for the eradication Of thu
20 weevil by compelling the abandonment
=, =, of cotton for one year at least in al
40 of the territory which has been reaches
!" BY the insect up to the present time
There are very serious practical dim
OF culties in the way Of this plan. Spe
We cial legislation would have to be en-
ne acted. and a very large appropriation
OF would be required to enforce the regu
ei lations- Undoubtedly in many local
vi ties there would be strong disinclins
CO ton on the part of the planters Il
no abandon cotton, and strict measure
~ would be necessary to bring abou
SO general action. Moreover, there
CT much volunteer cotton In the Soutl
IA each year. especially after wild wiz
tiers. Seeds which fall from the boil
IN in the fall frequently live through tn
D. winter and are planted unintentionall
es In the preparation Of the ground tn
Of following season. About gins and oi
III. mills many volunteer plants grow
oil Where the conditions are favorabl
q large numbers of such plants are ais
nd to be found along the rightsof-way Q
Ter railroads. In this case the plant
err spring from seed that are droppe
he from the passing cars. Very thoroug
of work would have to be done In ever
he locality throughout the South to guar
de- against the breeding Of weevils on vo
in unteer plants"
them. Pile them In the corner Of th
. garden or bury them for making LEI
we mold. Store them near the chicke
ice house to be used for the scratchin
ed shed.