The Marietta journal and courier. (Marietta, Ga.) 1909-1918, 1915-01-22
Fig 1-sloom Damaged souar.
Eio. Weevl in


by Boil Weevii. FIG. g.
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 is in charge of all
insect Investigations affecting cot
ton, sugar cane, tobacco and rice.
But as if these were 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
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 Entomologi-
cal society and editor of it's proceed
ings. He is 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. 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 manv
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 if it 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
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.
One Of the most important recent
discoveries about the boil weevil is
It's occurrence on wild cotton-like
plant in Arizona. This plant grows in
mountain canyons and has furnished
food for the weevil for many centu.
r1es. 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 the
boil weevil which occurs outside of
Arizona that has prevented the inva-
sion of the drier portions of Texas.
In connection with the recent dis
cussion of the necessity of reducing
the production of cotton in the United
States it has been proposed by a num-
Der OF persons that the time is on
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 reached
by the insect up to the present time.
There are very serious practical diff
cult1es in the way of this plan. Spe-
cial legislation would have to be en-.
acted. and a very large approximation
would be required to enforce the resu-
lations. Undoubtedly in many locali.
ties there would be a strong disinclina.
ton on the part of the planters to
abandon cotton, and strict measures
would be necessary to bring about
general action. Moreover, there is
much volunteer cotton in the South
each year, especially after wild win
tiers. Seeds which fall from the bolls
in the fall frequently live through the
winter and are planted unintentionally
In the preparation of the ground the
Following season. About gins and oil
mills many volunteer plants grow.
Where the conditions are favorable
large numbers of such plants are also
to be found along the rights-of,way Of
railroads. In this case the plants
spring from seed that are dropped
from the passing cars. Very thorough
work would have to be done in every
locality thrOu phnut tho Couth - -,