Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-10-17
TURN UNDER COTTON
STALKS NOW.

lBy +. b. Paddock. State Entomolo.
gist Texas Experiment Station. A.
and NJ. College, College Station.
Texas.)
from survey of the reports and a
review OF the field observations, Il Is
very evident that the cotton boil wee.
VII is present to greater extent than
the growers realize. The weevil has
been gradually increasing without
causing sufficient injury to attract at.
tention In some sections where a
top crop Is expected, examination
shows that every boil now present on
the plants has been injured by the
boil weevil. At this time of the year.
perhaps more than at any other time
the immense number of weevils pres.
ent can be appreciated.
The growers should plan now their
campaign against the boil weevil. BY
far the greatest factor in the control
of this pest Is the destruction Of the
cotton plants In the fall as soon as the
cotton can be picked. Such meas.
ure prevents great many weevils
from maturing and forces mature
weevils into early Information. 1t has
been demonstrated that only mature
weevils can successfully hibernate
over the winter. II Is also positively
known that cotton is the only food Of
the boil weevil. II should be evident,
therefore, that the early destruction
Of the stalks will very materially re.
duce the number of weevils that can
successfully survive the winter.
The following data is the result Of
extensive experiments conducted In
Louisiana:
When the cotton plants were de.
stroyed between October LIST and 18th.
only per cent of the weevils surviv.
ed the winter; when the plants were
destroyed between October 18th and
3lst, Is per cent OF the weevils sur.
vived: between November LIST and
2jth, % per cent of the weevils lived
through the winter: between Noyem-
Der 30th and December eth. rs per
cent OF the weevils lived through the
winter: when the cotton plants were
destroyed aftere December eth. ~ per
cent OF the weevils successfully pass
ed through Information.
The results OF these experiments
should be very simple. They indicate
that the postponing OF the destruction
OF the cotton plants In the fall Is a
very dangerous practice. II means
that the grower who leaves the cotton
plants In the field until very late In
the season simply invites the boil wee.
vii to live over the winter and attack
his crop the next year II the grow
ers would only devote a small portion
Of as much enthusiasm and energy TO
the early harvesting and the early
destruction OF the cotton plants as
they do now to proper cultivation and
maturing Of the crop. they would not
only be able to make much more cot.
ton. but make Il much cheaper.
The manner in which the stalks can
best be destroyed depends somewhat
upon the locality and the principles
OF farm management that are follow
ed. II Is best to carefully and thor.
oughly plow under the cotton stalks.
Unless this Is properly done there
will be sufficient food for some OF the
weevIls to survive on.
Another method Is TO cut the stalks.
rake them into rows and burn them.
Experiments which have been con
Quoted In Texas show that u the
stalks are destroyed In the fall an In
creased yield OF more than n quarter
Of n bale Of cotton per acre may be
obtained the following year.
Volunteer cotton should be destroy
I'd at all times. The grower should
not wait for experience to drive this
lesson home. II you intend TO grow
cotton next year. make all prepare
tons now for a successful crop. De-
stroy all plants at the earliest posi-
bic time.