Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-07-28
CULTIVATION '' y
PARAMOUNT In
WEfV|L fight
Entomologist Urges Work
ing of Cotton During Hot,
Dry Weather.

Right now intensive cultivation is
paramount in the fight against tho
boil weevil, says Geo. G. Becker, en-
tomoloeist for the Arkansas expert
ment station. Cultivation should be
given preference over every means
now available for combating the
weevil. Hand picking of wetvils ard
the gathering of infested squares IS
net likely to he profitable except at
Doints where weevil infestatiOn is
first making it's appearance. In some
cases where cotton is very closely
spaced and where fallen squares will
not be exposed to direct sunlight, II
NAV nav to go to the expense OF col
1ectirg weevils and fallen squares ami
destroying them.
Some of the best entomologists OF
the South in working on this problem
find that the picking OF fallen squares,
even when help is as cheap as 70
cents per day, is very expensive and
probably not profitable, but all OF
them agree that picking CT squares
when the weevil is first making It's
appearance is profitable and highly
advisable because by that means the
rapid spread of the weevil is pre-
vented.
"Althougb The boil weevil is es-
sentially a tropica! and sCbtroplcai
insect. he cannot stand extreme heat
or drought says Mr.. Becker. ihis
means that effective cultivation,
which shakes the plants and Causes
the punctured squares TO fall into the
dry soil which is left by the Guilt
vatOr and leaves them exposed TO the
sunlight. is the most valuable means
If Eeeping the wecvil under control.
"Where nfestation is not extremely
heavy the hand picking of weevils and
infested squares will probably pay
when there are children to do the
work or when the season IS rather
rainy. During hot dry weather, this
office would not recommend hand
picking of weevils and squares ex-
cent at points where the weeW! is
lust making its appearance
Farmers can now do their best
against the weevil by seeing 10 1t
that their cotton crop is intenslVely
cultivated. 1t would be desirable to
sa. over the cotton once in ten days.
There are two reason why intensive
cultivation should be practiced. ID
The dust mulch made by cultivation
will produce hot and dry conditions
on the ground where infested squares
will fall, thereby causing high NOR
tality of the developing weevils. and
T2) intensive cultivation will help to
conserve the moisture which the cot
ton plant needs 50 badly a the pres
emit thine and will hasten the develop ,
lnent Of fruit and lead te the pro-
duction of more cotton before the
weevils become sufficiently numerous
to destroy the entire crop.
I'm the same operation we produce
dry conditions for the developing
weeyils and conserve moisture for tie
cotton crop. The fight against the
wecvils from now on is just race.
Everything should be done to helr
Nature kill the weevil and at the
same time force the cotton ahead as
much as ICssine. In many parts o.
the state cot.In farmers vii, only
have from now until the frs week III
August to make their cotton crops.
By thu. time lhe wecyils will have
become at;:ndan: enough to infesJ
any squares Which form from thea
until the end q the season. 1t VT!
then pet ONE apparent why cultivatloh
is at present the most important sep
demanding cons 'deration This year
We should continue to cultiva;e the