Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-06-26
WEEV|L Threatens
S30,000,000 Loss
LARGE Per Cent Of Damage Can Be
Prevented II Farmers VIII Use
Precautions,
BY T. o. WALTON.

tension Service, A. 4 N. Co'eoe'
Last fall the extension service and
United States department of agricul-
ture called the attention Of the Texas
farmers to the boil weevil situation
then existing, and suggested that I'M
less all the stalks were turned under
or cut and burned early and the win
ter alternating places destroyed there
would be very heavy infestation OF
the weevil in 1916. Many Of the farm
ers profited by these suggestions.
many Of them, however, did not, and
at this time the boil weevils are max
ing their appearance in practically all
of the States except the extreme
southwestern part OF the Texas cot
ton belt. Without doubt we have the
heaviest infestation Of weevils COM
ing out OF winter Information this
spring that we have had for o number
Of years, and II the cotton growers do
not observe every precaution the dam
age OF the 1916 Texas cotton crop will
probably be 100000 bales. At the pres
ent price Of cotton this will represent
a direct loss to Texas farmers OF $780,.
100000 for the 1916 crop. A large
per cent Of this loss can be prevented
II the farmers In the weevil infested
territory will use the precautions ad.
vocated in the United States depart.
ment Of agriculture and the extension
service OF the Agricultural and Me-
chanical College.
:, At the present time. while the cot.
ton is yet very small. some OF 1t with
out squares and some just beginning
to set squares. the farmer will finc
II profitable, provided cheap labor can
be secured, to have the weevils hand.
picked and killed, and all punctured
squares picked and burned. one adult
weevil or one square that has young
, weevils growing on II, destroyed now.
, will mean several thousand weevils
less within the next few weeks.
, Intense Cultivation suggested.
, After the cotton has reached q
height OF about IA to Is inches, and
!. lis beginning to fruit rapidly, It may
} not be found profitable to continue
, the practice OF Manipulating. but ever
; after this time the farmer should con
tinue intensive cultivation, shallow
. cultivation, using either a brush Of
A stick attached TO his cultivator II
9 such way as will agitate the stalks
8 causing the punctured squares to NOR,
d readily fall to the ground. where
o left so that the sun can strike them
s large per cent will dry up. thus de
,. stroying the young weevils. Thi
% rapid, shallow cultivation should con
u tinue until cotton begins to open. Sucl
L cultivation will serve a double puI
n pose: First, II will conserve the mois
ture and keep the cotton fruittin
n rapidly through long period q
q drouth; second. II will enable III
0. farmer to agitate the plants so tina
b. many Of the squares will fall to tn
u ground and be destroyed as describe
above.
Unless farmers do pick the weevil
e and punctured squares ut this tim
8. the young cotton will not be able I
set any fruit until such time as "
may have sufficient hot, dry weaths
TO check the depreciation OF n
weevil II the rapid, shallow is n,
continued until late In the season III
vitality OF the plant win be so r
duced that during the hot dry wealth,
the plant will be unable to set frui
Therefore. the cultivation becomes u
second most important factor IN dea
Ing with the weeyll problem at III
particular time.
Ho, Sunshine Only Remedy.
II is well for US to continually be.
In mind that after our fields once b
come infested with the weeyil Il
hot sunshine is about the only renee
for this pest This being the case.
we are to make crop after the h
weather really sets In In earnest
will. be necessary for US to keep