The Monticellonian., 1917-08-16
10 KEEP OUT PEST
Request for $500, 900 to Protect
 Cotton Crop in South.
MENACE OF PINK BOIL WORM
Secretary of Agriculture Points out That Insect Has Reduced Egyptian Crop Nearly one-Half in
 Past Few Years.

From the United States Department Of
 Agrieutare9
 If the vast cotton-g growing industry of the United States is to be saFeu from grave menace, the pink DOH worm now in Mexico near the IeNas border must be kept from entering this country, the secretary Of aSfitui- ture has declared in letters to Repre- sentative Lever, chairman of the house committee on agriculture, and SenaIor Gore, chairman of the senate commit tee on agriculture and forestry. See retary Houston asks for an emergency appropriation of $50o000 with which to protect the United States against this most destructive of all cotton pests. In emphasizing the destructive ness of the insect he points out that IL has reduced the Egyptian cotton crop in the infested districts nearly one-half in the last few years.
 Pest in Mexico.
 The pink boil worm, Secretary Hous- ton tells the committee chatrmen, Is distributed in Mexico much more gen orally than was at first supposed. It now extends through the entire La guna district, covering an area of some 12,000 square miles. Seed for planting has been sent from this district to eth- CT points in Mexico nearer the Gnltea States, undoubtedly carrying infesta- ton to those districts. The danger to the United States has been heightened by the establishment of a cottonseed= oil mill at Pledras Negras on the MeXl- ean-Texas border to which large quan- titles of seed infested by pink boil worms are being moved. investigations by specialists Of the United States department of agriculture show that mature insects capable of flights for considerable distances have been emerging from the seed stored at this border town within a few miles of Texas cotton fields.
 cotton-Free Zone.
 The importation of seed cotton and cotton seed from Mexico into the Unit ed States was prohibited as soon as the presence of the pink boil worm in Mexico was discovered late last sum mer. In addition. the importation of cottonseed products will be safeguard= ed by regulations to he issued soon. lt is contemplated that the emergency appropriation, if it is made available, will be used to fight against the en- trance of the pest by the creation of a cotton-free zone % to 100 miles wide In Texas next to the Mexican border, by the making of surveys in Mexico, if practicable, to determine the actual distribution of the insect and by the extermination of local infestatiens in Mexico near the American border.
 The proposed cotton-free zone would be established in cooperation with the state of Texas, the officials of The state already having indicated their desire so to cooperate. The growing of cot ton in such a zone would be effective ly prohibited by the promuleation of federal and state quarantines prohibit ing the movement from the state or within the state of any cotton grown in the zone Some 1000 bales of cot ton are grown in the area to be in- cluded in the proposed eotton-free zone, and most of the tillable land is adapted to the cultivation of sugar cane, rice, vegetables, and other valu- able crops.
 Surveys in Mexico.
 The surveys in Mexico to determine the distribution of the pink boil worm would be made comparatively with Mexican authorities and ultimately would be the basis for determining the possibility of undertaking, in co-opera- tion with the Mexican government. the extermination of the pest in that coun- try If it should be determined, Sec retary Houston points out, that it is feasible to eXterminate the pink boil worm in Mexico, and if satisfactory CO., operation with the government of Mex ~~~~~~~~-~~~~~~~~~O-~-~~~