Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-06
Factors in Controlling the Boil Weevil

There is a weak spot in the defensive
armor of every predacious insect with
which the farmer has to contend. In
fighting such pest it is the part of wis
dom, therefore to first study it's life
history and habits and develop an attack
along the line of least resistance. Years
Of careful and eXacting study indicate
that in organizing a campaign against
weevl damage, the following funda-
mental facts must be taken into consid-
Grafton:
!. The weevil has little chance 10 get
out of soil in which he has been effect
ually buried to depth of four inches.
Therefore, all cotton stalks should be
plowed under as quickly and complete
" as possible i'm the early fall. Use a
drag chain or other device TO aid in
burying the stalks This will destroy
large numbers of weeVils before they
leave the field to hibernate. and is one of
the best simple and effective agencies
which the farmer can employ in his
fight against the weevil
2. The weevil has no food plant eX-
cept cotton. a rotation can therefore
be practiced to advantage, not only as
an aid against minimizing weevil dam
age, but as a means of increasing the
revenue of the farm and protecting
against losses incident to the destruc-
g. Winter temperature results in the
destruction of a large number of wee
wills. Therefore, all grass and trash
in the fence rows or in the vicinity of
the cotton fields should be destroyed,
thus lessening the chance of the weevil
alternating successfully.
T. The weevil does not emerge from
his winter quarters until relatively late
in the season; hence it is of the utmost
Importance that every effort be made to
develop an early, rapid-fruiting crop Of
cotton
5. On account of low temperatures the
weevils develop much slower early in the
season than during the summer months.
This is an added reason why early
maturing varieties of cotton should be
selected for planting.
6. There are a number of insect enc
mics which attack the weeVil with con-
siderable effect. The farmer should pro-
tect these assiduously. The planting
of varieties which fruit early and con-
tinue to develop throughout the season
and which have a comparatively open
structure will be found an advantage in
this respect.
Z. The rapid dying of infested squares
will enable the land owner to destroy
thousands of weevils while still
in an immature stage of development.
Plant the cotton, therefore, in COM
paratively wide rows and pick up the
squares early in the season and de-
stroy them. One weevil destroyed at this
stage of the crops development may
prevent the destruction of thousands of
bolls later in the season.
SOIL PREPARATION AND CULTIVA-
TION.
Plow the land in the fall as far as
practicable. Turn it over to a good
depth and leave il i'm rough condition
so that the rain will be absorbed. If
crusts form on the surface of the ground
and erosion sets in, run over with disk
two or three times during the winter.
Harrow and disk early in the spring so
as to warm up the seed bed as quickly
as possible. Plant the cotton in wide
rows, depending somewhat on the nature
Of the soil, the variety selected, and the
size and type of plant produced Local
conditions and seasons will govern this
point; hence the exact date for any sec
ton cannot be given, but early planting
is matter of vital Importance.
Fertilize literally with a formula car
rying per cent of nitrogen and up
wards to 10 per cent of phosphoric acid
Remember that phosphoric acid hastens
maturity, and hence is an element of
the utmost Importance in growing cot
ton under boil weevil conditions. All
the barnyard manure and compost which
the farmer can make or secure should
be used under the drill rows. From
two to five tons of this material may be
applied per acre. Mix the fertilizer and
the compost thoroughly with the sol!
in the bottom of the furrow in which
the compost should be distributed and
bed thereon some days before planting
so that q firm seed bed may be obtain
ed. Chop to a stand at the earliest
possible date. Cultivate with shallow
surface working implements every sew
en- to ten days and as soon after each
rain as possible. Deep cultivation may
cause shedding which is fatal to the
production of a successful crop under
boil weevil conditions. Cultivation
should be kept up until the cotton be-
gins to open. This is a matter of ut
most importance.
SEED SELECTION.
The selection of planting seed is an
important matter. Choose only those
varieties which mature in from five to
five and half months. Early fruiting
varieties will be found as a rule to set
the fruit limbs on low. They also pos
sess short joints and should develop
fruit limbs i'm succession at each of the
joints of the main and primary limbs.
Exclude type producing many vegeta-
tive branches. Choose varieties resist
ant to wilt or black root in sections
where this disease is prevalent. Narie-
| ties resistant to anthracnose should be
| planted in all parts of the state. Use
| only varieties which will continue to
| grow and set fruit throughout the sea-
son. Some standard varieties which can
| be recommended for earliness, disease
resistance, and planting adaptability In
| different sections of the state are as
| follows: :
| CIeveland's Big Boil. College No. /,
i So
! Willet's Ideal Covington Toole, Cooks,
| wilets No. 49, Culpepper, Trice and
] Dixie There are no doubt many other
| varieties which are especially well
adapted for planting under local condi-
| tions. Where this is true they should
| be given preference.
| FERTILIZATION
Proper fertilization constitutes one of
! the main avenues by which the farmer