The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-09-08
TO 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-haIf in
Past Few Years.

From the United States Department OF
Agricultural
If the vast cOttOn-growing Industry
Of the United States IS to be saved
from a grave menace, the pink boil
worm now In Mexico near the Texas
border must be kept from entering
this country, the secretary Of agricui-
ture has declared In letters to Repre-
sentative Lever, chairman Of the house
committee on agriculture, and Senator
Gore, chairman of the senate commit
tee on agriculture and forestry. Sec
rotary Houston asks for an emergency
appropriation of 100000 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 it
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 chairmen, Is
distributed in Mexico much more gen
orally than was at first supposed. 1t
now extends through the entire La
guna district, covering an area Of some
10000 square miles. Seed for planting
has been sent from this district to 9th
err points In Mexico nearer the United
States, undoubtedly carrying infesta-
ton to those districts. The danger to
the United States has been heightened
by the establishment Of a cottonsecd-
oil mill at Piedras Negras on the Next
can-TeXas border to which large guam
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 md
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 be issued soon. 1t
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 so 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
determination of local infeStatiOnS In
Mexico near the American border.
The proposed cottonfree 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 zone would be effective
ly prohibited by the PRONUNCIATION of
federal and state guarantees prohibit
ing the movement from the state or
within the state Of any cotton grown
In the zone. Some 1900 bales Of cot
ton are grown In the area to be In
cluded In the proposed cotton-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'
ton with the Mexican government, the
determination Of the pest In that coun'
try. If 1t should be determined, Sec
rotary Houston points out, that 1t Is
feasible to exterminate the pink boil
worm in Mexico, and if satisfactory CO.
operation with the government OF Mex
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