The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-09-20

tenn OIL farming, practical the year round,
will enable farmers to produce the most
profitable crops of cotton under weevil
conditions Reporting studies of the
habits and control of this pest covering
many years of experiments, w. D. Hunt
er, a specialist in the bureau Of ento-
mology, United States department of ag-
riculture in Farmers Bulletin 84S, 1.-THE
Boll-Weevil Problem" describes this
control system 1t contains the formula
for growing larger war crops of Amer
lean cotton without increasing, and pos
sibly by decreasing, the present acre
age in this crop. Briefly these are its
main points:
l. Destruction of weevils in the fall by
blowing under or by uprooting and burn
ing the plants.
2. Destruction in their alternating
places Of weeviIs that survive the first
operation.
3. Locating cotton fields where heavy
infestation may be avoided.
4. Early and thorough preparation of
the land to obtain an early crop. This
means fall blowing and winter working
of the land, or the use of cover crops.
8. Determination by experiments on
local soils of best methods Of spacing,
both between rows and between plants
In the row.
6. Insuring an early crop by early plant
Ing of early maturing varieties and by
fertilizing where necessary.
That is the working programme which
the cotton grower in boll-weevil terri
tory should hang on the wall as his
guide. Some of the measures are not
new in principle. They are old methods
which, modified and improved, have stood
the test of years. They represent plain
and practical farming methods, and, al
though they may appear less attractive
than many of the fantastical panaceas
which spring up from time to time in
cotton-growing sections they are sound
and reliable. Individually they are eff
fective in checking the ravages of the
weevils and collectively they offer a prac-
tcable system which, If followed care
fully, will insure a crop in spite of this
pest. The system may have to under
go slight notifications to meet local con-
ditions. For example, in some locali-
ties hand picking of weevils and in
tested squares at times may prove a
profitable measure.
The department of agriculture does not
rest its case, however. with the announce
menr Of this anti-boll weevil system. The
problem of boil weeyil control becomes
more various, the specialists say, as the
pest continues its invasion of the cot
ton belt. Eastern planters must expect a
more serious problem than that which
confronted the farmers of Texas because
the humid conditions in the east are more
favorable to the life of the weevils. Bet
the region that is becoming invaded. and,
if possible, other means must be devel-
oped to reduce the enormous loss that is
suffered, especially during unfavorable
seasons, in Texas. The principal work
at this time is in attempting to devise
means for this requisite additional con-
troll.
Much has been learned about the habits
of the boil weevil. Many SEEMINGLY ex-
cellent theories of control have fallen
before this newly discovered informa-
ton. "A few may be mentioned Re
pellants do not repel the boil weevil.
Sprays innumreable have been tried un-
successfully. Nor are the weevils at
tracted to light. Lantern traps have
been hung in cotton fields by many farm
ers but only occasional stragglers are
caught in this way.
Machines employing suction and Earring
devices designed to pick weevils and in
tested squares or to shake the weevils
to the ground have proved Injurious 10
the plants and are not sufficiently effec-
tive to pay for the cost of operation.
Mechanical ingenuity is needed. however.
especially in developing effective ma
chinery for aiding in the destruction Of
weevils in the fall and also for better
cultivation of the crop.
In discussing the extent of the damage
boil weevils now cause to the cotton in
dustry the writer of the bulletin esti-
mates the loss at 10000 bales OF cotton
annually. Although farmers In older
regions, in many cases. are increasing
their production, there is loss in the new
ly infected regions which offsets that
gain. A conservative estimate shows
that since the weevil has invaded this
country it has caused a loss of 4,550,000
bales Of cotton, with value Of about
$3.50 100000
The figures which have been cited show
clearly the enormous reduction in cot
ton production which the boil weevil
causes In order to make the picture COM
plete, however, it is necessary to call
attention to the effect the weevil has on
the production of crops other than cot
ton. Wherever the insect invades a
region, diversificaton OF crops and ami
NAL husbandry receive . powerful i'm
petus. This is shown, for instance. in the
state of Mississippi. For the years pre-
ceding the advent Of the boil Meavil