The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1918-02-06
many COTTON PESTS
EntOmOlogist Describes an AI-Year.
Anti-lnsect System Designed to
Protect This Crop

Cotton has as many insect enemies
as any other American crop, and pos
slbly more, according to an entomolo-
gist of the United States Department
of agriculture, who declares that an
all-year anti-insect system must be
employed by cotton growers to pro-
tect this crop.
The boil weevil, bollworm, cutworm,
May beetle, cotton aphis, southern
grass worm, leaf worm, grasshopper,
red spider, square borer, cotton stain
er and wireworm are only a section of
the category which w. Dwight Pierce,
of the Bureau of Entomology, de-
scribes in recent publication, Farm
ers' Bulletin 800, "How Insects affect
the Cotton Plant and Means of Com
batting Them" The entomologist ex-
plains that in publication of the size
of Farmers Bulletin it is impossible
to consider even briefly all the cotton
pests.
The ain of the publication mention
ed is to explain how insects affect the
cotton plant, to show how to distin-
guish the principal ones, and how to
combat them.
Among ether conclusions which the
entomologist reaches i'll studying con-
troll measures for cotton pests are
these:
Control Measures
Since many pests come to cotton
from other corps or from weeds
around the fields, weeds should not be
allowed to grow on the cotton farm.
Rotation of crops is of much assist
ance in controlling pests.
An early crop which will bring the
fruit to maturity before serious dam
age is done is necessary.
Poisons rarcly ly are needed except as
used in bats for cutworms, grasshop-
pcrs, etc, and as control measures
against red spiders and worms when
they threaten the crop in the spring.
Thorough fall blowing, winter cover
crops, early spring preparation, and
repeated cultivation during the season
are other important measures of in
sect control.
A single system OF control, effec-
tive against most of the insects de-
scribed in the publication may be Civ
en- according to season as follows:
How to Contradiction Insects in Fall
% Pick the cotton as soon as pos
IsibIe
(2.H Destroy the plants as long be-
fore frost as possible by plowing un-
der or grazing.
(2) Where practicable, plow the
fields and plant a cover crop.
(4) If feasible, follow three-year
rotation, with cotton following some
crop other than corn.
J Winter Measures Against Cotton In
sects
tD PloS up all turn rows and fence
cd tt:t add hurn all weeds.
, 3l Plow under all stubble fields
that az" net > be used Otherwise.
(4) Grub up cd stumps.
Combating Cotton Insects in Early
Spring
around the farm.
(2) Plow to break up the winter
cells of insects in the ground.
!! go When necessary, put out pois.
= oned bait for cutworms, grasshoppers
May beetles, and so on.
: (4 Plant as early as it can be done
! safely to avoid killing frosts. Plant &
variety which is found to be the best
producer in your own locality, anC
which has the qualities of rapid ana
prolific fruiting.
= (5l Space the rows in accordance
| with the best local experience.
! (G) Cultivate frequently but not
deeply.
Summer Measure, Against Cotton In.
SrctS
|; ~ Continue cultivation until tn,
! Crol is made, or as long as possible.
! ~ Watch f2r the first appearance
OF worms.