The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-02-25
FREEZES HAVE NOT
KILLED BOIL WEEVIL

ION DOH WcSfH, say . lHS D~P~'' '''ANA's
of Agriculture, in answer to many IN
quiries FROM the South.
During the past winter the temper
atures have been lower than at any
time since 1899, and there can hardly
be any doubt that this extreme cold
has reduced the numbers of weevils in
many sections of the South. The i'm
preston has been gained by many
planters that the weevil has been re-
duced to negligible numbers, if not
altogether exterminated. 1t is too
much to expect that the temperatures
have been uniformly cold enough to
absolutely exterminate the weevil
from large areas. The records of the
Department of Agriculture indicate
that there is at least from to 5 per
cent survival of the weevil in those
sections which have been thoroughly
studied as against normal of rs per
cent survival. This percentage of sur
viving weevils is sufficient to re-stock
the cotton fields of the South before
the end of the growing season.
There is always a possibility that
there may be some specially shelter
ed spots even in the most northerly
infested regions where some weevils
will be able to survive. The instinct
of the weevil leads it to seek the
warmest shelter available in the vi
cinity of its breeding ground. 1t will
shelter itself under the bark of tree,
or in thick hanging moss upon the
trees, under the thatch of roofs, and
in straw stacks, in seed storehouses
and gins, and in other buildings.
1t is therefore quite easy to see
that no matter how cold the external
temperatures are there is always a
probability that there will be weevils
surviving in each field sheltered Sc
curely enough to carry them through
The experience of q years with the
boil weevil in this country has shown
that one or two weevils surviving in
a field can easily produce enough off
springs to destroy all but the earliest
portions of the crop.
No reliable prediction can be made
on the basis of what happened during
the winter. Frequently seasons in
which very few weevils pass the win
ter have been followed by great in
jury to the crop by the weevil. This
has been due to favorable conditions
brought about by heavy rains during
the early part of the growing season
(which permitted the weevils to over
come their losses during the winter
or too early dispersion of the weevils
from the warmer sections of the cot
ton belt, and sometimes to severe tro-
pical storms which frequently sweep
over the Gulf states. 1t is therefore
apparent that the conditions of the
spring and summer will largely de-
termine the extent of damage due to
the weevil, rather than the number
of weevils which survive in a given
locality.
In the opinion Of the Department
of Agriculture, it would be very un.
fortunate if the prevailing impression
concerning the boil weevil shoule
increase the acreage of cotton at the
expense of food crops. At the pres.
ent time, what is most urgently need
ed throughout the South is an in
creased production of food and feec
crops. There is every indication tha
the normal acreage in cotton, will
proper cultivation, will give a suppl,
of the staple sufficient for all pur
poses. 1t is clearly matter of pa
triotism as well as sound judgmen
for the planters to increase the acre
age in food crops. The planter wht
increases his cotton acreage canno
be assured that his crop will not suf
fer greatly from the boil weevil at
tack, and will be utilizing his land il
a way which does not best serve TIL
necessities of the country.
Director General McAdoo has al
ready issued a warning that transpor
tation difficulties in 1918 may make
difficult, if not impossible, to suppl,
food and feed promptly to communi
ties that neglect to provide their owl
necessities. To say the least, tn
drain on transportation is so heav,
that any exceptional requirements TO
hauling food and feed to the Soutl
will be an actual embarrassment to tn
war. The Department of Agricultur
is not asking the South to contribut
materially to the nations food an,
feed supply, but is asking the Soutl
only to feed itself so that it may no
become a burden upon the food-pro
ducing sections of the country whicI
must strain their energies to the ut
| .V, OrEar a.