Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-07-06

"A force of twenty highly trained entomologists, chemists, etc, are em- ployed to conduct the work and re- cord results.
 "One of the first efforts to control the weevil was with poison twenty years ago, but the weevil does not eat leaves, and such poisons as were in use only burned the cotton leaves and left the weevil unharmed.
 About six years ago, one of the observers noted that the weevll was regular thinker, and took his morn ing's morning from the dew drops or rain on the cotton leaves. This sug- gested that if a poison could be em- ployed that would be soluble in dew and yet not harmful to the plant means of control would be found.
 Clear 35,O0O Acres. After number of tests calcium arsenate of specified strength was found satisfactory and experiments under various field conditions begun. Gradually methods for applying the poison were worked out, until last year 35,OOO acres of cotton were treated successfully.
 "The gentlemen in charge of the laboratory indulges in no theory, and state frankly that while all indica- tions are that the work now in prog ress will be the solution of the boil weevil problem, there are some de- tails yet to be improved upon, and more data collected before the meth ods are perfected.
 "The attitude of the planters is well expressed by the superintendent of the Maxwell Yerger estate at Mound, La., who says it is decided success when done according to the laboratory experts. He employed ap- proved methods last year on several thousand acres and is very enthus- iastic He found his yields increased from one hundred to one thousand 1 pounds of seed cotton per acre, as compared with adjoining plants left untreated. He now has three big power dusters and an ample supply of calcium arsenate for use thls year"
 Use Busting Machine.
 "In the conference with the men in charge of the laboratory we learned that in the season of 1918 the at tempt was made to control the wee vii successfully on 35 ,000 acres of cot ton. On the whole, the results were very satisfactory indeed, and dem- onstrated quite definitely the practic- ability of utilizing this method of control on plantation basis. How ever, they stated that there is still much to be worked out before final and definite instructions for general use can be given.
 "We found, so far, only types o1 dusting machines have been develop ed. Those are the large power dust CTS and the small hand dusters. The hand guns are so limited in thei1 capacity that it is very difficult tt use them on more than 25 acres, as they will only cover from 3 to 4 acres per day; while the power dust CTS will easily dust from 400 to 55C acres. in the season, or from 50 tC 75 acres per day.
 "They claim that the best poisor for weevil control which has been de veloped so far is powered calcium arsenate. This chemical is decided ly new development as an insecticid and. owing to the fact that this i ueclueuly neW ClleIIliSdl oll Cho ii'l ket, it is especially desirable to watcl very carefully the composition of the material bought this year in order to prevent the use of unsatisfactory ma- terial. Consequently, all purchasers are urged to send samples immed- lately upon receipt to the Delta lab oratory Tullulah, La., for analysis These analysis will be furnished free of charge, and as quickly as possible after receipt of the samples. Gal cium arsenate will control the cot ton leaf worm also."
 Three power machines and flfteer hand machines, such as used by tht government experts so successfully have been ordered shipped by express by the planter who made the trip te Tallulah.