Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-06-29

would have to be answered before
definite general advice as to the use
of the poison could be given. The
early studies had shown that under
certain conditions poisoning was prof
liable, but it was apparent that any
change in these conditions might cas-
lily result in much lower gain, if not
in an actual loss, and it was essential
to determine thoroughly the posi-
bilities and limitations of boll-Weevil
poisoning before releasing any infor.
nation for public use. Unfortunate
ly for the experimental work, the
season of 1917 in the vicinity of Tai
lulah was most remarkable for the
light degree of boil weevil damage.
This was due to peculiar combina-
ton of seasonal conditions and re-
suited in an almost complete absence
of weevil damage IL all of the cotton
IN which tests had been planned. In
other words, the yield of cotton in
these cuts was just the same as if no
weevils had been present. Of course
weevil-control experiments could not
be conducted under such conditions
and the majority of the Tallulah ex-
perlments had to be given up for the
season. Nevertheless, a dozen or
more cuts were located immediately
adjoining timber where a somewhat
heavier degree of infestation was ex-
penenced, and in these cases the rule
prevailed that the heavier the infes-
tation, the greater the gain due to
poisoning. These results. of course
fully confirmed those of the proceed
ing two years, but the necessary post
ponement of many experiments still
left many gaps in TIE information es-
sentlal to outlining a general proce-
dure for weevil poisoning.
Experiments in Arkansas and
| Mississippi.
In addition to the experiments lust
detailed, number weer conducted in
the North Delta, in Chicot county.
near Lake Village Ark. and in Wash
lngton county, near Scott, Miss. AT
both OF these points heavier infesta
ton was produced by different sea-
sonal conditions, and pronounced re-
suits were secured from the poison.
In every case the experiments were
conducted on comparatively small
areas, subject to a continual influx
OF Weevils from surrounding untreat-
ed cotton, but in spite of this yerv
definite weevil control resulted from
poisoning. The open cotton in every
case showed definite gain to the
last row OF treatment The gains per
acre ranged from 20 pounds to | ,OO7
pounds of seed cotton.
1t IS, of course, impossible toesti-
mate how much larger the gains
would have been if entire cuts or
entire plantations had been treated,
and thus the inflow of wee
wills from imprisoned cotton
prevented, but it is clear that
these gains secured on small plats
were very conservative. In fact, this
was brought out we'll by one large
scale treatment described below.
A Large-Scale Treatment.
About the middle of August the
writer was requested to attempt the
control of the weevil on a large sec
ton OF an Arkansas plantation. This
cotton was on very fair land, but had
not been planted until we'll along in
May. Weather conditions then re-
tarded it greatly and it did not start
setting crop until the latter part of
July. About the middle of August a
far crop of bolls was present, but
the plants were large and leafy and
the weevils had multiplied so rapidly
that one of the heaviest infestations
ever witnessed by the writer prevail
ed. Blooming had practically ceased
and the weevils had cleaned up the
square so thoroughly that they were
attacking the bolls in enormous num-
bers and all bolls, event to the larg
est present, were being riddled with
punctures. 1t seemed probable that
on one section no bolls would be left
to open. 1t was, of course, too late
to attempt to set new crop by pois-
nlng, but an effort was made to save
the bolls then present on the plants
For this purpose large-scale treat
ments were continued from August
% to about September /, several hun
dred acres in all being treated. At
the beginning of the work a series
of counts showed Sc per cent. of the
squares in the cotton which was to
be poisoned had been weevjl .runc
tured. This cotton was given a SIN
gle poisoning, and about 10 days la
ter, it was found that the weev | in
festation in these same cuts had been
reduced so that only SO per cent oe
the squares were punctured. During
the same period the infestation in the
adjoining imprisoned cotton had been
increasing steadily. Practically all
of the poisoned cuts started blooming
again at this time and number Of
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