The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1919-07-23
THE FARMERS FORUM.
Edited by R. S. Wilson,
Director of Extension.l
The Boil WeeyiI Again.


consequent alarming increase in the
numbers of boil weevils, has brought
up again the ever important question
among cotton producers of What
shall we do A great deal of interest
is felt throughout the state in the ex-
perimental work conducted during the
past few years at Tallulah, La, by
Mr. Coad of the Bureau of Ento-
mology, with a poison for weevils ap-
piled by busting the cotton plant,
since this effort is regarded as the
most promising possibility of master
ing the weevil
The theory on which this work is
based is the fact, determined through
years of intimate study of the life
habits of the pest, that the weevil de-
mands water quite frequently. The
only manner in which this water may
be had at frequent and regular inter-
walls is for the weevil to drink the dew
that collects on the leaves of the plant.
Mr.. Coad believes that if chemical
substance is placed on the plant that
will remain there for some time and
that will constitute a deadly poison
when moistened by the dew, that mis-
ter weevil will meet his fate as he
quenches his morning thirst.
Test-work has been carried on at
Tallulah for three years. Three years
ago, when the weevil infestation was
heavy, some of the results obtained
were little short of marvellous. During
the past two years, on account of the
small number of weevils, resulting in
a practically normal crop on all lands,
very little information can be had
from the tests. Even with that inform
alton however, one big delta firm has
sufficient faith in the Coad method
to invest $4,000 in busting equipment,
and another has invested $4,000 for
the same purpose.
With this encouraging preliminary
information, it is unfortunate that
there are only five factories equipped
to manufacture busting machines, and
that the entire output from these fac
tories has been sold for months. This
condition is especially regrettable be-
cause of the heavy infestation of
weevils throughout the State.
AS great as the possibilities of this
method now seem to be, however, far
mers of the State should not raise
their hopes too high, for the Coad me-
thod must pass beyond the expert
mental stage before it can be regarded
as a definite cure Until that time is
reached and until the dusting method
proves of unboubted value, it is pos
sibly best that the Government and
well-to-do farmers should conduct
more exhaustive and more general
tests, rather than the small farmer
who cannot afford to experiment.
Altogether, the Coad method of
busting seems to have possibilities
greater than any weevil treatment
vet produced, and the men have close
" observed the work at Tallulah sta
ton and elsewhere under the super
vision of that station, have hopes
that at last a solution to the boil
weevil problem is at hand. In the
mean time, experiments are being
on a much larger scale all
over the cotton growing belt, and the
results this year will largely deter
mine its value.
Farmers who are interested may
secure complete information concern
ing the treatment and the results of
the work conducted by the Tallulah
Station by writing the United States
Department of Agriculture, Washing
ton. D. c.. and requesting Bulletin
No. 7Sl. A list of manufacturers of
the poison solution and busting ma
chine may be had by writing the Elk
pertinent Station, Agricultural Col
lege. Mississippi.