Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-07-13
U.S.. AGAIN URGES
WEEVL BUSTING
Experts Tefl How To
Proceed To Fight
Pest

farmer will watch his profits fall
ing to the ground ins puncturedI
Squares" the work of the boil Wee
vii. Fortunately, however, the
farmer, is less helpless than he used
to be. 1t is possible to control the
boil weevil, the United States De-
partment of Agriculture has found
after long experimentation, by dust
ing the plants with calcium arsenate
An adequate supply of the chemical
is obtainable this year and consider
able busting machinery is available,
though not sufficient to meet the
needs.
1t should be borne in mind, the
specialists says, that in poisoning for
poll weevil control, determination is
not secured and should not be at
tempted. The result aimed at is al
sufficient reduction of the weevil in
festation to permit maturing full
crop of cotton. About SO per cent
of the squares fall before reaching
maturity even in the absence of wee
wills. The present system of weevll
poisoning is expected to keep the
weevils controlled to such an extent
that they will no more than offset
the normal shedding-wil puncture
only about as many squares as would
have fallen in any event. This
means, usually, that the weevils are
permitted to multiply unmolested I'M
til they become sufficiently numer-
Gus to puncture more forms than
would shed normally. Poisoning Isl
then started and continued until the
plants have had time to develop as
many bolls as they will be able tol
mature. Poisoning is then stopped
and the weevils are allowed to re-
sumo multiplication. Remarkably
LARGE increases in yield frequently
resI,lt from a comparatively slight
degree of control for short time.
The effect is cumulative, however
and can only be secured by starting
the applications at the right Time
and repeating them at the correct
intervals. The specialists urge plant
ers to conduct the operation thor
ouphlv or not to attempt 1t at all
Have Poison Tested.
The right kind of poison is ory
powdered calcium arsenate contain
INC not less than 40 per cent arse
ate nentoxid. not more than three
fourths of one per cent water solu-
ahIe arsenate pentoxid and having
. density of not less than ~ ana
not more than 100 cubic inches TO
the mound. To be sure that II is
y;obt SAMPLES should be sent TO the
5.s,naytment's Delta Laboratory at
TaIlulah. La. An immediate report
viii he furnished showing whetner
o+ the material is satisfactory
for cotton busting. 1t IS OF she
greatest Importance to be sure tnat
the material is right. If 1t contains
too little arsenate, it will not XIII the
weeyils. If it contains too mucn
water soluable arsenic, it will XIII OF
;n;ure the plants. Mixtures OF all
Kinds are condemned. Calcium arse
nate may be kept as long as fonr
ears If it is stored in dry place:
There is always the possibility OF
noisoning both men and horses work +
NO in calcium arsenate dust. Though
no serious injury has ever been re-
ported, the specialists urge tne CaA
ing of all reasonable precautions
Personal cleanliness is the most I'M
uortant Operators should DC l
ouired to battle as soon as they nave
completed the busting work ana I'M
der no circumstances should tney pc
permitted to eat or drink Witho1t
washing their hands and faces VIII
sap and water. Horses and mules
used to pull the busting macnine I
should be muzzled to prevent the
possibility of poisoning by eating
grass and weeds along the rows: II
Generally speaking, at least
hounds of calcium arsenate per acre
should be used. 49,
The best time to dust is Wnen lne
humidity is high, the air calm ana
the plants moist with dew. 1t Is
necessary that every portion OF the
cotton plant be covered by the me
particles of poison dust and this can
not be done when the wind IS hlgh
or the plants dry. 1t is usually neces-l
sarv. therefore, to do nearly all OF
The busting work at night, early
in the morning or late in the eve
ming.
The first application should be
made when the weeyil injury reach
es 10 to Is per cent of the bolls,l
and fine effort should be to hold ltl
below rs per cent. The poison
reaches and kills the adult weeylls
and has no effect whatever on the
immature stages developing in the
bolls and squares. Three apphca-
lions are usually sufficient to effect
the desired measure Of control. Ihey
should be about four days apart
Poisoning shduld be attempted ex-
ceptunder conditions that will justify a
sufficient machinery outlay to go over
ali the cotton poisoned at about four
day intervals. 1t is advisable 70 re-
peat an application Immediately II
q drenching rain falls within "a
hours after treatment.
1t is sometimes advisable. to poison
heavily infested portions Of the teld
earlier in the spring. The heaviest
infestation is usually near timber or
other Information quarters, and ear
" poisoning of few acres may
Greatly reduce the infestation Of the
entire field and delay considerably
the necessity for general poisoning.
Weevil poisoning, the specialists
saw. IS plantation and not an in
.5ss?l,-.4 eta y,roYoeition. It is I'M