Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-03
Data Relative to Poisoning the Boil
WeeviI

weeviI
The most recent method suggested
for boil weevil control is through
the use of certain grades of calcium
arsenate. This is naturally a rather
concentrated poison. 1t can only be
applied with effect in the form of
very. fine dust spray in the evening
or early in the morning while there
is dew on the plants. The weevtl is
very fond of water and obtains what
he needs by drinking dew
To test out the merits of this
material and the results that might
be anticipated in Georgia from its
intelligent use, a series of demon
strat lions were organized in various
parts of the state last year. This
work was in charge of Prof. Frank
c. Ward, of the Georgia State College
of Agriculture. The results he Sc
cured have been summarized and are
now presented for the information
and advice of our readers. Study
the facts and figures presented very
carefully. They show the benefits
under good management which we
may hope to obtain from the skillful
use of calcium arsenate in fighting
the boil weeVih
The Weevi1's Methods
Since the boil weevil first came
into the United States from Mexico
in 1892 farmers, scientists and 9TH
ers have been trying to work out
methods of control. InnumerabIe at
tempts have been made to control
the pest by the use of chemicals and
poisons but most of these have not
been successful. The feeding hab-
it's of the weeviI make it difficult
to control him effectively with stom-
ach poisons that are to be taken in
feeding. 1t gets practically all it's
food from deep punctures made in
the square and boil and eats very
little of the outside tissues of the
plant. 1t is not possible to poison
the inside tissues that supply most
Of the food of the Weevil.
A very close study of the habits
of the boil weevil revealed the fact
that it drinks a great deal of water
and that it takes water regularly
and frequently. DeWdrops and other
droplets of water on the leaves and
stems are the source of supply. Us
ing this information as a basis on
which to work, Mr.. B. r. Coad, of
the bureau Of entomology, United
States department, of agriculture, be-
gan in 1915 to conduct experiments
in which the attempt was made to
poison the water which the WeGvils
would" drink. A number of differ
ent arsenical poisons were used in
these first experiments. A high
grade. Of calcium arsenate was found
to be. most effective. This calcium
arsenate contains. a very high per-
centage of arsenic pentoXid and can
be made so tina tit contains only
very small quantities of water SOL
uble arsenic which would injure the
foliage of plants. Calcium arsenate
has an added advantage over other
materials in that it is cheaper.
During the summer Of 1919 several
demonstrations in poisoning the boil
weevil were arranged for in Geor-
gia and were conducted as nearly
according to the recomm endationS of
the bureau of entomology of the
United States department of agri-
culture as possible. These demon
STATIONS were arranged for through
the county agents with individual
farmers in different parts of the
state. Under the circumstances it
was not possible to carry on the
demonstrations exactly according to
the recommendations and the re-
suits vary in proportion to the va
ration from the recommended plan.
Cost of Fighting It
In all of these records the cal
ciun arsenate was furnished by the
farmer and is charged to the poison
ed acre at actual cost. The labor of
application is charged on the basis
of two hours per acre for each ap-
plication and at rate of $3.50 per
ten-hour day. 1t did not actually
take that much time in these dem
0nstrations to apply the poison and
not many farmers were paying $3.50
for farm labor, but it was estimated
that i1y6e. ella conditions If Gould