Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1921-01-27
BOIL wEEvn ABOUT DUE.
(Written for The Times

In 1892 the cotton boil weevil en-
tered the United States at Browns
Vile, Texas. From the date of it's
entry 1t has been cotton's worst in
sect enemy by taking heavy toll
from the crop each year.
Advancing eastward at an average
rate OF SO miles year, sometimes
more and sometimes less, the weevil
had feached the southwestern edge
or South Carolina in 1917. 1t Is now
present in Lancaster county and riay
be In York county next spring. Sew
eral months ago government ex-
pert visited this section looking for
the weevil. but was unsuccessful in
his search. This does not mean that
there are no weevils here for he may
have overlooked them or they may
have come here later. This much is
true-the weevil was due to hit Fort
Mill this past fall (192O): IL it didn't
We are indeed lucky. Notice that I
have said lucky" for that is what
we should count ourselves. If 1t fails
to be seen this summer. by damage
In our fields. then it is most certain
to be seen the year following, in the
summer of 1922.
Don't be a Doubling Thomas"
about the boil weevil reaching you.
Others have made the same mistake,
so let's profit by their experience.
We must begin to educate ourselves
for farming under boil weevil con-
ditions, otherwise when the weevil
does appear here he will get the big
ger part of our cotton crop. Some
say 1t is too cold here for the weevil,
while there are others that believe
some act OF Providence will save us.
Let us face cold facts or scientific
truths that We do know about the
weevil. All who have studied the
weevil find that 1t multiplies very
much faster in wet, rainy seasons
than during dry seasons. This is
easily understood when we consider
the fact that the dense foliage (in
rainy seasons) protects the immature
weevils in the fallen squares on the
ground from the heat of the sun,
which normally kills large numbers
OF the immature forms.
Experts also find that weevils are
susceptible to very cold weather, but
there has never yet been known a
winter severe enough to kill all the
weevils. Therefore 1t is evident that
cold weather will check but not de-
stroy the weevil. Nature has also
rided the farmer by placing here
other insects which eat or parasitize
Tho weevils.
Now let us consider briefly how
We may fight the weevil. There are
two methods: one Is by using the
now dust poison and the other way Is
by cultural methods in farming. The
former method Is still in the expert
mental stage, so II is best to use the
latter method until we know more
about the new poison.
l. Got an early variety of cotton
suited to boil wecvil sections. One
of the best varieties for this section
Is the cleveland Big Boil"
2. Plant your cotton just as carly
as you can.
2. FertiliZa we'll
4. Cultivate often.
S. Gather your crop early.
6. Plow under or burn your stalks
before the date for the first heavy
frost.
burning them off.
Cotton Is still being grown with
profit in the boil wccvil section where
they use the methods described In
this article.
. You must expect the weevil to have
his share of your cotton crop just
like tenant. How much he gets
will depend on the season and wheth-
or YOU farm right or not. r. M. s.