The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-07
Burn or Plow Under Cotton Plants
To Control Boil Wcevil


The great destruction wrought
by the cotton boil weevil this year
has made the problem OF its con-
troll q vital one to practically all
cotton planters. Everywhere tie
question is heard, What can se
done to avoid this less next year?'
For many years prior to the de-
velopment Of pcison-control meas
ures the United States Department
Of Agriculture advocated fall de-
struction OF cotton plants by burn :
ing or piowing under, as the mos.
important step in controlling the
boil weevil. 1t is still good practice
as an auxiliary to control by poison.
The proper time for the desrruc-
ton Of tae plants in the fall is
whenever the weevils have become
50 numerous that there is no pros
pect that any more cotton will be
made. 1t is an easy matter for acy
planter to determine this point b
an examination Of few plants IN
his field. Whenever it is found that
all. or nearly all. OF the squares ana
some OF the bolls are being pune
tured, there is no hope for proGuc-
ing any morc cotton The farmer
should then wait until the bolls al.
ready set on the r.iants have opened,
and destruction should then :ak,.
place immediately.
By all means. if possible, de-
struction Of plants should take
place before frost, but destruction
after frost. though not nearly as
efficacious as early destruction,
should always nt. practiced wic1 It
it has not been possible to remove
the plants previously. The plants
should be pl"w.G under deeply. or
completely destroyed by fire. No
sprout cotto,i should be left to fur
nish breeding PAGES for the weevi.s.
There are four principal reasons
why the process Of fall destruction
should be practiced universally by
planters in infested regions:
First. Fall destruction prevents
absolutely the Development Of a
multitude of weevils which would
otherwise become adult within a
few weeks OF the time Of hiberna-
ton. The destruction Of the inana-
t,Ire stages Of v-eevi;s in infested
squares and bolls is accomplished,
While the further growth OF squares
which may become infested later IS
prevented. This stops materially
the development Of weevils which
would normally hibernate success
fully, and by decreasing the nun
Der of weevils which will emerge in
the spring the chances for sue
cessful crop the following season
are very greatly increased.
Second. A proper manipulation
OF the stalks will bring about the
destruction of a great majority OF
the weevils which are already adui-.
Third. It has been shown con-
clusively that the bulk of the Wee
wills which survive the winter are
those which reach maturity late IN
the season. 1t IS evident that the
weevils that pass the winter and
attack the crop Of the following
season are among those developed
latest in the fall and which, IN con-
sequence Of that fact. have not cX-
hausted their vitality by deposiflns
eggs for any considerable length
of time. Fall destruction Of the
plants. increasing the length OF the
hibernating period. reduces many
fold the number Of weevils in me
field that would otherwise emerge
in spring to damage the cotton.
Fourth. Clearing OF the field in
the fall makes it possible to prac-
tice fall plowing. which is not only
the proper procedure ii any syste1s.
of cotton raising, but also greatly
facilitates the early planting of the
crop the following spring. The
ground becomes clean by this prac-
tice. 50 that but few places for
shelter are left for the weevlls.
and various climatic conditions
still further reduce the number OF
the survivors.
The early planting of the crop
next spring and the use Of an ear
ly maturing variety arc also strong
ly urged The fall destruction OF
plants will reduce the number OF
weevils which Will survive the VIM
ter. BY getting the cotton crop
started early it is often possible to
set it wei on the way to matur-
itv before the few weevils survlv-
ing the winter have time to propa-
gate to the point where they be-
come destructive.
DESTROY the cotton plants in the
fall and plant early the following
spring.
Every oace in while you meet