The Mena weekly star., 1921-09-29
COTTON ENEMIES
 SCORE IN SOUTH
Boil Weevil, Boil Worm and Army Worm Cut Crop All Over Arkansas Crop Diversifcation Only
 Remedy Offered.
By CLIO HARpER

liJtic ROCK, oepV. ol.--lt IS uOl denied, but is matter of conimor knowledge that destructive pests have caused more damage this season to cotton in Arkansas than ever be. fore in the history of the state. The boil weevil until this year was con- fined chiefly to the counties south of the Arkansas river and in many of the more northerly counties had been unknown. This year however, with aal unusually long and protracted summer of intensive heat, following a remarkably mild winter, has appar- ently been favorable to the propaga- ton of the boil weevil and other pests, The weevil has spread into practically every county where cotton is grown. Crittenden and Mississippi counties which are among the most productive cotton counties of the en- tire South report great loss due to the ravages of the weevil, in many in- stances eradication of more than two- thirds in the yield per acre.
 Not only has the boil weevil been actively destructive, but it has been assisted by the army worm which has invaded many fields in tremendous numbers and the boil worm which has proven serious pest. There are many instances of fields of cotton where the bolls have been ruined by the weevil or the boll worm and ev. cry plant then stripped of it's foliage by the army worm. In such instances 1 there is frequently not enough cottof 1 left to justify picking.
 Similar conditions prevail in other states and this has given rise to many 1 theories and suggestions of relief Someone in Louisiana has recom- mended the passage of law by the legislature forbidding the planting of cotton in the state for a year, with the idea that by this means the prop agation of the weevil might be stopt The Texas legislature has tried the non-cotton zone idea, particularly to prevent the spread of the pink boil worm from Mexico, but experts say it 1t has has net been demonstrated fmlly as success. The success of the plar l depends upon several factors, among which are:
 The enactment of proper laws foi carrying out the establishment o1 non-cotton zones.
 The enlistment of every farmer ir | the crop pest corporation.
 The raising for a large enough army for clean up and scouting work. l The possibility of the complete elimination of every bit of cotton 1T one year
 The establishment of a permanent cotton free zone which is large enough to prevent the possibility of the re establishment of the cotton bol weevil.
 The plan is not considered feasibl, i by George E. Becker, chief inspector of the Arkansas State Plant Board who says that it appears to him il would be impossible to produce 10t per cent non-cctton South in one year I He says that he considers the plar ''too stupendous an expef irlent for the South to undertake in view of the un. certainty of the boil weevils eradica- tion and that nothing short of an as. sured eradication would warrant suct an experiment"
 MT. Becker further discusses tho proposed plan of organization in the following suggestion:
 l But, given every condition favor 1 able, it is very doubtful in my mind whether cotton could be absolutely eliminated in one year. As thoro as l was the clean up in some of the pink 1 boil worm areas in Texas, volunteer cotton was found in these areas the following year, if I am correctly in 1 formed. Of course, we would still have the opportunity of chopping ort the cotton after it had sprouted next year. This would be tremendous task in weedy fields, fence rows and numerous other places where a little 1 stalk of "bumble bee" cotton might bt hidden But even if the fields, fencs rows, etc, were secuted for cottor there yet would remain every pos 1 sibility of volunteer cotton being overlooked The cracks of box cal which had been loaded with cottonseed the season before would be poten' tial factor for distributing seed which might sprout and produce stalk ol cotton where 1t would mature unob served. Doubtless many other possi
 bilities of this kind might b'
 cited" While the destruction tha has been wrought in Arkansas cottor fields has been equal to many millions Of dollars, based upon even the pres ent price of cotton, many believe tha if will be the salvation of the Soutl as it will force greater diversified
 ton of crops. The cotton that i'
 raised this year is produced at les cost than for msny years and whil' it will work great hardship upoi many individuals the general resul
 will not be serious on account of thl ffcatcr price of the erep.