The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-29
BOIL ,WEEVIL
INFESTATION
INCREASING
Utmost Attention Necessary
at Critical Period, Says Boil
Weevil Conference at Glenn

Censor College, July 24.-The
first generation Of weevifs has been
active in the central and southern
parts of the state for the last ten
days to two weeks, and it Is rap
idly appearing in the = Piedmont
section. InfestatIon in the south
ern section Of the state and the
Pee Dee section has been compar-
atively high in the last ten days,
while the farmers in the central
and northern parts of the state
will observe rapid Increase in
square infestation during the next
week or ten days. The appear
ance of weeviIs at this time and
the increase in the number OF
punctured squares is due to natur-
al developments, and this was to
be expected"
The above statement was made
at the weekly boil weeFii confer
ence held here today, which was
attended by Directors W. w. Long
and Il. W. Barre, President W. N.
Riggs, Prof. A. +. Cenradi and his
field entonaologists, and other spe-
cialists, and at which there were
reports made from the county
agents and specialists as to weevil
conditions in the various counties.
Below are the details of the facts
and suggestions brought out at the
conference.
Weather conditions in most sec
stions of the state are favorable
TO weevil development, and the
rains are unfavorable to weevil
control. Over practically the en-
tire state cotton is still continuing
to fruit, but in those sections where
infestation runs from 40 to 60 per
cent, land with showery. weather,
fruting may not be expected to
continue.
Attention is particularly direct
ed to the fact that we have arriy-
ed at the critical period in the pro-
duction of cotton in 1922 when the
utmost attention is necessary to
keep the plant fruiting and to re-
duce the weevi1 infestaticn as much
as, possible. Farmers who are
poisoning are urged to follow the
directions faid down for this
work with great care, and to make
the different poison applications
at the intervals recommended just
as nearly as possiole. weather per-
mitting.
Attention is directed to the
fact that because of the showery
and moist weather conditions In
many sections of the state. the
characteristic haring open and
yellowing of the punctured Squares
lis not so noticeable as. it is in dry
weather, and this factsis deceivine
many farmers as to the abund-
fance Of the weevi1, for under such
weather conditions the punctureo
squares remain green and keer
their normal shape for a much
longer period than under DIR.
weather conditions. 81
At this time there are still sem
in as boil weeviis a number of IN.
sects which however are other
kinds. Also, many squares are sent
in with holes bored into them
either by the boil worm or the cot
ton square borer. Furthermore
there is considerable shedding or
many farms, due apparently IN
some. cases to excessive wet wealth.
er. while in other instances it is
attributed to lack Of fertilizine
elements. In some sections the
rains have retarded cultivation
An examination Of many of These
fallen forms shows that upwards
Of 40 to SO per cent were squares
and the balance young boi1s, ano
| in some instances the great ma.
jority Of the squares and boli'
showed no weevH Injury.
General Outlook Favorable.
The general outlook is that, viii
favorable weather conditions. con
tinued cultivation. and inteliigen
poisoning. the infestation can bs
held down in most Of the fields
until the dispersion period.
It is repeated that frequen
shallow cultivation should be con
tinued in order to keep the plan
| in vigorous condition and continu
ed fruftIng; and that where cheaE
labor and .proper supervision ar