The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-15


extensively by the farmers.
Whether il Will pay a farmer ID
poison can be determined by his
applying the following tes, 10 his
conditions. Doctor Coad and his
associates say that it will pay 10
poison
II the wcevils are really injur-
ing your crop seriously: and
II your land is sufficiently fertile
70 WELD at least one-half bale per
acre with weevil injury eliminated;
and
If your farming organization is
such that you feel assured that the
poison applications viii be made at
the right time and in the right
manner: and
If you are willing to spend the
full amount necessary to provide
an adequate supply of busting ma
chinery and poison.
YoI should not poison if the cost
of the calcium arSenate, the cost Of
the labor to apply it and the de-
probation on the busting machines
will total more per acre than the
current value Of 100 pounds Of seed
cotton
Hand guns should be figured. as
depreciating 100 per cent in q sea-
son and the larger machines about
- per cent.
There is hardly need to go into
discussion Of the various types
of machines to use in busting with
calcium arSenate except to say that
there are various kinds which
have been developed by the Delta
Laboratory and are now being
manufactured by different con-
Germs. Full information about the
best OF these can be obtained from
the laboratory or from your county
agent
Rules for Poison.
Specific directions about apply
ing the poison can be secured
from the following condensed rules:
Use only pure calcium arsenate
in the form Of q dry powder. Ap-
ply this only in the dust form.
Purchase this TO conform TO the
following specifications: Not less
than SO per cent total arsenic pen
toxid; not more than 6.75 per cent
water-soluble arsenic pentoxid.
Density not less than 80 or more
than 100 cubic inches per pound.
Have your county agent send a
sample Of your calcium arsena.e to
the Delta Laboratory, Tallulah, La,
for free analysis TO make sure that
it is satisfactory.
Use only busting machinery es-
pecially constructed for cotton
busting.
Poison only when the air is calm
and the plants are moist. Prac-
tically this means making only
night applications.
Use about five TO seven pounds
of calcium arsenate per acre for
each application. Start poisoning
when the weevils have punctured
from 10 TO u per cent OF the
squares.
Keep your cotton thoroughly
busted until the weeyils are under
control. This usually means about
three applications. at the rate Of
one every four days. Then stop
poisoning until the weevils again
become abundant.
If the weevils become abundant
early enough to injure your young
bolls, make one or two more ap-
plications late in the season.
II you have a heavy rain with
in "a hours after busting. repeat
this application Immediately.
DO not expect to eradicate the
weeviIs. Poisoning merely controls
them sufficiently to permit a full
crop Of cotton and you can always
find weevils in the successfully pois-
oned field.
Keep your cotton acreage low
and do everything possible to ir-
crease your yield per acre, as it
costs just as much 10 poison one
quarter bale per acre cotton as bale
per acre cotton.
Always leave en- occasional por-
ton of Il cut imprisoned for CONF
parlson with the adjoining poison
ed tract. This Will show how much
you have increased your yield by
poisoning.
Indirect Methods.
There are also several indirect
methods which tend 10 reduce
weevil injury. These will reduce
the amount Of poisoning that might
be necessary and viii increase the
profit that should be secured.
Cotton plants should be destroy
ed in the early fall before the Wee
wills have hibernated. This is most
important. In places where it IS
impossible 10 practice fall deStruc-
ton OF :he plants. somewhat the
same results might be secured by
grazing the cotton plants with cat
tie. sheep or goats. Even where
poisoning is done. this grazing can
be practiced and no danger need be
apprehcnded of poisoning the stock
since there is hardly enough poison
TO injure stock. In the lower cot
ton belt the sprout and volunteer
cotton should be killed.
Cleaning up the liberation quar-.
,ers Will also help in control. II :
a good practice TO burn or clean
up The fence rows. hedge rows 3nd