The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-07-08
Same Things TO Do Now
I'm Boil WeeviI Control

trolling the boil weevil. These seems
to be. a diversity of opinion in, regard
to the value of some of these meth
eds.
The purpose Of this article is not
to discuss the merits or demerits of
any questionable method, but to out
line the practices which have proven
their worth since the weevil first en-
tered Texas nearly 80 years ago.
Cultivation.
The value of frequent shallow cul-
tlvation cannot be overly emphasized.
This will not result in the direct de-
struction Of many weevils, but il
causes the plants to continue unin-
terruptedly in their growth. Under
most conditions the old plantation
rule "once a week and one in row"
should be applied. Great care should
be exercised from this time on to see
that 1.-THE crop is not ployed so deep as
to cause shedding.
In districts which have had the wee
vii for a number Of years, the old
practice of laying by the crops long
before the time when the last bolls are
set, has of necessity been abandoned.
The Importance of keeping the cotton
squaring long enough to protect the
bolls is OF great Importance, and the
best way to accomplish this result is
to cultivate at least two weeks longer
than the usual time of "laying by"
This is critical period in the boil
ing OF the cotton plant, and it is very
easy to bring on disaster to the crop
by improper cultivation at this time.
Great care should be exercised at this
season and the play should not be run
too deeply or too close to the plant, or
excessive shedding will result. Care
full late shallow cultivation is an ex-
cellent practice.
Square Collection.
The possibility of weevil control by
hand picking of the adult weevil in
the early spring before cotton begins
to square and of the infested squares
later in the season has been thor
oughly tested on numerous occasions.
Undoubtedly this method is efficient
when practiced with sufficient thor
oughness. The value of this method
depends almost entirely on it's thor
oughness., The season for picking
weevils is past, but on those farms
which have an abundance of cheap
labor, it. will be an excellent practice
to pick both the punctured squares on
the ground and those hanging on the
stalk. In order to secure results from
this smethod it is necessary to pick all
punetured squares from every stalk of
cotton at intervals Of five days until
the first of August. No farmer should
neglect his cultivation In, order to
pick squares, but there is enough child
labor on ths-average farm. to carry
on this work -if,theysare superintend !.
ed by an older person. The value of
this method is unquestionable if it is
done thoroughly, but no mani, need
expect results if the work is only half
done.
Poisoning.
In connection. with. poisoning the
following letter. and instructions. re.
ceived by the county agent fro mthe
state entomologist should be of inter-
est to those who are thinking of poi
soning:
Clemson College, s. C.
mn. w. D. Wood,
"Union, S. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring. to your valued favor in
reference to the use of calcium arsen.
ate for boil weevil control advise that
we 1are sending under separate cover
our letter on Poisoning in 1922 which
states the conditions under which poi
soning may be expected to be profit
able. We are alsoasending you under
separate cover circular 1862 which
gives specific information as to ma
chimes and their acreage capacity to.
gether with a program for poisoning
on last page.
due to the UNUSUAL weevi abnn-
dance at this time and which was ex-
pected and foreeasted early in the
season We recommend that the first
dusting be given when three to five
squares have formed and after which
thei schedule, on last page of circular
162 be followed.
it is generally not profitable to
poison before square formation. be-
gins and the buds that nweevils eat, is
generally not serious. Normally there
is no profit in any poisoning until ten
per cent Of the squares have been
punctured but this year the weevils
are so numerous in many fields so as
to make it impossible for the plants
to develop blooms hence the recon-
mendation for busting to begin when
three to five squares have formed.
"Ih ably and carefully conducted
tests during the last 20 years no addi-
tional seed cotton was produced by
sweetened poison and the only addi-
tional seed cotton that was profitably
produced by poisoning was produced
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