The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-12-14
David r. Coker Surveys Results OBJ
tanned in Control of Cotton Pest by
Various Methods and Submits Ger
tain Conclusion That He Has
Reached.
David R. Coker in The State.

Your editorial Of December seems
to call for some further information
from me as to the success Of the CAL
cium arsenate-molasses method OF
weevil control.
Let me say first, however, few
words as to my whole attitude on the
subject OF weevil control: For more
than dozen years I have been study
ing the subject, have been breeding
varieties that might be expected to
successfully meet the weevil and have
been endeavoring to work out meth
DDS of farm practice which might
prove successful under weevil con-
ditions. I carefully watched the gov
ernment work on weevil control and
when he arrived in force last spring
put these methods into operation on
the majority of our cotton areas. We
also in limited way tested the molas-
ses-calcium arsenate method, OF
which we had heard good reports.
Our experiments with the dusting
method were comparative failure, as
these fields became heavily infested
with a small yellow plant louise fol-
lowing the dusting and these lice Sc
verely damaged the cotton. No dam
aging infestation followed the mo-
lasses method and good results were
obtained where it was used. This sea-
son we again treated one field with
the dusting method and observed the
same reaction of heavy plant louse
infestation, which we checked by an
application of sulphate of nicotine.
Notwithstanding our unfortunate
experience with the dusting method
and that of several other farmers in
this section, freely admit that the
dusting method has usually proved to
be profitable and that it is apt to
save large proportion Of the cotton
crop where properly applied.
There are several very serious OBJ
jections to it, however, and feel that
some method Of weevil control must
be worked out which will overcome
these objections. Until such method,
is put before the people there is no
hope that weevil control will become
general and that any large proportion
of the cotton crop can be saved.
Objections to Dusting.
The principal objections to the
dusting methods, as recommended by
those in charge of the weevil control
work last spring, are:
1. It does not advocate poisoning
of the weevils until they have had an
opportunity to reinfest the fields by
puncturing the first appearing
squares.
2. 1t requires that the poison be ap-
piled under certain conditions OF
moisture and absence of winds, which
conditions are not usually present ex-
cept at night and are not present
every night.
3. More or less expensive mach1n-
cry is necessary for it's application.
4. The government recipe requires
the application of large quantities OF
calcium arsenate variously estimated
at 20 to 40 pounds (and under certain
conditions much more) per acre. 1t Is
estimated that the available supply OF
calcium arsenate present and pros
pective will treat not more than 10
per cent. of the cotton acreage.
5. The expense and difficulty Of the
government method put it completely
out of reach of the average cotton
producer.
It seems perfectly evident that II
and when the bureau of entomology
succeeds in convincing any large pro-
portion of the cotton raisers that
their method of control is necessary
to successful cotton raising under boil
weevil conditions, an immediate
scramble for the available supply OF
calcium arsenate will occur, the price
will be lifted sky high, not another
acre will or can be treated by their
method than was treated the past
year, only comparatively few OF the
more able planters can secure their
share of the material and the whole
cotton industry will be worse OH than
it now is, just to the extent OF the
advance in price of calcium arsenate.
Calcium Arsenate Supply.
The above will not be true II an un-
limited supply Of calcium arsenate
were available, but as the entire
available supply was exhausted this
year and as there is no likelihood OF
great increase in production, the
above statements are evidently true.
II has for some months, therefore,