Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-04
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW MI SOULE

L Ills DI1IlSS US W d CONSIDERATION
of one of the most important means
now suggested for the control of the
weevil, namely the spraying of the
plants with calcium arsenate. In
this connection it is important to
consider the conditions under which
the use of calcium arsenate is like
iy to prove profitable. It should not
be applied unless the weevils arc
injuring the crop seriously, or un-
less the land is rich enough to make
at least half a bale Of cotton per
acre if no Weevils were present. 1t
is useless to use calcium arsenate
unless you apply it at the right time
and in an effective manner. This
calls for an investment in busting
machinery and competent supervi-
sion. You should not depend on cal
cium arsenate unless you believe
that the cost Of the material and
labor and equipment necessary will
insure you an increased yield of at
least 100 pounds of seed cotton per
acre. busting equipment Of hand
design will depreciate SO to rs per
cent in single season, and larger
machines, we will say, about rs per
cent. Hand machines for busting
can be used on small areas, but far
more efficiency and success attend
the use of power machines. Hand
machines will cost from $12 to $25.
Power machines of different types
cost from 500 to $500.
The following condensed rules rela-
tive to the use Of calcium arsenate
have been prepared for the guidance
Of fnrt1onrS 6J1vino tho arc1IinO
son. They represent the judgment
and experience obtained by the Off
Gals Of the L. S. bureau Of ento-
mology through the agency Of their
Delta laboratory, which was estab-
lished at Tallulah, La. These rules
and regulations have been very care
fully thought out. They represent
an experience covering several years.
It is of the utmost Importance that
they be followed out definitely. If
this is not done little benefit from
the use of calcium arsenate as a
dust spray is likely to accrue to the
landowner.
Use only pure calcium arsenate
in the form Of dry powder.
Apply this only in the dust form.
Purchase this to conform to the
following specifications: Not less
than 40 per cent total arsenic pen.
toXid; not more than .075 per cent
water-soluble arsenic pentoxid; dem
sity not less than 80 or more than
100 cubic inches per pound.
Have your county agent send a
sample of your calcium arsenate to
the Delta Laboratory, Tallulah, La,
for free analysis to make sure that
it is satisfactory.
Use only busting machinery espe-
cially constructed for cotton dust
ing.
Poison only when the air is calm
and the plants are moist. Practical
ly this means making only night ap-
plications.
Use about 5 to 7 pounds Of cal
cium arsenate per acre for each APP
plication.
Start poisoning when the weevils
have punctured from 10 to Is per
cent of the squares.
Keep your cotton thoroughly dust
ed until the weevils are under con-
troll. This usually means about
three applications at the rate of
one every four days.
Then stop poisoning until the wee
wills again become abundant.
If the Weevils become abundant
early enough to injure your young
bolls, make enc or two more appli-
cations late in the season.
If you have a heavy rain within
"a hours after busting, repeat this
application Immediately.
Do you expect to eradicate the
weevils. Poisoning merely controls
them sufficiently to permit d full
crop of cotton and you can always
find weevils in the successfully
poisoned field.
Keep your cotton acreage low and
do everything possible to increase
your yield per acre, as it costs just
as much to poison one-quarter bale
per acre cotton as bale per acre cot
ton.
Always leave an occasional portion
of a cut imprisoned for comparison
with the adjoining poisoned tract.
This will show how much you have
increased your yield by poisoning.