Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-21
Counting Boil Weeu;1s. and
prebar;ng the String

IF in times gone the boil weevil, like Saul,
has slain his thousands, this year,
a like David, he will slay his tens OF
thousands. Such, at least, is the augury OF
scientists who have looked closely into the
omens.
From the famed Delta laboratory of the
Federal Bureau of Entomology at Iallulan,
Louisiana, come reports of a series OF most
interesting studies and tests on which the
observers base their forecast of weevll prob
abilities Two factors, it seems, go to de-
termine how many weeVils will emerge each
spring-frst, the number entering winter
quarters, and then the proportion OF those
surviving. The autumn Of 1921, in the larg-
err part of the cotton country, was peculiar
ly favorable to weevil Information, and the
winter has been uncommonly mild. 80 are
fulfilled both the conditions that make tor
a high percentage of weevn emergence THIS
spring.
What common sense might thus expect,
tha records Of the Delta laboratory Confirm
During the last few days." runs the otnclal
statement 1--WE have inspected over thirty
six hundred pounds OF Spanish moss from
fifteen different selected points representing
the different types of alternating condl-
lions. This moss carefully examined, and
the number of weevils, living and dead, IS
noted. From this we compute the ratio OF
live and dead weevils per ton OF moss; ana
past experience has shown that this affords
a very fair index to the emergen3e WHICH
may be expected
Now for the figures. In the latest tesr
the one lust now described the number OF
live weevils per ton of moss was Ut, and
the number of dead weevils 2.2. Last year s
data ascertained in the same way, shows "a
live weevils per ton of moss, and 26 dead
&hn nnr1 Ic +
and 1873 dead; for 1918 living and So
dead; for 1918-1.7 living and 1873 dead;
and so on back through 1915 when the
record began, and when the proportion was
10 weevils alive to Ala dead, as against the
present -h~wing of 1877 alive to 20 dead.
These findings. which are the more i'm
pressive because sundry other experiments in
the same field bear them out, carry their own
commentary and warning. True it is, as the
Bureau of Entomology remarks, that the
abnormally heavy emergence OF over-w1nter l
Weevils in the coming spring does not neces-
sarily mean that weeJil damage this season
will be unusually great since 1t is posslDle
that summer weather conditions may onset
the early infestation." But ponder these
further words from the same authority: 1.-The
fact remains that farmers Tin infested terri
tory will start the cotton crop under
tremendous handicap, and it will require aD-
normal weather to produce norman WeeVll
damage. No man is justified in gambling on
e@AANAS
ipate year of great abundance OF boil
weevils and to make all plans accordingly.
The Journal does not presume to offer ad-
vice on matters concerning which the farmer
knows more in a day than many OF his cock
sure counselors cold learn in year. But
we present the results of this exceedingly in
teresting test and the views of these highly
competent students, for-what they may be
worth to men of open minds. If a word to
the wise be sufficient, three things Georgia
will not forget in the oncoming months which
are to make or mar so many fortunes. she
will not forget that the msre abundant boil
weevils are, the smaller the cotton acreage
which can be handled securely and success
fully; nor that food crops, adapted to the
soil and the season, should fill the cotton
gap; nor that markets for such crops must
be provided adequately and betimes, If the
growers are to profit and the commonwealth
go prosperously forward.
In all this there needs must be co-opera-
ton. Farmers cannot bear the burdens ano
take the hazards of these changeful times
alone They are entitled to the liberal CO.
working of business and banking, to the enc
that problems which involve the interests OF
all may be worked out for the common good
And In the fact that such co-work1ng is sc
generously promised in Georgia lies one Oh
the happiest omens of the unfolding year.