The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-06-22

Courier: As boil weevils are now
reported in greater or less quantities
on nearly every farm in the state and
as the weather thus far has been ideal
for their propagation it looks as II
there is small chance of producing
fair cotton crop unless some cheap
and effective method of checking
them is found and put into effect i'm
mediately.
have heretofore recommended
that the farmers experiment with a
mixture of calcium arsenate and mo-
lasses, having both experienced and
heard of good results from this treat
ment and knowing that the expfnse
of the use of this mixture is so shall
that failure to secure results woald
not mean heavy loss.
During the past few days l have
become thoroughly convinced that
this treatment is extremely effective.
On Friday, the 9th instant, on our
pedigreed seed farm eleven live active
weevils were placed on few stalks OF
cotton upon which few drops OF the
molasses mixture had been placed. A
few hours later our experimenters
found eight dead weevils and no live
ones on these stalks. On May 30,
Mr.. J. W. Goodson treated half of
field with this mixture and on June .
he carefully examined this field and
hundreds of weevils on the untreated
cotton and very few on the treated
cotton. He is absolutely convinced
of the great value of this treatment,
as are Messrs. Randolph Gillespie,
George Newsom and George w.
Threat, of this section. Mr.. A. H.
Rogers, of Society Hill, and Mr.. R.
Lee Bass, of Lanes, all of whom have
made tests with this mixture. In fact
I know of no test that has been made
which failed to result in killing high
per cent. of the weevils on the treat
ed cotton.
believe that if every farmer will
make an application of the calcium
arsenate-molasse mixture this week
lhe will make a great deal more cotton
than otherwise. Weevils are already
puncturing the forms on the old cot
ton and these should be carefully
picked up. Additional applications
of the molasses mixture should be ap-
piled at least once per week for the
next four weeks and oftener if wash
ed of by rain.
Take two pounds of calcium arsen-
ate, mix thoroughly with one gallon
of warm water and then one gallon
of molasses (the cheapest black-strap
is best), applying to the cotton with
a mop. A drop or two in the bud OF
each plant is sufficient. A very small
quantity appears to be as effective as
a large quantity. The main thing is
to get it on at once and get it prop
erly distributed. After the cotton is
two or three feet tall mixture Of two
and oneAhalf gallons of molasses, sew
en- and one-half gallons OF water and
10 pounds of arsenate may be applied
with spray pump. We got good re-
suits with this mixture last year, u.s.
ing an orchard spray with 5 nozzles,
easily covering forty acres per day.
For some reason the extension bu-
reau is not recommending the use. OF
the calcium arsenate-molasses mix
ture in fighting the weeVil although
a circular issued by B. R. Coad, of the
Tallulah Laboratory and dated July
6, 1921, shows this method to be
most effective means Of early season
control under certain conditions and
although the busting method recon-
mended by them produced most disas-
trous results in some instances in this
section last year. In view of the
abundant evidence of the effective
ness Of the calcium arsenate-molasses
treatment and especially in view Of
the fact that it's use only involves an
expenditure of ten cents to twenty
cents per acre for materials per ap-
plication can be mixed, and applied
by any tenant farmer, I cannot un-
derstand their attitude which is still
more difficult for me to understand
because the dusting method recon-
mended by them involves the cost OF
several dollars per acre for poison, an
expensive machine and night work
a combination which is, under pres
ent conditions, entirely out of the
reach of the average tenant farmer
and of many land owners.
With the evidence at work I think
it probable that if the calcium arsen-
ate-molasses treatment is applied to