The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-04-21
CLIMATE RULES
FATE OF WEE:.E.VIL EE:.E.
GREATEST Or ALL KNOWN
FORCES
Cold Weather Kills Pest ard Warm
Wet Weather Causes
Increase

The State, IS.
The climate is the greatest OF all
forces for either decreasing or IN
creassng boil weevil infestation. IL
kills weevils when it is cold enough
and it kills immature weevlls when II
is hot and dry enough. On the otnef
hand, warm, wet summer climate
makes for the greatest number ana
most rapid increase of boil weevlls'
Consider, first, the cold weather
and its destructive influence on the
weevil in the Southeast. What are
the probabilities of the weevll freez-
ing in the lower South? Not very
great, we must admit.
The winter fatalities to weeVlls
anywhere will depend quite a great
deal on whether there are many
or few winter quarters that afford
good protection for the weev!l. Many
small fields surrounded by woods pro-
vide the greatest amount Of winter
protection for weevils, whereas large
fields and scarcity of woods afford re-
stricted winter protection.
The winter fatalities to boil weevlls
will also depend to some extent on
whether the weeviis are forced into
winter quarters early by the destruc-
ton of green cotton stalks. The lower
South, especially the Southeast, is
sandy, which means early maturity
of cotton. If the cotton is picked
promptly, the boil weevips food can
be destroyed one to two months ear
lier than the frost will destroy it. A
hungry, skinny weeVil will suceumb
to even mild winter.
Again, while mild winter of the
lower South may not freeze so many
weeVils, neither does it kill the 'en-
enlies of the boil weevil, the parasitic
mites and fungi What the winter
may not do, the parasitic enemies of
the boil weevil may do.
Furthermore, it may be said in IA
vor of the mild winter sections Of the
cotton belt that there are many in
sect loving birds wintering IN the
woods. The woopecker tribe doubt
less pulls many boil weevils out of
their snug retreat under the bark and
in knot holes of trees and devours
them.
That these, and possibly other
forces, are at work to reduce the
number of boil weevil survivors Of
winters in the lower South, and tina.
cold weather is not the only between
season force to destroy the weevil
seems to be evidenced by the expert
ence of the lower part Of Georgia.
There the boil weevil is not now as
prevalent as it is further North where
the winters are colder.
In the northern part Of the cotton
belt, or the upper Piedmont section,
the severity Of the winter will doubt
less always play an important part
in boil weevil control.
In the middle section of the cotton
belt winters will play an important
part in boil weevil destruction, Dut
cold weather will rarely be severe
enough to sufficiently reduce the mum
Der of weevils so as to render it IN,
necessary to make a fight on the in
sect.
As for summer weather, it is either
for or against the weevil, depending
on whether it is rainy or dry. Some
have been disposed to be pessimistic
over the summer rainfall of the
Southeast at the time the cotton is
setting its fruit, because the damp,
warm weather favors the most rapid
increase of boil weevil infestation.
While the rainfall does favor boil
weevil. The boil weevil can be con-
trolled during the summer weather
it is fact to be reckoned with,
though the writer is rot one of those
who believes that the summer wea-
ther of this territory is a very serious
handicap.
The average summer rainfall of the
Southeast has been an advantage. It
favored the maximum setting and de-
velopment Of fruit.
There is not sufficient evidence to
lead any one to conclude that the ad-
vantages of the rainfall of the South
east will be wiped out by the boil
weevil can be controlled under aver
age rainfall conditions so that fair
to good crop can be made. Of this