New-York tribune., 1922-12-10

10 was the proud boast OF the Amef-
lean cotton growers that they had an
unbreakable monopoly Of the supply
Of raw cotton until this Mexican in
vader came along and, ~ senator
smith, Of South Carolina, told the Sen.
ate, took over the monopoly oi that
monopoly" The war with Mexico,
which, In the four years 1859, cost
tho United States less than 100000
900, was followed twenty years later
by the invasion OF the Mexican boil
weeWl, which has cost the United
States many billions Of dollars.
Although the presence OF the pest
In alarming numbers was hrst noted
in the southern part Of Texas In 1924,
and Is said to have FIRST shown itself
near Brownsville, Texas, In 1882, u
was mentioned by Dana as being OBJ
served IN Texas In 1878 and vas dis-
missed By that authority a. "a pest
which cannot be very Injurious"
Since 1894 cotton producers and
scientists have put forth ceaseless ef-
forts at least 20 keep the depredations
Of the insect down 10 . point where
cotton could be grown IN SUFFICIENT
quantity to cover the cost Of produc'
tion and leave a little over for the
planter
Effect Of WeeUiI
Before considering simple details Of
the Florida method and IT'S possibili-
ties, a brief survey OF the pest must
be examined 70 ascertain what the
weevil has done, is doing and may
yet do 10 the vellbeing Of America
and the rest OF the world. FoF the
boil weevil problem II by no means q
purely American question. II has an
adverse effect on the greater part Of
the human race.
A fertilizer manufacturer told the
National Agricultural Conference IN
Washington last January that "it
would look as IN the growing Of cotton
we're passing from an extensive held
TO an intensive garden type OF culture,
with a pharmaceutical department At
taehed to the farm"
During the first decade after 1894
the pest spread at an annual rate Of
$500 square miles, but during the last
twenty years the infested area has IN
creased at the annual rate Of about
27.000 square miles until IL reached
the point in the season just closed Of
covering almost the entire American
cotton belt.
The path Of weevil destruction has
been steadily widening. From 7i4000
bales in 1912 II broadened 10 6,277 900
bales last year, which was the worst
on record. due 20 weather conditions
being unusually favorable. However.
there Is nothing encouraging In the
record for the season now closing, see
ing that in the absence Of official
figures the cotton growers organiza-
tion estimates the weeyil loss al e.
100000 bales
The boil weevi Is indeed "a billion
dollar bug" for during the last thir-
teen years, according 10 the United
States Department Of Agriculture, II
has destroyed the equivalent OF nearly
three full seasons crops Of cotton end
seed, valued at s3.i02. $4,000. In the
fall OF 1920, before the disastrous sea-
son OF 1921, the department estimated
the annual loss Of the four preceding
years at 100000 900 And Il Is most
important 20 bear In mind in this con-
nection rat all estimates have been
made er ely on the basis Of the di.
rect loss in non-production In cotton
lint and seed, while the losses caused
by the insect are both direct and in
direct, and extend through out the en-
tire financial and economic structure
Of the cotton belt. II Is impossible,
the department further contends, 20
estimate the losses due % deprecated
land values, closing down OF cotton
gins and oil mills and other indirect
results Of the weevil invasion.