The Monroe journal., 1922-11-17
Monroe, N. c., Friday, November II, 1922.
Butler Boosted He Would Ride
the ''Creasy Backs of Farmers
BROOM COMMENTS ON new
XEEVIL CONTROL METHOD
ITS Like Picking Up Squares, Too
Labcrious," Says the Union
County Farm Demonstrator

Laborious, Says the Union
County Farm Demonstrator
PINCHING THE SQUARES DOES
THE WORK. DECLARES SMITH
Florida Entomologist, After Mnek
Experimentation, Believes He Has
Discovered Plan Whereby Ninety
Per Cent of a Crop Can Be Pro.
duced Despite the Weevil-It AL.
| so Increases Yield OF the Plant.
That's like picking up squares
it's too laborious," was the comment
Of Mr.. I. ]. Broom, county agent
when asked his opinion of the new
method of boil weevil control dis
covered by the assistant entomolo-
gist Of Florida. Zone could chop an
acre OF cotton by the time one could
pinch off those first squares. The
labor involved would be that neces-
sary to pick two hundred pounds of
seed cotton" he added.
"Would the removal of the first
squares he was asked, increase the
productivity of the plant, as claimed
by the Florida entomologist 2" a
am not prepared to say" Mr.. Broom
replied, "but / notice that he saws
his claims are backed by successful
experiments"
Don't put me in the position of
condemning the plan," Mr.. Broom
added, "as | prefer awaiting further
developments before giving or refus-
ing my endorsement of the discov-
cry"
Smiths Method
An Associated Press dispatch from
Gainesville, Florida, gives the fol-
lowing account of the discovery:
Bulletins were being sent out to-
day BY the state plant board of Flor
ida detailing at length the improved
method of controlling the boil vice.
vii as evolved by DR.. George d.
Smith, assistant entomologist of the
board, and announced Saturday night
by DR.. Wilmon Newell, director.
!. "WEie expressing confidence that
Florida growers up upland cotton by
following the new method are assur-
ed of at least 80 per cent of a nor
NAL crop, DR.. Newell points out at
the outset that DR.. Smiths expert
ments were made under Florida con-
dltions, and the method evolved is
adapted to this state, but there seems
to be no reason 'on theoretical
grounds at least why the method |
cannot successfully be adapted to all |
sections Of the cotton belt.
"The substance of DR.. Smiths plan
Is to clear the field of weevil infes-
tation early in June and then give
the staple free growth until August
when the annual migration of the
weevil sets in. The staple has grown
however to such an extent by this
time that harm from the weevil then
is inconsequential. Il
In this state, the bulletin points
'ut, the crop is usually made by Au-
gust 18th.
Remove Early Squares, the Remedy
"Dr. Smith recognized in the be-
of his experiments that the
'oll weevil could be effectively pois-
med before it reached the squares.
'r flower parts of the plant. His in
'estigation therefore had to do with
'lddlng the plant of the last over
weevils which appear la
er and deposit their eggs on the
quares.
The plan evolved meets this OBJ
tacle by. the simple process of re.
moving the early squares, and then
thoroughly disinfecting the boil it.
elf with poison. His exper mems
isproved the belief that removal of
ne early squares would lower the
otton yeild II
I'm this state, the bulletin contin-
es, by removing the squares early
: June and cleansing the boil, the ,
liant then has almost as long a pc |
lod in which to set fruit as it enjoy
d in a normal season prior to the ;
Oming of the weevil.
AT first thought the bulletin ,
ontlnues, 1t may appear that a con- ,
derable amount of cotton would be |
estroyed or lost by removal of the
fst squares, say, an average of (
bout two large squares to the plant /
lroughout the field. 1t has been h
that the cotton plants
sheds about so per cent of b
$ fruit during the growing season. i
therefore, loss of two squares to I
lie plant. on the average, is not 60 $
g to affect the yield a
Noting that the planter has at /,
ched great Importance to these first d
uares, considering them the sub O
ance of his early cotton crop, the s
llletin says:
" Removal of the early squares in
lr experiments was followed by
reaction on the part of
e plant itself. In all cases, remoy- =,
of the squares was followed by =;
rapid increase in the height of the p
ants and this was closely follow - :.
by profuse development of NJ W - =
uares. So pronounced has been = =
Is acceleration, or stimulation, or :"
niting, that it seems highly proba- :,
that, even with not weevils pres ., a.
{, removal of all squares early in ~ ~
ne would actually result in fncreas. :, -
! the yield" 20 20