Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-06-08
PRESENT WEEyIL CONDITIONS
No Need for Extreme Pessimism As
To Damage.

Clemson College, June 3.-After a
conference here between Director w.
W. Long, of the Extension Service,
Prof. A. F. Conradi, Entomologist, and
V. V. Williams, until recently associat-
ed with B. R. Coad at the Delta Labo-
ratOry and now with the Extension
Service to conduct poisoning demon
strations in this state, Director Long
issued a statement on the boil weevil
situation to the effect that many Of
the insects now present on cotton in
various parts of the state are not boil
weevils but cowpea pod weevils, and
that farmers need not become paicky
over the presence now of abundant
boil weevils, since the real loss to be
expected depends on weather condi-
tions in June and July. Director
Longs statement, which should tend
to temper the alarm now felt by many,
is given below:
"A great majority Of the weevils in
most of the cotton fields at this time
are cowpea pod weevils and boil wee
wills. These insects in most cases look
so very much alike that it is difficult
for the average man to distinguish
them. The cowpea pod weevils is not
primarily a cotton pest but occurs on
cotton only temporarily in the absence
of cowpeas. This pest is most injur-
ious along the line from Barnwell to
Marlboro County. In this belt it is
expected every season at this time,
and the most successful practice is to
delay chopping of young cotton until
the attacks are over. Wherever these
insects attack cotton that has been
chopped to a stand the value of rapid
thorough cultivation cannot be over
estimated.
Summer Weather Main Factor
THE fact that the boil weevil pass
ed the winter in great numbers and
may be expected in cotton fields at
this time in unusual abundance, does
not necessarily mean great damage
to the cotton crop. Situations like
this have occurred before in the his
tory of the weevil in this country,
where they came out of winter-quar-
ters early and in great numbers, caus-
ing a panivky condition among the
farmers. The loss that we may eX-
pect depends on the weather condi-
tions of June and July.
with the approach of hot weather
the present generation Of weevils
may yet be practically destroyed, so
that the abandoning of a cotton crop
at this time could hardly be justified
bv the records. The cotton should
be given frequent and shallow culti-
walton to keep down the weeds and to
air the soil. AS the bulk of the cotton
crop in South Carolina is made by
share-croppers the women and chill
dren should be used to pick weevils,
and this should be so supervised that
it is done with great thoroughness,
otherwise it has no value whatever.
THE damage done by weevils injur-
ing the bud at this time is frequently
over-estimated, the only effect being
slightly delaying the growth of the
plant.
Farmers prepared for dusting are
advised that the first busting may be
given in heavily infested fields about
the time fruiting begins, and this to
be followed by the second application
when ten to fifteen percent of the
squares have been punctured, at which
tiNe three dustings should be given
n succession four days apart. lnfes-
tation counts are easily made by any
one and directions are furnished by
The Extension Service"