The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-02-27
UNIQUE METHOD FOR
FIGHTING BOIL WEEvIL
NOTED SCIENTIST WOULD
USE SEX LURE TO ENTRAP
BILLION DOLLAR BANDIT"

the world most noted scientists was
given the delegates to the national
cotton conference on boil weevil con-
troll when it met here last week.
The method involves use of an ex-
termination. but advances along an en-
tirely undeveloped front. The ravish-
ing insect, heretofore not believed to
have any preferences for attractive
colors or scents, is to be undone
through the unerring attraction be-
tween male and female.
DR.. Hudson Maxim, the noted in
ventor of high explosives, of Hopat-
chong, N. j., is the scientist who has
come to the front with plan for de-
Struction OF the billion dollar bandit"
DR.. Maxim, working along the
theory of intense attraction between
opposite sexes of the weevil will I'M
dertake to isolate the attractive prop
critics of the little bugs which draw
them unerringly to each other, and
will attempt to impregnate poisons
with the same property.
Strong Sex Instinct
The whole scheme is based on the
fundamental principles of sex appeal
an instinct that is as old as animal
life
Ages ago the Indians were success
full in trapping the beaver. When the
white man came he failed. He was
unable to understand the Indians
method, until the Indians themselves
explained it.
1t seems they had discovered an alb
normal sex instinct in the beaver-so
they prepared a substance, the manu-
facture of which they explained to the
white man, and they rubbed that sub
stance on the traps. The result was
that the male beavers walked into
the traps in hocks and droves (if
beavers went in focks and droves), the
males were killed out, there was no
more propagation and the species was
about exterminated.
Dr. Maxim has discovered that the
boil weevil has sex instinct even
stronger than the beaver. Further, he
has discovered that the cotton pests
sense of smell is comparable only to
the sense of sight in humans.
Recently, he said, an experiment
was performed in which a female in
sect was placed in wire cage and
, a male insect removed to a point two
miles distant, where he was released.
The male flew to the female, guided
by its smell.
Second Test Successful.
The make assurance doubly sure
the experiment was repeated, but the
second time the sex organs were re-
moved from the female. and placed at
a point some distance from the mu-
tilated body OF the insect.
Again the male of the species was
removed to point two miles distant,
and again, unfailingly, he flew toward
the female. But the second time he
ignored the mutilated body of the fe-
male, and flew straight to the micro
scOpic organs.
DIR. Maxim proposes to isolate the
organs, determine the fundamental
chemical substance that Composes the
appeal-it is thought to be form of
dimethyl amyl-embody it in a poison
and kill out the males. There could
be no propagation and the species
would be exterminated exactly as the
beavers were exterminated.
you are not going to kill out the
weevils," said DR.. Maxim, until you
get poison that will attract him I'M
failingly. OF course, if you can get
him to fly to a chunk of calcium ar
senate he will perish, but will he fly
to it? He will not-you must carry
the calcium arsenate to him.
But furnish him with a poison
that appeals to his instinct, the strong
est instinct in his whole organism,
and you've got him. | don't know
yet exactly what methods can be used
to isolate this fundamental instinct,
but it can be done by some chemical
methods. When we do that the weevil
is as good as dead"
President Pledges Assistance.
A letter from President Harding
pledged every resource of the techni-
cal and scientific organizations of the
federal government to the national
campaign against the "billion dollar
bandit"
President Harding suggested in his
letter that an interstate treaty be-
tween the cotton states, such as has
been effected among the states with
common interest in the Colorado riv-
er, would be helpful to unity and CO.
ordinate the efforts against the wee
vii.
The president asked that the Allan
ia conference consider this proposal
and expressed the belief that the con-
ference would prove "a milestone on
the way to victory in this warfare for
humanity
Governor Hardwick was appointed
as chairman of a special committee
to consider President Harding's pro-
posal that the cotton states join to-
gether under an interstate treaty to
cooperate and coordinate their fore
es in fighting the Mexican invader"
The governors of southern states will
act on this committee with Governor
Hardwick.
Support OF the United States de-
partment OF agriculture in the fight
against the boil weevil was pledged in
behalf of that body by Dr. w. B.
Hunter
''The agricultural department hearth
" welcomes the organization OF an
outside body for fight on the boil wee
vii" declared Dr. Hunter. And | am
here to pledge the support of the de-
partment to your work.
THE weevil is on the road to ex-
termination and concerted effort can
do much to expedite his journey. The
government has enlisted IFS aid in This