The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-03
NCIDE-LIGHTS fHaL AG% NANNATIONAl.-
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According to some economic ex- perts. the boil weevil Is a bless ing in disguise. The pest" has forced diversification to a certain extent Again, it las proved to be that necessity which has been termed the mother of invention.
 At the same time, the govern ment Is exerting itself to the end that the blessing may be erad- icated. Some time ago former Senator John Sharp Williams, who in his last months Of service yielded to pessimism, 1t appeared, and frequently indulged an in- clination to scold, declared that American ingenuity was d joke if it was based on the success of federal experts" in fighting the weevil. That the weevil still ex- isted to destroy cotton was due, the Mississippian added, to the laziness and stupidity of those the government employed to de- stroy it.
 It appeared that there was some body to the contention of. Senator Williams. It seems now, however, that the government is exerting itself vigorously; but 1t is not contended that the great industrial problem has been solved.
 A cotton-boll weevil laboratory and field station has just been opened by the department of az riculture at Florence, South Car olina, under cooperative proj- ect between the bureau of ento- mology and the South Carolina experiment station, with pr. N F. Winters in charge. Two ento- mologists have been transferred from the main boil weevil labora- tory at Tallulah. Louisiana, and the force will be further ampli- fled. Plans have been made to study primarily the particular points of weevil biology and be- havior, significant to Southeast ern states, in connection with con- trol measures.
 Intensive tests are planned to include all the principal suggested of control, such as the dusting method, the Florida method and the use of sweetened poisons. In addition to the work at Florence, certain of the expe- will be repeated at Clem- son College.
 Furthermore, the work of the of agriculture at Tal- laluh, In developing methods and apparatus for dusting cotton to kill weevils. Is being continued this summer. Heavier planes are in use. Last spring three De Haviland 4B planes were detailed by the war department for use in these tests, and competent en- gineers and pilots were provided.
 Previously, considerable work had been done with light ma chimes, and the use of the larger the distributing mechanism. Sew eral types of dust hoppers have been constructed. but time will be required for the development of the perfect design.
 Several plantations near Tal- lulah have been mapped and all made for dusting the cotton from the air. The re- suits of the tests will be awaited the cotton belt with interest.
 Some time ago Governor Mc- Leod of South Carolina, by proc lamation, set aside a day for the people of South Carolina to peti- tion God for relief from the boil weevil.
 It is the general presumption that God sent the boil weevil for a purpose. At any rate, years and years ago Franklin calmly re- marked, God helps those who helped themselves.
 Nevertheless, petitions went up from South Carolina It is un- derstood, however, that a few of the weevils still do business in that commonwealth.