Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-11-13
Damage Wroughmt By the Texas
Cotton Flea


Cotton Flea
E. n. E., Ringgold Ga, writes:
/ have a field of cotton that was
almost failure this year. The
stalk is very rank, but when
the first squares began to form
they dropped off. The land has
Ueen In cotton every year for
four or five years. The cotton
was worked nearly every week
and grew very fast. Many of the
stalks have scarcely any cotton
on. Can you tell me what is the
traHble and how to remedy it?
From what you say, your cotton
was evidently attacked by what is
known as the Texas flea" This
insect appears to have made it's
entry into Georgia for the first time
during the season of 1924. How it
got here, no one seems to know.
The nature and extent of the dam
age it may do in the future is prob
lematical. It's attack this year was
very sporadic, but seems to have oc-
CURED at many points scattered
about throughout the state.
FMS insect attacks the squares
vixen they are very small, and they
apparently drop off in large mum.
beers. It's work is done in such ~
manner as to make the average
cotton grower believe that his cot
ton plants are simply shedding to an
excessive degree. Some fields at
tackled by this insect in the vicinity
of Athens were severely damaged.
We made an investigation of this
trouble. but have been unable as yet
to find any effective remedy by
which its depredations may be les
sened or controlled. We are dis
posed to think that greater damage
may be done in some seasons than
in others. Possibly the weather con-
ditions favored the development of
this insect last season. An effort
viii be made to determine as soon
as practicable some means by which
the ravages of this insect can be
lessened in the future.
Proper Distance to Space Cotton
D. 2. M, Cobbtown, Ga,
writes: I want some informa-
ton on spacing cotton plants
under boil weevil infestation.
The largest yield of cotton we ever
obtained here at the college on Cecil
clay land in a good state of fer
tility resulted from planting the
crop in four foot rows and leaving
two stalks eighteen inches apart in
the drill. If there were no boil Vice.
wills in Georgia, this is the policy
we would continue to pursue here.
Now that the boil weeVil has come,
however, the whole bent and purpose
of the cotton grower is naturally di-
rected towards fastening the ma
turity of the crop. This can be
done by planting the cotton in mar.
rover rows, say three and one-half
to four feet apart and leaving two
plants of cotton in the drill a hoes
width. This is very much thicker
planting than we have been accUs-
toned to follow. Naturally, there
are many more plants per acre and
they are much smaller in size.
strange as it may seem, however,
Who obtain a larger percentage of
bolls from this procedure because it
makes the struggle for existence
more keen. Hence, the plants tend
to set on their fruit more abundant-
ly and earlier than where they are
left at greater distances apart. Thus,
by the policy outlined, we are able
to hasten the maturity of the crop
to a considerable degree. Every boil
that we can get two-thirds grown
early in the season is almost certain
to be safe from weevil damage.
Hence, the Importance Of planting
cotton closer than in the old days.
peas uo44oO euO ON eS9HoO
I. j. L., Pleasant Hill, Ala,
writes: I wish to try College No.
l cotton seed another year, and
wish to know where 1 can get
. some pure seed Of this strain.
There is none of this variety
grown in this section, but I no.
tice that it stands we'll up to the
top of the list.
College No. l cotton seed may be
obtained from a good many growers
In Georgia. We have the Georgia
Plant Breeders association in this
state, organized for the protection
of the producers of seed and the
purchasers thereof as well. 1t is our
custom each year to send one of
our cotton experts into the fields of
those who are growing seed for the
purpose of planting and certifying
as to the purity grade, and character
OF the particular crop which is being
grown. We have found this plan to
work very nicely. OF course, the