The Coolidge examiner., 1940-03-21
Pink Bollworm Pro-
gram in Ariz. in 1910


Arizona including growers, GIN
ners and others, met with State
and Federal officials and worked
out a pink bollworm control pro-
gram for the eastern portion Of
the Salt River Valley, Pinal
County and the Santa Cruz Valley
in southern Arizona. The plans
agreed upon were faithfully car
ried. out by all concerned, and the
results in the affected areas, as
shown by inspection of the 1899
crop, were very satisfactory. The
plans followed called for handling
the planting and irrigation of the
cotton crop so that the plants
would come into fruiting in uni
form period throughout the af-
fected areas. Efforts were made
to have this fruiting period not
begin before June 10th. Another
essential part of the plan was the
elimination of stub cotton in the
zone of operations. This was
necessary if no cotton was to be
allowed to fruit before June 10th,
as stubbed cotton fruits earlier
than planted cotton.
Despite the excellent success of
the program in the eastern portion
of the Salt River Valley, Pinal
County and the Santa Cruz Val
ley, a sporadic infestation of the
pink bollworm was found to be
present outside of the above area
near Glendale.
Field cleanup at Federal and
State expense, in cooperation with
the affected farmers, was arrang-
ed for this area at Glendale. Cot
ton residue left after picking in
this section is being carefully
picked up and burned. A great
many worms that would have liv-
ed over until the next crop sea-
son will be destroyed.
The success in 1889 of the pro-
gram of retarding the fruiting of
cotton through the elimination OF
soca, Or stub cotton, coupled with
adoption of more uniform plant
ing and cultural practices, result
ed in a most satisfactory reduc-
ton of pink bollworm infestation
in the zone of control operations
The fact that a substantial in
festation was found outside of
that zone indicates the advisa-
bility of including the whole of
Arizona in such a program.
We should, therefore, all join
together in a program which calls
for:
First, discontinue completely
the practice of growing stub cot
ton in Arizona.
Second, the elimination of all
soca or stub cotton, from those
areas in which it now occurs in
fields not to be planted to cot
ton in 1910, and it should be grub
bed out if it shows up in 1910
planted fields. This to be accomp-
lished by May 10th 1910.
Third, arrange to plant and ir-
rigate both short and long staple
cotton in such a manner that it
will not begin fruiting prior to
June 10th to 18th.
If all three phases of this pro-
gram are carefully carried out,
there will be period in the
spring when the majority of pink
bollworm moths, coming from
over-wintering larva, will emerge
and find no cotton fruit upon
which to deposit their eggs. These
moths will die without reproduc-
ing. Concerted action on the part
of all cotton growers over a con-
siderable geographical area is es-
sential to success. Community ac-
tion, so planned as to control the
pest, was successful in 1889, and
there is reason to expect it to be
again. We, consequently, urge
united effort on the part of State
and Federal agencies, millers, GIN
ners, merchants and farmers dur
ing the 1910 crop season.
termination tests on sterilized
planting seed have been complet-
ed and tn results can be obtained
at the various gin offices.
SIDNEY D. SMITH.