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Wll m h,gh ,nlc ® s nrevatnig; foil cotton
*.* ■■“*“ * s *>: * ^though these high prices can tie al-
_ „ v, ti V*. „ ! lributeti , to the wort, of the holt wee-
Oneoi tho Present Great Posts ^ » pan only) ha-,,v stimulated e«-
■ of Ootfcou Growers. j ropnan countries t-> -V-.vh.p cottoii'cu!-
; • r— . ! turo in their de.inr posse...'ltd- 1 es
ITS WIDESPREAD RAVAGES, 1 rapidly as pis , ; -hU>; s 0 it. i
Interesting Article From the Pen of I states 1 '''' 5 ‘ 1 " r ° y
will furnish
William Newell, State Entomolo. 1 par„ „r liw , ,r 1;; (
gist on the' Mexican Boll Weevil. 1 hCTs10101 Thor.-
Measures for Its Suppression, Etc. ■ I ohrain“^
'In December, 1903,, the State Depart. ■
ment'of Agriculture published a short 1
article liilbn the Mexican Boll Weevil
which was widely distributed. So
many requests have recently been re
ceived regarding this serious pesl of
cotton that It te felt that a more de
tailed account of the insect will at
present prove of interest to our farm
ers.
The Mexican Boll Weevil has during
the past year (1903) caused a very
heavy loss 1 to the cotton growers oi*
Texas. This loss for the season is
estimated by Dr. Howard, of the Unit
ed States Department of Agriculture,
at approximately $25,000,000. This
represents the loss to the planters,
hut the . total ldss, to manufacturers,'
transportation companies and business
men doubtiess reaches as much' ns
$100,000,000. : The extreme probabili
ty that-the Insect will eventually' read.'
all sections of the cotton growing' area
in tne. United States, and that It is
likely to be distributed, In the trarn-
pdrtatibtt pf cotton seed, and other ag
ricultural products, makes it of spe
cial Interests to all cotton planters.
All hope of exterminating the in
sect his beeii abandoned, as it has at-
' ready spread over i a' territory which
produces about- one-third the'.cotton oi
the United States. Aside from Its
occurrence In Texas,, the pest Is also
found in Mexico and Cuba, The first
record of its.damage to cotton dates
baoit to 186G, when it appeared as a
pe3t of cotton in the state of Ooahuila
in Mexico. Its ravages increased for
several years until the culture of cot
ton was entirely abandoned in the
hope of exterminating the pest. About
iwerity-flve years alter cotton culture
was again- commenced, but the weevil
still persisted and soon did as much
damage as before. The weevil gradu
ally spread toward the Texas border,
and as early as 1888 or 1889, had ap
peared near Matamoras, Mexico, near
the mouth of the Rio Grande river and
opposite Brownsville, Tex. The Rio
Grande river, which Is a wide Btream
at ; this point, seemed to check the
weevil’s northward movement for a
time, but In 1892; it appeared near
Brownsville on the Texas side of the
river. It is. of course,, possible that
individuals were blown across the riv
er by winds, or even flew across, but
In the light of knowledge since ac
quired; it seems more than probable
That the weevils were-brought across
the river in unginned cotton or in cot
ton seed. Now the country around
Brownsville 1b not a cotton-growing
section of great importance, and had
the culture of cotton been entirely-
stopped in that section for three or
four years, the weevil could, In all
probability, have been exterminated.
Tne Government entomologists in
1894 counseled the Texas legislature
to take the necessary steps towards
wiping out the insect, wtille this was
still possible, but this advice was dis
regarded. Many similar cases may
be cited where states nave failed to
make adequate appropriations for con
trolling insect pests and diseases,
while these were still confined to
small areas, yet when later on the pest
had caused wide-spread damage and
covered large areas, big appropriations
have been made in a vain attempt to
remedy the trouble which could have
been so cheaply prevented In the first
plac.
in 1894 the weevil appeared at
Alice and San Diego, Tex., on the Mex
ican National Railroad. Its spread
subsequently has been at an average
rate of aboutt 80 miles per year, un
til at present it covers nearly ail the
cotton-growing area - of Texas and has
reached the boundaries of the Indian
Territory on the north and Louisiana
an., the east. It has, In fact, already
appeared at two or fhree points in
the latter state. That this spread
Will continue until all parts of the cot
ton-growing area in this country are
reached, there seems no question. The
problem confronted is- indeed a na
tional one. Not only are the plant
ers and business men in the infested
territory affected, but even the cotton
mills of New England and of the old
Worlo must sooner or later feel the el
foots of the increased price of cotton
as a result of short crops due to the
- weevil attacks. So also will the cus
tomer—the man or woman who wears
-ccttou c'W-hfug—f#fj f, ”“ increased
-.prob-
i. .ilted
mailer
. Ilian
• i ty,
; maj»
font-hold in flTest new cotton
commies,; although the agents of for
eign countries who have been purchas
ing cotton seed in the United States
during the past year, have avoided,
for the most part, the weevil-infested
area.
WHAT THE WEEVIL IS.
Tho adult weevil Is a brownish bee
tle varying from three-sixteenths to
three eighths of an inch in length. It
is provided with a long "snout’’ or bill
and is not unlike the common acorn
weevil in appearance. In color, the
boll weevils vary from a light gray to
a chocolate brown or black. As a
usual thing the older the beetle, the
darker in color it becomes owing- to
the minute hairs wearing off the body.
Tne hoi’ weevil is a not distant rel
ative of ihe strawberry weevil and the
plum eurculin There are many com
mon species of weevils which so close
ly resemble it that the novice can
tell p-.dm apart only with difficulty.
The adult hectics pass the winter In
t.radi, rubbish, cotton bolls, etc., about
tho cotton fields, and also in the leaves
and rubbish of timber landB. These
weevils appear in the spring at about
the timo the first cotton plants appear
above the ground, and having fasted
sinoo the previous autumn, now feed
to a 1 considerable extent upon the
tender buds and stems of the young
cotton plant!. Later in the season,
however,, they feed but little in the
adult stage.
As soon as the first squares appear
the female beetles commence egg de
position. The female eats a hole in
to the square or form and deposits
an egg therein. This process Is then
repeated upon the next square, form
or bloom, and so on. Each female
deposits from 60 to 75 eggs in this
mannor, and with few exceptions eacn
egg is deposited in a separate square
.oi fom.
The egg hatches In two or three
day . after being deposited 1 , Into a mi-
nut., footless “worm” or larva which,
immediately commences feeding on
the Interior of the square. The square
oi form invarlahiy falla to the ground*
at this time, and the larva continues
its development therein, in from 1-1
17 . days this larva 1 reaches full
growth, becoming about three-eightlp!
of an Inch In length, and is white anil
plump. It now passes Into the pu
pal stage, still remaining in' the square.
During the pupal stage it takes ■ no!
food, and this stage lasts from seven
to ten days, at the end of which time
it chunges to the adult beetle and
again commences the life cycle. We
thus see that an entire generation of
weevil? is developed approximately
every 30 days during the entire grow
ing season of cotton. During the win
ter season' a large percentage of the
weevils are killed by unfavorable
weather, by tne attacks of birds and
animals etc* so that early in the
spring there are comparatively few
of them. Thoir damage to the cotton
early In the season is, therefore, hard
ly noticeable, but as each thirty-day
period brings an Increased generation,
the weevils are abundant enough by
July 15th or August 1st to sting and
destroy every square formed Upon
the plants. So long as plenty of
squares are at hand, the eggs are de
posited in these in preference to the
bolls, but when the weevils have be
came so' abundant that the supply of
squares does not equal their demands,
eggs are then laid in the green bolls
Bolls 'Eet early in the summer es
cape injury from the weevil, but af
ter ah’out July 16th in the weevil-in-
tested district, every square is de
slroyeiJ as fast as formed.
REMEDIES.
No really satisfactory remedy has
been found for this pest. The fact
that the insect feeds very little except
in the laval stage, and the fact that
thi3 stage is entrely protected'within
the square or boll, makes it impos
Bible to kill the insects by the appli
cation of arsenical poisons to the
plants. The first brood which appears
ir, the spring—from winter quarters-
feeds to some extent upon the young
cotton plants and some of them can be
killed by applying poison at this time
has a herd and
via These measures'are aft "simple
and can be applied by any farmer. In
the first place no "top-crop” can ever
be made in a weevil-infested district,
if cattle and mules are turned ,into
the cotton fields three or four weeks
before^ the first autumn frosts and
are allowed lo eat, off the young
squares and forms, a large number
of weevils and larvae will be destroy
ed and a much smaller number will
be left to to into winter quarters.
During tho winter u large nufnber ot
those weevils pro destroyed through
natural agefThi.es, so fliat tho following
spring they will be quite scarce, Prom
what has been said above, the rentier
will note that these few remaining,will
not become seriously abundant until
July or August. An early variety oi
cotton should, therefore, be planted—
as early as possible—and .rushed to
j early maturity 'by frequent and thor-
ough cultivations. This will enable
the plants to set a good percentage
of bolls before the weevils become
abundant enough to destroy all the
squares. Thesb bolls—set early-in the
s&asou—will constitute the crop, and
theonly crop that will be- secured. Wo
mentioned above, the fact that ;the
squares, containing weevil eggs, fall
from the plants soon after these eggs
hatch. Now, If these fallen squares
be item gathered up from the ground
and burned, the succeeding broods ot
the weevil will be reduced in num
bers. During mid-summer the sun
is Qfttlmes hot enough to kill-the lar
vae In these fallen' squares as they
He or. the ground, provided they are
not shaded by the cotton plants. For
this reason the rows should be planted
well apart, and plants far apart in, the
rows. The rows should also run east
and west. Instead of north and south
In order that as much direct sunlight
as possible may reach the ground
about the cotton plants.
This method of plfintlng should, be
adopted by every cotton planter, even
though no weevils are pfd'Sent, for
these methods - also reduce the dam
age done by the boll worm and cotton
caterpillar, Insects whicTi appear'every
year in greater or less numbers.
Wo do not here propose to discuss
in detail the various ways of combat
ing the weevil, as;i the pest has not
yet been found in -Georgia. The above
ready to undertake this work as soon
as the people, through their legisla
ture, deem it expedient to make the
necessary appropriation therefor,
y/llmon Newell, State Entomologist.
Feels Natural.
Tho summer girl Is feeling strong,
That creature of delight.
As usual, she has brought along
Her Ice cream appetite.
He Knew Why, ’
“Johnny,” said ills mother, who hud
him across her knee, "this hurts me
worse than It does you.”
“I was afraid,” said Johnny under
his breath, “that hard boardT put In
the seat of my trousers might injure
her delicate hand.”
It depends on who are the speuders
whether there is the more fdn in a
nickel or a five dollar bill.
A stingy man takes a dollar’s wdrtb
of credit In giving a nickel.
Explained, -
"Why is summer called the frilly sea
son V”
"Hot dr is-so much more pltntbKil.’^
In Business end Love,
"Young .Tones is a great hustler!”
"I should, soy so. Ho can klsBlhis'
girl good night In five mint)tea.”
’The Supreme Test.
“I guess Jenkins-Is a mail of ngrre."
"No question about it. I saw) - him
kiss bis mother-in-law.”
The strenuous nmn does not knoW
how much comfort n lazy man gets out
of life. ,
Work Is a good thing for Insomniac
but It is n hard proscription to take.
It appears that radium will curd
most everything but IffgroKMg cussed
ness.
Even in ))kw day? of machinery,
htmdmiiih' w'-ii i her predictions are just
as good us any tUiit- arc ;urned out by,
the large factbi’les.
Auvutn wlio was born blliulinVy.haVO'';'
pleasures In life, but lie -never s'aw & ’
twenty dollar bill. V - ,
Cultators, pis: PJoVs,
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
Pumps, and Farm Tools generally.
is given as showing.,In what direction
repressive measures must be taken
when this pest ultimately appears in
Georgia.
The bon weevil In its natural spread
by flight, probably , could Pot -reach
Georgia for several years, but unfor
tunately the . insect may be at any
time tustroduced in shipments ot cot
ton seed or baled hify, or even baled
cotton, from the iETested districts of
Texas or Louisiana. A xegualatlon
(having the torch of, law’) is Already In
effect, which- prohibits the -shipment
into Georgia of cotton seed from Tex
as or Lo ilsiana, without its having
been thoroughly fumigated.
Every farmer in Georgia should
closely watch his cotton during the
growing season, and whenever he finds
any new or unusual Insect upon his
cotton, should send samples of' it to
the State Entomologist, Atlanta, Ga.,
for determination. The latter party
will, 6l all times, take pleasure in
answering inquiries of this kind aftid
always free of charge. If the first
occurrence ot the weevil can be de
tected as soon as it appears and before
it lias a chance to spread over any
considerable area, it may be possi
ble by drastic measures to stamp it
out right'there and prevent losses of
many thousands of dollars. Once it
obtaina a good start, however, there
will be no such thing as extermination.
Because remedial measures have been
mentioned above, the reader should
not conclude that the weevil can be
circumvented or that as good crops
can he made when it is present. No
matter what measures may be em
ployed or. remedies used, the cotton
crop is certain to be severely cut
down by the weevil. Then, too,
many remedial measures are expen
sive and their cost must be deducted
fron the. profits of the crop.
We know full well that the first
appearance of the boll weevil is like,
ly to be around cotton mills, oil mills,
lumber camps and along newly con
structed lines of railway, because it
is at such places-that most important
agricultural products from Texas are
used. If a competent man—Or two
men—thoroughly familiar with the
boll weevil, could- be employed to an
nually examine the cotton fields in
these localities, it is very probable
that the flrst.appearance of the weevil
would be promptly detected and meas
ures could bo taken for exterminating
it, or at least severely checking its
spread. Such measures would mean
Burial Robes, Coffins and Cas<3t*
We strive to pleas our customers.
GUMMING*
CORDELE GEORGIA.
You Shall Know th em
The adult insect
aoruy covering making it impractica-
hi. to destroy It by centred insecticides the saving of thousands of dollars to
entomol-1 the cotton growers of the State, and
Howeven the ItoYernugrt-entomol- : be - the beEt
ogists who have j inaur ' nae whlch Georgia could pur-
this pest ex ens v y , chase for the future of her cotton .crop,
years in Texas have found sejera ! tjntortl , nat9ly , no flma V are at §1
t»e rnypar -• r* -
Organs and Swing Machines.
THE BEST IS THE CHEAPEs _ ,,
For the Best, get the
PIANOS and
Organs, all kinds
GET THE BEST,
The Singer Sewing Machine
Ls 111 : i;
Tuiinj nJ r^iirii? d>.i3 b>* ?r>r. W. .5 aith,
expert whose work is guaran teed.
Drop me a card, stating your wants, and it shall
receive prompt attention.
A PI, NF'.SON. -Cirlsle