48 The Bulletin. 



anywhere except in cotton fields, and almost invariably in fields or 

 parts of the fields where the cotton was green. 



If, however, the cotton from an infested field be ginned the gin- 

 house is likely to become infested with some of the weevils, which will 

 pass the winter there. The cotton seed from such an infested gin- 

 house may then be purchased by other farmers in the vicinity and the 

 weevil is then liable to be carried to their fields in the cotton seed. It 

 is for this reason that all our farmers should be especially particular 

 not to use any seed or other cotton products which may come from 

 Texas, Louisiana, or other weevil-infested territory. 



When Will the Boll-weevil Reach North Carolina? — In speculating 

 upon this question it must be remembered that the weevil may reach 

 us by either of three methods : First, by its own natural means of 

 spread ; second, by being accidentally imported by trains or shipment 

 of goods by other means from the weevil-infested territory ; third, it 

 might reach us by a combination of these methods, as, for instance, it 

 might be brought into South Carolina by accident and from there it 

 might reach us by natural spread, or vice versa. 



It is now spreading at an average rate of from 40 to 75 miles per 

 year, but as it gains in area it will likely spread faster. Its progress 

 up to this time makes it seem probable that it will not reach North 

 Carolina for eight or ten years yet (1915 or later), though there is 

 always the possibility that it may appear suddenly or spread more 

 rapidly by accidental transportation on trains or other vehicles, and 

 estimates on this point are speculative. 



Mistaken Reports of Boll-weevil. — Ever since about 1903, when 

 the United States Department of Agriculture brought the Boll-weevil 

 so forcibly to the attention of all the Southern States, there have been 

 repeated reports of its presence in North Carolina, but every specimen 

 which has been sent in has proven to be something else. Persons 

 from Texas, and supposed to know the Boll-weevil, have captured 

 beetles in this State which resemble it superficially, and have promptly 

 and positively announced that the genuine Boll-weevil is here, but 

 when the specimens come to us they always prove to be something else. 

 Be it understood that these persons do not intentionally spread a 

 false alarm, but their knowledge simply is not definite, positive and 

 accurate enough to permit them to speak with certainty. They are 

 not trained entomologists, and as there are a number of beetles native 

 to North Carolina which closely resemble the Boll-weevil, a person 

 who is not trained in the accurate study of insects is likely to get 

 them confused. To the credit of the Texans who have made these 

 erroneous announcements it should be said that the specimens which 

 they have sent do bear a considerable resemblance to the true Boll- 

 weevil. The specimens from North Carolina farmers who think 

 that they have Boll-weevil prove to.be everything from the common 

 Boll-worm to June-beetles and Lace-wing Flies. This shows that, 



