96 

 also in Texas, Louisiana and elsewhere, but it has been found 



always that it is possible under almost all condi- 

 tions if the necessary steps leading up to it are 

 also employed. 



We must remember that the presence of the boll weevil 

 inevitably produces a change in the conditions of cotton 

 growth. Practically, there can never be "late cotton" in the 

 Infested area. The only portion of the crop to escape the 

 weevils and mature is that which develops early in the sea- 

 son before the weevils have reached their maximum abun- 

 dance. Therefore the very presence of the weevil tends to 

 limit cotton i)roduction to the early crop and to clear the 

 way for the proposed and necessary destruction of the 

 f-'ialks. 



The effectiveness of this practice has been most positively 

 established by the repeated experience of planters on large 

 as well as upon small scales, and also through Nature's ob- 

 ject lessons whenever through the effects of unusual climat- 

 ic conditions or Avhen by the defoliation of the plants by the 

 cotton leaf caterpillar or cotton worm there has resulted 

 the practically complete destruction of cotton at an un- 

 ■ usually early date in the fall. In every such case the fall 

 destruction has been followed by larger crops, less weevil 

 injury and a great increase of net profit in the crop of th'^ 

 following year. 



We have not room in this paper to give details regarding 

 any of these great demonstrations, but can merely state that 

 in many cases where the work has been conducted most 

 carefully with adequate checks the value of the in- 

 crease in the crop on the area where stalks 

 were destroyed has been from $15.00 to $20.00 

 per acre, as compared with the yield on the 

 check areas on which the stalks were allow^ed 

 to stand until the usual time of preparation for 

 planting in the spring. In all other respects 

 both areas received similar treatment and were 

 grown under like condition?. 



