248 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 4 



eastern California, the Laguna District of Mexico, with certain hot 

 semi-arid districts of the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America. 

 A small part of southwestern Texas might also be included. The 

 time will no doubt come when cotton production will be abandoned 

 in the humid area of the Southern States, and the area of production 

 of this crop transferred to the warm arid region just mentioned. 

 When the boll-weevil has become distributed throughout the present 

 cotton area of the United States, the annual loss from its effects, in 

 spite of all methods and agencies that can be brought to bear against 

 it, will probably exceed $50,000,000. Why should this loss continue 

 to be incurred and carried year after year, when a new cotton region 

 which will produce a far higher grade of fiber worth a higher price 

 awaits exploitation? 



Let the Southern States raise other crops that are better suited to 

 their conditions, and move the area of cotton production to the 

 southwest where it belongs. The boll-weevil will not trouble it there. 

 Such action will not be realized for several decades, it is safe to say, 

 and I will no doubt be set down as a foolish theorist for making the 

 suggestion. However this may be, I rely upon my firm conviction 

 that the change will come eventually and that time will prove the 

 soundness of the suggestion. This change will be, moreover, brought 

 about primarily by the influence of the boll- weevil. Thus the plague 

 will prove a blessing in disguise. 



The arid cotton districts of Peru have little to fear from either of 

 these weevils. The native Peruvian and other varieties of cotton here 

 are allowed to grow and produce for several years in succession, the 

 first variety giving its best crop during the second year. Such sys- 

 tem of cultivation allows the weevil full sway, so long as it can with- 

 stand weather conditions, and also favors greatly several other serious 

 pests as well. A change in system of cultivation to that of North 

 America, or even the cutting back of the plants once a year, will 

 effectually put the crop beyond the reach of the weevil here, and at 

 the same time reduce other pests to a minimum including the piojo 

 bianco. Thus North America needs for the betterment of its cotton 

 production the hot arid climatic conditions of Peru, while the latter 

 needs for the same purpose the North American system of cultiva- 

 tion. Supply these respectiye needs by a simple exchange of ideas 

 put into active execution, and the cotton crops of both countries will 

 be practically free of plagues. 



