18 THE MEXICAN COTTON-BOLL WEEVIL. 



territory occupied by the pest brought about an enlarged appropria- 

 tion for the work of 1903. It thus became possible to increase the 

 number and size of the experimental fields as well as to devote more 

 attention to the investigation of matters suggested by previous 

 work in the laboratory. Seven experimental and demonstrational 

 farms, aggregating 558 acres, were accordingly established in as 

 many distinct cotton districts in Texas. 



During 1903 the weevil was recorded from San Juan, Guatemala, 

 by G. C. Champion. In this same year it was discovered that the 

 weevils were being introduced in cottonseed into the "Laguna" 

 district in the State of Coahuila, Mexico, but effective measures were 

 taken by the Mexican authorities, and the infestation was suppressed. 

 Since that time the weevil has never been recorded from this impor- 

 tant cotton region. The year 1903 is also important as being that 

 in which the weevil first crossed the Sabine fuver into Sabine and 

 Calcasieu Parishes in Louisiana. Another feature of the year was 

 a large boll- weevil convention held at Dallas, Tex., which estab- 

 lished a permanent organization and issued a number of valuable 

 circulars relating to the problem. A similar meeting was held in 

 New Orleans on November 30, at which the governor of the State 

 presided. 



In 1904 a general realization of the great damage done by the 

 boll weevil led to the appropriation by Congress of $250,000 for use 

 in enabling the Secretary of Agriculture to meet the emergency 

 caused by the ravages of the insect. It thus became possible again 

 to increase the number of experimental farms and to pay especial 

 attention to a number of important matters that could not be investi- 

 gated previously. The large appropriation was used in part to estab- 

 lish the demonstration work of the department. The object of this 

 work was to demonstrate the methods of control perfected and 

 demonstrated previously by the Bureau of Entomology. It has 

 gradually developed into the well-known Farmers' Cooperative 

 Demonstration Work of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 



With the advent of the weevil into Louisiana that State began 

 energetic work against the pest. Largely through the efforts of 

 Prof. W. C. Stubbs an extraordinary session of the legislature was 

 convened early in 1904. The action decided upon was the estab- 

 lishment of the Crop Pest Commission of Louisiana, with full authority 

 to take such a course as might be found advisable. Prof. H. A. Mor- 

 gan became secretary and entomologist of the commission. In 1905 

 Prof. Morgan was succeeded by Mr. Wilmon Newell, who continued 

 the cooperative investigations with the Bureau of Entomology 

 throughout the period of his services in Louisiana, which extended 

 to January 31, 1910. 



During 1904 two conventions were held at Shreveport, La. The 

 first discussed especially the local features of the problem, while the 

 second, which was held in November, was national in its scope. It 

 was attended by delegates from most of the Southern States. 



The year 1904 witnessed an extensive dispersion of the weevil into 

 new regions in Texas and Louisiana. During this year, Dr. O. F. 

 Cook, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, found the weevil thoroughly 

 established in Alta Vera Paz, Guatemala. 



At the beginning of 1905 the laboratory of the bureau was moved 

 from Victoria to Dallas, Tex., where it has since remained. The 



