PROSPECTS. 



27 



In this way the weevil works toward the production of a better class of 

 farmers. Of course, no community favors a reduction in the number 

 of inhabitants. It would prefer that the inefficient remain and be 

 improved by education or otherwise. This effect of the invasion of 

 the boll weevil, therefore, can not generally be looked upon as a 

 benefit. 



PROSPECTS. 



The rapid spread of the boll weevil in the past few years and its 

 apparent adaptability to most of the conditions prevalent in the 

 cotton region of the United States indicate that it will ultimately be 

 able to exist in all except the semiarid portions of the entire cotton- 

 growing country. In order better to estimate the probable move- 

 ment in the future, we present Table V to illustrate its progress since 

 the year 1892: 



Table V. — Annual movement of the boll weevil in the United States. 



1 These figures indicate losses instead of gains. 



A summary of Table V in three-year periods is given below: 

 Table VI. — Average annual rate of boll-weevil movement. 



At the end of 1910 the total area infested was 268,000 square miles, 

 a net gain of 14,200 square miles over 1909. Including the year 1910, 

 the average rate of movement in the United States besinnkie: with 



