SEASONAL HISTORY. 



81 



control have been contrived, it is still true that some of the most 

 important methods of control are those which are devised to suit 

 particular emergencies. These have been indicated from time to 

 time in connection with the status reports. 



RELATION OF WEEVILS TO TOP CROP. 



After considerable cotton has been matured fall rains often stimu- 

 late the production of a large number of squares, and many planters 

 are misled by the hope of gathering a large top crop from this growth. 



Fig. 17.— Status of the boll weevil in Texas in August, 1909; percentage of infestation uf all forms. 



(Original.) 



The joints of the plant are short, and the squares are formed rapidly 

 and near together. Though weevils may have been exceedingly 

 numerous in the fields, their numbers will have become so decreased 

 by the dispersion and by the limited quantity of food that they can 

 rarely keep up with the production of squares at this period of rapid 

 growth. Many blooms may appear, and the hope of a large top crop 

 increases. It has been a very rare occurrence that planters have 

 gathered top crops, even in years of no injury from insects. 



The chance of its development, though always small, becomes prac- 

 tically inconsiderable wherever the weevil is present in numbers. 

 28873°— S. Doc. 305, 62-2 6 



