OBJECTIONABLE PRACTICES. 93 



ant ilridomijrmex liumilis) by means of boxes containing manure. 

 These observations are very suggestive, for tliey point out the possi- 

 bihty that colonies of ants can be obtained by ])lacing fresh manure 

 in boxes near ant colonies. When sufhcient numbers have entered, 

 tliey may be boxed up for removal to a place desired. In this manner 

 great colonies coulil be transferred bodily for considerable distances. 



7. OBJECTIONABLE PRACTICES. 



There are several practices which are quite objectionable from the 

 standpoint of encouraging the ])arasites and most of which have 

 also been found objectionable from purely cultural standpoints. 

 "VMien the cotton is planted closely on moist soil its growth is mainly 

 vegetative and consequently immense stalks may have very little 

 fruit. Agriculturists have always pointed out that large cotton 

 plants need plenty of room in order to produce fruit. Field examina- 

 tions to dotermina the mortality of the boll weevil from various causes 

 have always shown that the ]>arasitism is greatest in the portions of a 

 field where the foliage is lightest. A notable example was found at 

 Natchez, Miss., where in a single field the growth was very irregular. 

 One spot seems to have been used for feeding cattle and was very 

 fertile. On this spot the cotton grew 6 or 8 feet tall and the ground 

 was densely shaded. Here the mortality of the weevil was very low, 

 and there was scarcely any control by insects. One hundred feet 

 from this was a thin piece of ground where the cotton plants were 

 barely 2 feet liigh, but they were loaded with bolls and showed a 

 much higher percentage of mortality, especially by insect enemies. 

 An actual count of the number of bolls in the two parts of the field was 

 gi'eatl}^ in favor of the smaller plants. 



Late ])lanting has been proven objectionable from almost every 

 standpoint from which it has been viewed. Under existing circum- 

 stances there are no valid arguments for late planting. From the 

 standpoint of control by parasites late planting simply delays the 

 attack of parasitic enemies and reduces the amount of control in the 

 fall at a critical time. 



It is believed that the use of varieties which always tend to drop 

 their squares is objectionable if varieties ynth the opposite tendency 

 can be found with the same qualities of production. 



The practice of incJcing squares and then hurning them can not he 

 condemned too strongJ)/. The planters are by this practice almost 

 nullifying the good work that they do by picking the squares. They 

 are doing notliing more or less tlian destroying their best friends 

 when they burn these squares. This may be proven by an hypothesis 

 similar to those presented (p. 87) in demonstrating the value of collect- 

 ing the infested squares. 



