40 



ber of weevils siirviA'e the AA'inter, unless the stalks have been destroyefl 

 the previous fall and the number going into hibernation has thus been 

 reduced, I doubt if the best cultural methods will avail to make an 

 average crop. On the other hand, if midsummer be wet and the 

 fruit formed drops, the best of methods can not make a crop. With 

 normal weather conditions — if there be such in Texas — a crop can be 

 made simj^ly by the best so-called cultural methods, but it is abso- 

 lute folly to rely on them alone. The only real means of checking 

 the weevil economically is by the destruction of the stalks in the fall. 

 Wlien this is generally done the Aveevil will cease to be feared in 

 Texas. That it has not been done before is because it has never been 

 demonstrated to the planters on a scale large enough so that they could 

 clearly see the resulting benefit. We entomologists may be satisfied 

 from our field studies and small experiments that it is of value, but 

 we have not as yet convinced the average planter sufficiently to secure 

 his adoption of our recommendations. It will take a demonstration 

 on a scale so large as to secure the cooperation and subsequent 

 indorsement of a Avhole community before it can be entirely dem.on- 

 "strated to the unbelieving that the destruction of stalks in the fall is 

 a necessity for the entire State. I am persuaded that the onlj^ real 

 method for controlling the spread of the boll weevil is by this fall 

 destruction of the stallcs. Were it generally practiced in Texas and 

 in the infested spots in Louisiana, I can see no reason why any large 

 number of weevils should spread to uninfested territory, and the few 

 spreading could be prevented from becoming numerous liy adoj^ting 

 the same method. But all the lavvS of the Medes and Persians will 

 not stop the spread of the boll weevil or any other similar insect by 

 an}^ method of quarantine yet devised, much as I sympathize with 

 the adoption of these measures in the Southern States. If the natural 

 conditions are such as to permit and encourage its gradual spread 

 along the Gulf coast, it Avill spread in spite of all that man can do. 

 All he can do is to deter its spread and control its injury. But if 

 unchecked at its source and throughout the infested region, it will 

 spread at a maximum speed, and it will be much more difficult to bring 

 it under control. It seems, therefore, that the greatest benefit to the 

 uninfested States would come from the passage in Texas and Louis- 

 iana of laws compelling the destruction of the stalks in the fall, and 

 anj^ influence that other States can bring to bear toward this end will 

 do more than anything else to prevent the weevil's entry and subse- 

 quent depredations in their State*^. 



And, in closing, permit a brief digression to consider a more gen- 

 eral aspect of the case. The boll weevil in Texas and the g3"psy and 

 l)rown-tail moths in New England are raising some points in the 

 relations between States which before long will need careful discus- 



