DISCUSSION" OF BOLL WEEVIL, 131 



or less in 1902. Together the 69 injured counties showed an " apparent " de- 

 crease of 0.14 bale per acre, which, with the increase of 0.08 bale per acre for 

 the balance of the State, gave 0.22 bale per acre total loss, practically the same 

 as in 1903, making 586,478 bales decrease, slightly larger than for 1903. In 

 1904 there was comparatively little injury from the bollworm and loss from 

 flood, so that 550,000 bales may safely be charged to the boll weevil. Had the 

 9 counties which previously had shown a loss, but in 1904 made better than a 

 normal crop, showed as much injury as those suri-ounding them, the total loss 

 would have approximated 700,000 l)ales. Had the 10 counties of Ontral Group 

 E been injured as much as the 7 eastern counties after two years of infestation, 

 there would have been 175,000 bales further decrease. In other words, had 

 the weevil been as injurious in the territory infested two years or over as 

 previously, there would have been a loss of 875,000 bales of cotton due to the 

 weevil in 1904. That this was not the case, and that a phenomenal crop was 

 made, was undoubtedly due to the extremely favorable season, an early spring 

 hot summer, and a late growing season. These favorable weather conditions 

 made possible the best possible results from the " cultural methods " of pre- 

 venting injury by the weevil, consisting of early planting, early varieties, and 

 thorough continued cultivaticMi. These methods were widely practiced b.y pro- 

 gressive planters and undoubtedly were a large factor in producing a crop above 

 the average for the uninjured counties, including 9 of the largest counties 

 which had previously shown serious loss, as well as lessening the loss in other 

 coimties. It should be borne in mind, however, that in spite of the large total 

 crop the loss to over one-third the acreage of the State was as severe as in 

 1903 and was fully one-half the crop of those counties. Had there been no loss 

 I>y the boll weevil in 1904 Texas would probably have produced 3,750,000 bales 

 of cotton. 



He believed, however, that the large crop was due, as a whole, to the 

 very favorable weather conditions. 



He commended the remarks of the paper of Mr. Conradi in showing 

 that the control of the boll weevil had come to be largely a matter 

 of agricultural methods, and expressed his belief that the advent of 

 the boll weevil had really been a verj^ great blessing to the farmers of 

 Texas. Mr. Sanderson warmly commended the laboratory work and 

 methods of Doctor Hinds, which he had carefully studied. The photo- 

 graphic prism mentioned by Doctor Hinds he believed he had men- 

 tioned to the Association before, since he was the first to use it, 

 so far as is known, in Delaware in 1900, and has since found it exceed- 

 ingly useful, especially for photographing larva? and material in 

 alcohol or liquid. The vertical attachment to the photographic stand 

 described by Doctor Hinds had originated in Texas, and he had 

 suggested the construction to Professor Quaintance, and since con- 

 structed one along the same lines for his use in New Hampshire. 

 With larger laboratoiy room, however, he prefers the spring stand, 

 which rests on the floor and may be moved about the room for 

 photographing objects at a distance. He suggested that one of the 

 most useful devices in photography is a universal arm lens holder 

 made with several ball joints. In the clips may be inserted a bit of 

 cork covered with white or black paper, upon which the insect is 



