21 
by the destruction of the larva. The majority of the weevils in a given 
field fail to hibernate successfully, being killed by cold weather or some 
other cause, so that the work of parasites at this time does not count. 
Careful estimates, however, show that from 15 to 20 per cent of the 
weevil larve in fallen squares in November at Beeville and Kenedy 
were (lestroyed by parasites. There is a bare possibility that in the 
original home of the weevil (south Mexico aud some Central American 
States, as well as certain of the West Indies) more efficacious parasites 
could be found. Mr. Townsend, however, while on a trip to Yucatan, 
was not only unable to find parasites, but captured only a single speci- 
men of the weevil itself. 
REMEDIES. 
In considering the matter of remedies it should be understood at the 
outset that experience has shown that none of the general applications 
of insecticides are of the slightest valne against this species as a means 
of protecting infested fields. The weevil in its work in growing cotton 
is thoroughly protected against poisons, breeding 
as it does within the blossoms and squares. As 
demonstrated by the experience of the spring of 
1896, poisons may, however, be used as a means 
of destroying overwintered beetles on volunteer 
cotton. The beetles which have survived the 
winter collect in the early spring on the first 
sprouts which appear on old cotton and eat the 
partially expanded leaves and the tender leaf 
stems, and at this stage can be poisoned by the 
application of an arsenical to this new growth. 
To do this it will be necessary to thoroughly yyq. 11. Late-fall boll, show: 
spray the growing tips, and this should be done — ing how beetles hide be- 
- p tween boll and involucre 
when volunteer cotton is very small, preferably (author's illustration). 
mere sprouts or bunches of leaves an inch or 
two in length; later on the growing parts can not be easily reached. 
With an ordinary knapsack pump a field may be gone over rapidly 
and the volunteer cotton thoroughly treated, the nozzle being directed 
at each growing tip. The first application should be made as soon 
as the volunteer sprouts, and perhaps repeated two or three times 
within as many weeks. As ordinarily cultivated, the number of vol- 
unteer plants is small and the time required for the thorough spraying 
of such plants will not be great. A strong solution should be applied, 
viz, 1 pound of the poison to 50 gallons of water, because no harm will 
be done if the volunteer plants are ultimately killed by the poison. 
The practicability of this method has been demonstrated, but it has 
been abundantly shown that the very best system of control of the 
weevil is in a system of cultivation of cotton, to be later described, 
which will prevent all possibility of volunteer growth whatever. The 
poisoning and the other palliative measures relative to volunteer growths 

