20 
GRAZING OFF THE COTTON. 
During midsummer there is little which can be done practically or 
economically, and if methods of warfare are not applied early in the 
season the unfortunate planter must be satisfied with the fruits of 
his negligence, and resolve to begin the fight promptly with the next 
crop. As the fall season approaches there is an extremely impor- 
tant move to be made. It is well known that cotton keeps on growing 
and producing squares until severe frosts cut it down. It is also well 
established that squares which do not bloom within six weeks of frosts 
have but little chance of maturing fruit. The immense crop of squares 
produced during this period serves no other purpose than that of food 
and places for egg laying for the great numbers of weevils which have 
developed. These facts put us face to face with the problem: How to 
dispose of these squares and destroy the weevils, and at the same time 
lose as small a quantity of maturing bolls as possible. This problem 
has been most happily solved by inaugurating the practice of turn- 
ing in herds of cattle and grazing the cotton. The stock will eat the 
tender growing tips, where are found the young squares. These are 
the portions of the cotton first eaten. With them go eggs, larve, and 
adult weevils. There is practically no escape. The all-important 
point to note is that this grazing must be done before the first frost. 
The first danger of freezing starts the weevils out on their search for 
hibernating quarters, and they gradually leave the cotton. The fact that 
the weevils are yet in the cotton when grazing begins makes it impos- 
sible for many to escape. The boll weevil fight can be won by prac- 
ticing this grazing process thoroughly. One difficulty which some- 
times arises is that occasionally a planter allows a heavy crop of crab 
grass to grow in his cotton fields late in the season. This is excellent 
forage, and when stock is turned in to graze the animals feed on the 
crab grass first, and but lightly upon the cotton until the former has 
been consumed. Clean culture is therefore essential to the greatest 
success of this method. If clean culture can not be maintained this 
grass should be set fire to and burned before the stock is turned in. 
This rubbish affords winter protection to the insect enemies of the cot- 
ton, and in any case should be burned on general principles. 
Another difficulty in securing a general acceptance of this method 
lies in the fact that there is a small percentage of immature bolls 
which might yet open, but which the stock eats. Again, the scarcity 
of pickers sometimes results in the planters being far behind with 
their picking. ‘This is the planters’ misfortune and not the fault of 
the method suggested. Much depends on their management along this 
line. As for the small quantity of immature bolls which the stock 
eats, their loss, when contrasted with the benefits derived in the way 
of practical immunity from weevil attack for another crop, must seem 
too insignificant to seriously militate against the general application of 
—— lc(<éi‘''™ 
