18 
(3) Winter conditions naturally reduce the number of weevils 
enormously ; indeed, the winter is the critical period in the life history 
of the pest. 
(4) Natural agencies operate to destroy a very large percentage of 
weevils. These agencies are increasing in effectiveness and already 
are of very great importance to the farmer in reducing his loss. 
Otherwise it would often be practically complete. 
MEANS OF CONTROL. 
It will be evident from the preceding statements regarding the life 
history and habits of the weevil that its control is beset with many 
difficulties. In fact, it is probably the most serious insect pest that is 
now known. Its insidious methods of work in the immature stages 
within the fruit of the cotton plant, the habit of the adult in seeking 
protection for the greater part of the time under the bracts of the 
squares, and its enormous power of reproduction and adaptability to 
new conditions, all tend to place the boll weevil in a class by itself. 
The difficulties are increased by the necessary procedures in raising 
cotton. In spite of these difficulties fairly satisfactory means of con- 
trol are known. A large share of the reasonable success of the war- 
fare against the pest is due to the assistance furnished by natural 
agencies, which commonly destroy many more weevils in a cotton field 
than the farmer could by any known method or methods. 
Burning infested plants in the fall.—lForemost among the methods 
of control is the killing of the hordes of adult weevils that are ready 
to enter hibernation in the fall and the prevention of the development 
of millions more that would later emerge to pass through the winter. 
This is accomplished by burning the infested plants in the fall after 
the weevils have become so numerous that there is no prospect of the 
maturity of any additional crop. There are many vital reasons why 
the wholesale destruction of the weevils in the fall should be practiced 
by every cotton planter in the infested region. Some of these are 
stated below: . 
First. Hordes of adult weevils, many for each plant in the field, 
are killed outright. 
Second. Many more weevils that are in the immature stages, 
possibly as many as a hundred for each plant in the field, are also 
killed. 
Third. The few adult weevils escaping will be weakened by starva- 
tion and the great majority will not have sufficient strength to pass 
through the winter. 
Fourth. The development of the late broods, which experiments 
have shown furnish the vast majority of weevils that pass through 
the winter, is cut off immediately. In this way hundreds of weevils 
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