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saving of the top crop and in exceptional seasons a part of the middle 
crop was all that was desired. The work of the boll weevil has 
changed all this. After the careful studies that have been given the 
problem it is evident that no top crop of cotton can be expected in 
infested regions. This, of course, reduces the leaf-worm to an insect 
of no importance where the boll weevil exists. 
The change has actually been even greater than this, for the work 
of the leaf-worm has a disastrous effect upon the boll weevil. As 
has been pointed out in the discussion of fall destruction, the late 
developing weevils are the ones that pass through the winter. Con- 
sequently, if the leaf-worms defoliate the plants and stop the forma- 
tion of squares, a certain degree of fall destruction is accomplished. 
It can never be as satisfactory as the poorest artificial fall destrue- 
tion, because the plants continue to leaf out after the defoliation by 
the worms, thus giving the weevils a supply of succulent food. It is 
not recommended that the work of the leaf-worm be depended on in 
place of fall destruction. Nevertheless, allowing the leaf-worms to 
proceed with their work, or even encouraging them, will assist as a 
general procedure against the boll weevil at least when, for any 
reasons, the more important steps are not taken. In some cases 
where the injury by the leaf-worms begins unusually early, it may 
still be advisable to check it by poisoning in the weil-known manner, 
but save in such exceptional circumstances it will now be better to 
allow the leaf-worm to work unrestrictedly. 
Tt has been suggested by Mr. Wilmon Newell that in special cases 
where there are difficulties in the following of the fall destruction of 
the plants, it may be advisable to take means to encourage the leaf 
worm. This could be done by breeding larve and pupz to be scat- 
tered in the fields and by carrying the pup from localities, as the 
hills, where they appear first, to the valley fields, which are normally 
not reached until some time later. 
DESTROYING THE WEEVIL IN COTTON SEED. 
It has been abundantly shown that cotton seed is of importance as 
a medium through which the weevil may be carried. Many indi- 
viduals that happen to be carried to the gin on the cotton pass unin- 
jured through the gins to the seed houses. Consequently every seed 
house connected with a gin in the infested territory harbors more or 
less weevils, depending upon the amount of cleaning the staple is 
given. Of course such seed is exceedingly dangerous when taken 
into uninfested regions. Undoubtedly the present absolute embargoes 
against cotton seed from the infested region are wise. In general, 
they should be strictly construed. In some special cases, however, 
when, for instance, it is desired to obtain special improved seed, 
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