40 THE BOLL WEEVIL PROBLEM. 
The injury inflicted by several other insects, such as the cotton- 
square borer (Uranotes melinus Hiibn.), webworm (Lowostege simi- 
lalis Guen.), and cutworms often makes the crop somewhat later, and 
consequently likely to be injured by the weevil. 
GENERAL CONTROL THROUGH QUARANTINES. 
There is no doubt whatever that the weevil can not be prevented 
from extending its range to the extremes of the cotton belt in this 
country. However, the damage is so great and the disturbance of 
economic conditions so extensive that all reasonable precautions 
should be taken to prevent the early accidental importation of the 
weevil to uninfested regions. Practically all of the States in the 
cotton belt have enactments designed to this end. Undoubtedly they 
should be enforced to the fullest extent. 
At one time considerable inconvenience was caused the shipping 
interests by the lack of uniformity of quarantines in different States 
and the inclusion of articles in which there is very little danger. At 
the present time these difficulties have largely been removed. All 
that it is advisable to include in the absolute quarantines are cotton 
seed, seed cotton, cottonseed hulls, and baled cotton. ‘These com- 
modities are lkely to carry the weevil with them. In fact, it has 
been amply demonstrated that the insects are frequently carried in 
this way. Other articles, and even empty cars, may occasionally 
transport weevils, but the degree of danger is so much less than in 
the cases of the articles specified above that they do not need to be 
taken into consideration. 
It is entirely feasible to eradicate small isolated colonies of the boll 
weevil. An important office of the State authorities concerned in 
State quarantines should therefore be to investigate reported out- 
breaks of the weevil and be prepared to take the necessary steps 
toward eradication at the earliest moment. The Bureau of Ento- 
mology will assist the State authorities in any cases of this kind. 
ATTEMPTS TO POISON THE BOLL WEEVIL. 
From the very beginning of the fight against the boll weevil at- 
tempts have been made to poison it. At different times advocates of 
various poisons have enlisted a considerable following. In order to 
understand the difficulty of poisoning the weevil it must be remem- 
bered that during the growing season the insect feeds only by insert- 
ing its beak into the squares or bolls. During this season, therefere, 
it is entirely out of the question to place the poison in a position where 
the insect will feed upon it. 
Early in the season, however, before squares are formed the hiher- 
nating weevils feed on the opening leaves of the so-called bud of the 
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