34 FARMERS BULLETI^^ 848, 



turn rows destroyed, it is not likely that the aphis will do any con- 

 siderable damage, even during the coolest and wettest springs. 



The injmy inflicted by several other insects, such as the cotton- 

 square borer, ^ webworni,^ and cutworms, often makes the crop some- 

 what later, and consequently likely to be injured by the weevil. 



GENERAL CONTROL THROUGH QUARANTINES. 



There is no doubt whatever that the weevil will extend its range 

 to the extremes of the cotton belt in this country in spite of all 

 efforts to prevent it from doing so. The damage is so great, how- 

 ever, and the disturbance of economic conditions so extensive that 

 all reasonable precautions shoidd be taken to prevent the early 

 accidental importation of the weevil to uninfested regions. Practi- 

 cally all of the States iii 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 miiform quarantines in different States and 

 the inclusion of articles in which there is very little danger of distribut- 

 ing the weevil. At the present time these difiicidties have been largely 

 removed. All that it is advisable to include in the absolute quarantines 

 are cotton seed, seed cotton, cottonseed hulls, and baled cotton. 

 These commodities are likely 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, occasionally may 

 tiansport 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 shoidd 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. 



Early in the season, before squares are formed, the hibernating 

 weevils feed on the opening leaves of the so-called bud of the cotton 

 plant. At this time it is possible to destroy a considerable percentage 

 by the application of poison. Exhaustive experiments performed 

 by the Bureau of Entomology and other agencies have demonstrated 

 that Paris green can not be used to advantage at this time. More 



I Uranotes mtUnus Hiibn. 2 Loiostege similalis Guen. 



