4 FARMERS BULLETIN 890. 



Insect attack against cotton begins with the seedling and con- 

 tinues until the plant is destroyed when picking is over. It seems 

 best, therefore, to discuss the pests from the standpoint of the 

 season and the manner of attack. 



HOW INSECTS MAY BE CONTROLLED BEFORE PLANTING. 



The control of many insect })ests should begin in the spring before 

 they begin their attack. While they are still in the shelter of woods, 

 buildings, weeds, etc., or dormant in the ground they are most 

 vulnerable. 



WEED DESTRUCTION. 



Thorough destruction of weeds and cleaning up fence rows and 

 brush will invariably assist in the reduction of insect damage. Such 

 insects as tree crickets and some of the leafhoppers lay their eggs 

 in weed stems. Destruction of the weeds naturally will destroy 

 them. Weed destruction should not stop with the first cutting but 

 should continue through the season. Further emphasis will be 

 ])laced on this in anothei- section of th(>. })ulletin. 



WINTER PLOWING. 



During the whiter the soil is likely to conceal many potential enemies 

 of the crops about to be planted. It is the habit of many species of 

 insects to pass the winter months as larva ("wonn" stage) or pxipn 

 (resting stage) in cells in the ground, where they are protected from 

 the weather. A winter or very early spring plowing which distiu-bs 

 them and exposes them to cold and rain is far more effective than 

 any measure taken after they emerge and begin to repro(hice. 

 AVinter plowing is an aid in the control of the boUworm, cutworms, 

 grasshop):)ei-s, May beetles, and many other msects which injure 

 cotton. 



PESTS THAT MENACE THE STAND OF SEEDLING COTTON. 



Many factors in cotton production have combhied to ni^ke it 

 necessary that the farmer push the growth of his cotton planthigs 

 as rapidly as possible. This is especially important in order that 

 the greater part of the crop may be made before insect injury can 

 reach its maximum. Of course this means that the planter must 

 plant as early as it can be done with reasonable expectation of 

 escaping a killing frost. Every farmer who has lived a number of 

 years in a locality knows the usiial time that the last frosts occur 

 on his place and also knows which parts of a plantation are to be 

 l>lanted early and which later. He understands that some of his 

 land is cold and slow to develop plant growth and that some of it 

 is warmer and pennits a more rapid gi-owth. In case of doubt the 



