where cotton fields adjoin the public property. It should be the duty 

 of railroad and county authorities in such cases to assist the farmers as 

 far as practicable bj^ removing the shelter for the weevil. 



WEEVILS IN COTTON SEED, 



Cotton seed has frequently been supposed to furnish exceptionally 

 favorable winter quarters for the weevil. It has been shown that many 

 weevils pass through the gins and are later to be found in the bulk cot- 

 ton seed in storage. Up to a certain time in the winter cotton seed is 

 very likely to contain live weevils. Many experiments, however, have 

 shown that very few are able to survive in this medium until spring. 

 This seems to be due principally to the absence of moisture. Repeat- 

 edly numbers of weevils have been placed in cotton seed in the fall. 

 Altogether 6,600 weevils have been used in these experiments. They 

 were placed under a variety of conditions. Although many have sur- 

 vived until the middle of winter, only two lived until the first of April. 

 It is therefore clear that cotton seed itself is not an especially dangerous 

 commodity. Although it is true that the earliest weevils frequently 

 make their appearance in the vicinity of seed houses, this is to be 

 accounted for Yjy the fact that the insects find quarters under the build- 

 ing and under the trash that is allowed to accumulate in such situations 

 rather than in the cotton seed itself. 



CONCLUSION. 



The climatic and labor conditions surrounding cotton production in 

 Louisiana and Mississippi leave no doubt that the planters in those 

 States must not overlook any important means of controlling the boll 

 weevil. This circular ^Joints out one important and inexpensive means 

 that can he practiced hy every planter. It is of special importance in 

 the humid regions recently invaded where fears of disaster are now 

 commonly entertained. The Department of Agriculture urges that 

 cotton raisers take advantage of the enemy while they have the oppor- 

 tunity and by the means herein described greatly increase the chances 

 for producing a crop the coming season. 



Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, 1). C, Decnuhnr W, 1!)08. 



A6 31 



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