5 
2 or 3 inches beneath the surface by the use of an ordinary plow. 
The other is to pull out the stalks by the use of a lever provided with 
a toothed notch which grasps the base of the plant. The latter 
process is better adapted for use when the plants have been killed by 
frost. When they are still green, or the ground is dry, it is fre- 
quently a difficult matter to remove them with these levers. The 
Department’s general recommendation, therefore, is that the plants 
should be plowed out. As soon as possible after this is done they 
should be collected by hand or by means of rakes and brought 
together in large heaps or windrows. It is very important that this 
collection should take place before the leaves have become dry and 
have dropped off. When the plants are carried to heaps immediately 
after uprooting, all of the leafage, which will dry in a few days, 
remains to facilitate the burning of the stalks. 
After the stalks have become dry enough they should be burned. 
Tf the weather be fair, this can be done in about two weeks. If 
rains cause a lengthening of this period, it would undoubtedly be 
worth the cost to the planter to purchase crude oil sufficient to bring 
about the complete burning of all the stalks. 
It is not considered necessary to leave any trap rows to attract such 
weevils as may have escaped the burning. The weevil seems to have 
but little tendency to be attracted to such plants. After the destruc- 
tion of the main crop the spread would probably be in all directions 
and the numbers collected on the trap rows would consequently be 
inconsiderable. The time and expense of properly carrying on the 
hand picking of the weevils and infested fruit on trap rows would be 
a considerable handicap to the method on many plantations. Never- 
theless, on small places where suitable labor is abundant, traps could 
conveniently be left. In such cases they should be situated on those 
sides of the fields which are generally leeward. They should be 
examined daily for weevils and infested squares and bolls, which 
should be immersed in crude oil. After such collection for ten days 
the trap plants should be uprooted and burned immediately with the 
aid of crude oil. 
The suggestion has been made at various times that grazing the 
cotton fields with cattle is in some cases equivalent to destruction in 
the way that has been suggested. However, in many parts of the 
infested area there are not sufficient cattle to accomplish the work, 
and, moreover, in very many fields the cattle, by disseminating John- 
son grass and other plant pests, would undoubtedly do more harm 
than good. At the same time the most thorough grazing always 
leaves a few green sprouts or leaves upon which weevils may feed, 
and of course leaves the stalks standing, so that the process of leafing, 
for the benefit of the weevils, may continue indefinitely. Where the 
conditions of the fields allow it and the supply of cattle is sufficient, 
grazing the fields should be practiced, but this can not generally be 
the case in the infested area. 
DIFFICULTIES. 
The Department of Agriculture understands that there are some 
difficulties in the way of a universal following of the recommenda- 
[Cir. 95] 
