INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MEXICAN COTTON 



BOLL WEEVIL. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



The work of the Division of Entomology for several years has demon- 

 strated that there is not even a remote probability that the boll weevil 

 will ever be exterminated. Although the very large yields of cotton of 

 former times may no longer be possible, it is nevertheless entirely feasible 

 to produce cotton at a margin of profit that will compare favorably with 

 that involved in the production of most of the staple crops of the United 

 States by following what have become known generally as the cultural 

 methods. These methods consist of the following changes and modifica- 

 tions of the system of cotton raising made necessary by the weevil. They 

 were originally suggested by a careful study of the life history and habits 

 of the pest, and naturally any improvements that may eventually be made 

 will be the result of the continuation of that study. They have now been 

 tested successfully on a large scale by the Division of Entomology, as well 

 as by many planters, during two very unfavorable seasons. Of greatest 

 advantage is the reducing of the numbers of the weevils by the destruc- 

 tion of the plants in the fall. The advantage thus gained is followed up 

 by bending every effort toward procuring an early crop the following 

 season. 



(1) Plant early. If possible plant seed of the varieties known to mature 

 early, or at least obtain seed from as far north as possible. It is much 

 better to run the risk of replanting, which is not an expensive operation, 

 than to have the crop delayed. The practice of some planters of making 

 two plantings to avoid having all the work of chopping thrown into a 

 short period is a very bad policy from the weevil standpoint. 



Under identical conditions early cotton of improved varieties has invari- 

 ably yielded from two to three times as much as native cotton under the 

 same conditions, and in many cases much more. Planted at the same time, 

 the early varieties begin to bloom from twelve to eighteen days sooner 

 than native cotton. 



Early planted fields of either native or improved varieties have almost 

 invariably yielded twice as much as late planted ones. 



The early varieties in general, having a small stalk and a short tap- 

 root, are adapted only for rich soil. They also fail to grow well in the 



189 7 



