30 



which mig-ht not crawl out in transit to the elevator cups and thence 

 to the sand boll reels. Most of the machinery used in the movement of 

 the seed runs at a slow speed, and therefore a considerable percentage 

 of the weevils may escape to the open air. 



From the foregoing paragraphs it will be seen that to control the 

 boll weevil at the oil mills would be a very difficult matter. The 

 escape of the pest to the open air and to the hulls is allowed by 

 the present necessary system of hand manipulation and the open con- 

 veyors with slowly revolving screws. The only recommendation to 

 be made is that all conveyors should be provided with perforated bot- 

 toms, and that the trash passing through should be collected by means 

 of a small spiral conveyor and passed between rollers. It is never- 

 theless true that this process would destroy only a small percentage of 

 the weevils at the mills. The impossibility of applying any very 

 eflFective method at the mills emphasizes strongly the necessity of 

 vigorous attempts at the gins. 



SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS. 



It should be understood that complete success in keeping the boll 

 weevil out of cotton seed depends upon a combination of the following 

 recommendations for the seed-cotton storage house, in addition to a 

 combination of the recommendations for the ginhouse proper. No 

 one alone could be depended upon. On account of the great serious- 

 ness of the boll- weevil problem, the importance of these recommenda- 

 tions deserves the careful attention of every ginner, and farmers should 

 realize that it is decidedly to their advantage to have their cotton 

 ginned where the greatest care is taken with the seed. 



I. Where possible, a separate seed-cotton storage house should be 

 provided. In any case, the seed should be stored in a building distinct 

 from the seed-cotton storage house. 



II. In the seed-cotton storage house should be installed special 

 cleaners or droppers, which, in addition to removing many weevils, 

 would facilitate ginning and improve the sample. 



in. In the ginhouse proper the principal recommendations are that 

 cleaner feeders and cotton cleaners be used more extensively, that the 

 trash therefrom be treated in such a way as to cause the destruction 

 of the weevils, and that a device be perfected for removing and destroy- 

 ing the weevils in the seed and motes. 



IV. Wherever the system of handling and ginning cotton is not 

 found to be effective in removing the weevils, and this is the case in 

 practically all the smaller and many of the larger ginneries in Texas 

 and Louisiana, the seed, at least for planting purposes, should always 

 be sacked and fumigated by the ginner in the manner described on 



