11 



PLAN AND SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION. 



The present bolhvorm investigation lias been conducted largely in 

 Texas, in view of the seriousness of the depredations of the pest in 

 that State. The work was begun in the spring of 1903 and has con- 

 tinued to the end of the j^ear 1904. The investigation has been prose- 

 cuted both in the laboratorv and in the field. During 1903 headquarters 

 were established at Victoria, Tex., where office and other facilities 

 were available in the building occupied by the force engaged in cotton 

 boll weevil investigations. Experiment farms were established at 

 Calvert, Wills Point, and Hetty, Tex., covering in all 110 acres. Onl}' 

 one entomologist was engaged in the work. The more important 

 results of the work of 1903 have been given in Farmers' Bulletin No. 

 191 of this Department. In 1901, by reason of an increased appropri- 

 ation, the work was considerablv enlarged. Headquarters were estal)- 

 lished at Paris, Tex., where a laboratorv was equipped for the study 

 of all points likeh^ to throw light on methods of control. Four 

 entomologists were continuously engaged in the investigation, and a 

 fifth during the summer and fall months. 



In the field, experiments were conducted largely along the lines 

 followed in 1903, as follows: (1) To determine the possibilitv of mak- 

 ing a crop of cotton before the period of greatest boUworm injury, by 

 the early planting of earl3'-maturing varieties of cotton, aided by fer- 

 tilizers and b}" thorough cultivation; (2) to determine the value in 

 bollworm control of spraj^ng or dusting cotton with arsenical poisons; 

 (3) to determine the value of corn as a trap crop in protecting cotton 

 from bollworm injury. 



In the prosecution of this work it has been necessar3' for the Depart- 

 ment to have control of numerous tracts of land, along with labor and 

 farm equipment. These have been secured by means of contracts with 

 planters whereb}^ the planter has been guaranteed a satisfactory yield 

 of cotton in return for the obligation assumed to carry out the 

 Department's instructions as to the growing and handling of the crop. 

 In the course of the investigation, experiment and demonstration 

 farms have been established as follows: 



Experiment farms used in work irllh ihc bollirorin, 1904. 



