32 



in themselves, a satisfactor}^ crop of cotton may be grown during years 

 of severe boll worm injiny. This requires, for best results, the adop- 

 tion of all methods useful in the production of an early crop, and is 

 based on the fact that cotton is not attacked in force by bollworms 

 until the corn in surrounding fields begins to harden, which in general 

 is about the first of August. 



In the cultural sj'stem, by which i)rofita])le crops of cotton may be 

 grown in spite of the presence of the bollworm, the following proced- 

 ures are important: (1) Thorough plowing of the land during the 

 fall or winter months to destro}^ as man}^ as possible of the hibernating 

 pupte in the soil; (2) the use of seed of early-fruiting varieties of 

 cotton; (3) the use of fertilizers to hasten and increase the growth of 

 plants and the formation of fruit; (i) planting at the first practicable 

 date in the spring; (5) earh" and frequent cultivation. 



The use of corn as a trap crop is recommended. In planting cotton 

 leave vacant strips across the fields every 200 or 300 feet sufiicientl}^ 

 wide for planting 10 or 12 rows of corn. The corn should be planted 

 so that it will be in prime silking condition about August 1. Under 

 favorable conditions of rainfall and with good cultivation, Mexican 

 June corn planted b}^ June 1 will be in proper condition b}^ August 1. 

 Plant cowpeas in the corn belts so that the peas will be flowering 

 at the time the silks and tassels appear on the corn, thus furnishing 

 food for the moths and keeping them out of the cotton fields. Much 

 the same benefits may be secured by planting patches of late corn on 

 different parts of the plantation, as after oats, wheat, etc. In all casse 

 peas should be planted in the corn. The corn thus grown may be 

 harvested in the usual wa3^ The corn should not he planted for trap- 

 a^o]) purposes in heJts through the cotton field at the usual time of plant- 

 ing in the sjpr'ing. To he of value in hollworm control it should not he 

 in silk and tassel until ahout August 1. 



During seasons of severe bollworm injury, poisons ma}" be profitably 

 used on cotton. Poisons should be applied late in July and earl}' in 

 August to secure the maximum destruction of young larvse of this 

 generation. Two or three applications may be necessary at intervals 

 of a week or ten days. After rains the application should be imme- 

 diately repeated. Paris green at the rate of from 2 to 3 pounds per 

 acre for each application will be satisfactory. It is best applied in a 

 dry condition, either pure or mixed with cheap flour, and dusted over 

 the plants by the usual pole-and-bag method or by means of a dust- 

 spray machine. 



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