LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



L\ S. Depaktmext of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Entomology, 

 Washington, D. C, Fcbruanj 3, 1905. 

 Sir: I transmit herewith a manuscript entitled "The Control of the Boll Weevil, 

 Including Results of Recent Ivestigations," prepared by Mr. W. D. Hunter, special 

 agent of this Bureau in charge of experimental work Avith the cotton boll weevil. 

 This paper will replace Farmers' Bulletin No. 189. It contains the previous recom- 

 mendations of the Bureau of Entomology regarding the means of mitigating the 

 damage by this very serious pest, with such minor modifications as have been made 

 necessary by the work of the past season. In addition, various topics, such as the 

 territory infested, the present status of State (piarantines against the boll weevil, and 

 other matters, are considered. I recommend that it be issued as a Farmers' BuUetiji. 

 Respectfully, 



L. O. Howard, 

 Hon. James Wilson, Chief of Bureau. 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



CONTENTS 



' Page, 



Recommendations 3 



Introductory 6 



Description of the ))oll weevil 8 



Territory affected 10 



Damage caused by the boll weevil ; 12 



A variety test 15 



Conclusions regarding the use of fertilizers 18 



Relation between seppa cotton and weevil damage 20 



Experiment in deferred planting 20 



Controlling the 1 )oll weevil in cotton seed and at ginneries 22 



Supposed immunity of Mexican cottons 22 



Futile methods suggested for control 23 



Quarantines against the boll weevil , 25 



Suggestions for a uniform State boll-weevil law 26 



Present quarantines of the several States - 28 



Alabama 28 



Georgia 29 



Louisiana 30 



Mississippi 31 



North Carolina 32 



Oklahoma 32 



South Carolina 32 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Paget 



Fig. 1. Cotton boll weevil: a, beetle, from above; h, same, from side 8 



2. Cotton l)oll weevil : larva at left, pupa at right 8 



3. Cotton square flared, showing egg puncture of boll weevil 9 



4. Cotton square cut open, showing boll weevil larva in position 10 



5. Map of territory infested by the boll weevil - - 12 



2 



216 



