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 short tap- 

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

 very light, drifting sandy loams of many of the river valleys of Texas, 

 which, in long seasons before the advent of the boll weevil, often produced 

 the largest yields. In these situations early varieties will yield but little 

 more than native cotton. 



(2) Cultivate the fields thoroughly. The principal benefit in this comes 

 from the influence that such a practice has upon the constant growth and 

 consequent early maturity of the crop. Very few weevils are killed by cul- 

 tivation. Much of the benefit of early planting is lost unless it is followed 

 by thorough cultivation. In case of unavoidably delayed planting, the 

 best course for the planter to pursue is to cultivate the fields in the most 

 thorough manner possible. Three choppings and numerous plowings con- 

 stitute the thorough system of cultivation that is made necessary by the 

 boll weevil. The old plantation rule for the cultivation of cotton, " Once 

 a week and once in the row," is an excellent one. 



(3) Plant the rows as far apart as experience with the land indicates 

 is feasible, and thin out the plants in the rows thoroughly. On land 

 which in normal seasons will produce from 35 to 40 bushels of corn the 

 rows should be 5 feet apart. Even on poor soil it is doubtful if the dis- 

 tance should ever be less than 4 feet. 



(4) Destroy, by plowing up, windrowing, and burning, all the cotton 

 stalks in the fields as soon as the weevils become so numerous that prac- 

 tically all the fruit is being punctured. This will generally not be later 

 than the first week in October. Merely cutting off the stalks, by means 

 of the triangular implement used for that purpose throughout the South, 

 is by no means as effective as plowing, because the stumps remaining give 

 rise to sprouts which furnish food until late in the season to many weevils 

 that would otherwise starve. The plowing, moreover, serves to place the 

 ground in better condition for early planting the following spring. In 

 some cases turning cattle into the fields is advisable. Aside from amount- 

 ing to a practical destruction of the plants, grazing of the cotton fields 

 furnishes considerable forage at a time when it is generally much in 

 demand. Nevertheless, cattle should never be turned into cotton fields in 

 which Johnson grass has become started. 



Recommendations 1, 2, and 3 are all aimed toward avoiding damage by 

 hastening the maturity of the plants and do not involve the actual destruc- 

 tion of the weevils. Recommendation 4, however, reduces the numbers of 

 the pests by destroying the very great proportion developing late in the 

 fall, and is consequently directly remedial. 



(5) It is known that at present fertilizers are not used to any consider- 

 able extent in cotton producing in Texas. There is, nevertheless, no doubt 



