THE STATUS OF THE COTTON BOLL WEEVIL IN 1909. 9 



entomology in the Alabama Polytechnic College, perfected a device 

 that has been found to accomphsh this work in a very satisfactory 

 manner. It consists of two series of chains arranged on a wheelless 

 carriage in such a way that the anterior ends pass close to the base of 

 the plants, while the opposite extremities pass about midway between 

 the rows. The inner posterior ends of the chains approach within about 

 8 inches of each other. As this machine is pulled through the field 

 the great majority of the squares are dragged to the middles and 

 deposited in a narrow row. In addition to the work of placing the 

 squares where they will be acted upon by the sun, the chain cultivator 

 has been found to have an exceedmgly important cultural effect. It 

 destroys small weeds, reduces clods, and fills the cracks. In fact, it 

 establishes a dust mulch, which is greatly to be desired in cotton 

 culture. 



An experiment performed in 1908 showed the effects of the prac- 

 tical use of this machine. Half of a small field was cultivated in part 

 by the chain cultivator and the remainder in the usual manner. The 

 yield was increased by 131 pounds of seed cotton per acre where the 

 machine was used. This amounted to a gain per acre of $3.93, or 

 practically what the machine can be manufactured for. No extra 

 labor was involved in the use of the machine, since its use merely 

 replaced the use of the ordinary implements for the later workings 

 of the crop. This experiment shows in a practical way the usefulness 

 of the machine, which should eventually come into common use as 

 much for its cultural effect as for weevil control. It is the direct 

 result of strictly investigational work. The inventor of this machme 

 surrendered all his rights as to royalties to the Department of Agri- 

 culture, so that its manufacture may be taken up by any individual 

 or company without the payment- of fees to anyone whatever. 



The possible wide usefulness of the chain cultivator was appre- 

 ciated by one of the largest implement concerns of the United States, 

 which undertook the manufacture of 100 of them to be distributed 

 during the season of 1909. Several practical tests were made during 

 that season, and they showed that the hopes for the implement were 

 not too high. Many planters who have witnessed the operation of 

 the implement are arranging to use it for corn as well as for cotton. 



PARASITES OF THE WEEVIL. 



The insect enemies of the weevil are practically dependent upon 

 it for food. Therefore any conditions that affect the weevil adversely 

 over a large extent of territory also affect the parasites. On this 

 account work of the insect enemies of the boll weevil in 1909 was 

 not at all conspicuous. Nevertheless important advances were made 

 in the studies of the practical utilization of these enemies of the 

 weevil. One parasite that has attacked the weevil in Texas may have 



