52 



about 61° F., mean temperaiure, and cotton had ceased to grow. 

 Counting each weevil found at each observation, only 5 were found 

 upon the 10 bags of meal. Of these 5, 3 were hidden in the folds of 

 the cloth for shelter and were not feeding. One weevil was counted 

 twice and was the only one found that appeared to be feeding upon the 

 meal. During this period a total of 163 weevils was found upon the 

 top parts of the plants to which the bags were attached. This is con- 

 siderably below the real number present, because in many instances 

 this examination was not made, and doubtless weevils were overlooked 

 even when examination was made. 



At various times 27 weevils were placed directly upon the bags of 

 meal and given every opportunity to show Avhether they would stay 

 thereon if they accidentally found the meal. Only one of this num- 

 ber stayed upon the bag for 24 hours, and this one remained in the 

 shelter of the cloth. 



The unattractiveness of cotton-seed meal for the weevils seems 

 absolutely proven so far as fall conditions are concerned. 



Spring of 1903. — These tests were intended to show whether hiber- 

 nated weevils would be attracted to the meal before squares were to 

 be found in the field. Two series of experiments were planned, using 

 four bags of meal in each. For the location of the first series a field 

 was chosen which was known to have been badly infested with wee- 

 vils up to December 18, 1002. This field was not replanted with cot- 

 ton in 1903, nor was there another field in the vicinity, so that weevils 

 coming from hibernation would find no possible food except the meal. 

 A number of live hibernated weevils was taken from this field, so that 

 there can be no doubt of the presence of many of them. The bags of 

 meal were placed near apparently favorable hibernating places. 



Fifty-five observations were made under these conditions, but not 

 a weevil came to the bags of meal. 



For the second series a field was selected in which occasional seppa 

 cotton plants were found. The plants had been allowed to stand 

 through the winter in this field, and hibernated weevils were quite 

 abundant. The bags of meal were here attached to stakes driven 

 beside sepx)a i^lants. More than 50 observations were made after 

 weevils were known to be out of their winter quarters. Nine weevils 

 were found upon the seppa cotton plants beside which the bags of 

 meal were placed, but not a weevil was found on the meal. 



Only one conclusion can be drawn from these experiments. Under 

 no conditions will cotton-seed meal serve as a food for the weevils, 

 and it shows no power whatever of attracting them. 



THE POSSIBILITY OF BAITING WEEVILS WITH SWEETS. 



ATTRACTIVENESS OF VARIOUS SWEETS. 



On account of the considerable publicity given the theory that it 

 might be possible to destroy the weevil by attracting it to sweetened 

 poisons, a number of experiments were performed along this line. 



