92 



to the production of an immense number of weevils very late in the 

 season and at just the right time for their successful hibernation. 

 As the result of this, far greater injury is done to the crop of the 

 following season, with a comparatively small gain in the yield of the 

 present season. Furthermore, plants standing until frosts kill them 

 are often allowed to stand throughout the remainder of the winter, 

 and these furnish an abundance of favorable hibernating places for 

 the weevils. The consequence of this i)ractice is that so many weevils 

 are carried through the winter alive that the yield of the next year 

 will be much less than what it might have been but for the farmer's 

 indulgence of the forlorn hope of a top crop. 



From these considerations it seems plain that within the weevil ter- 

 ritory all hope of a top crop must be given up and the destruction of 

 the stalks be practiced as early in the fall as may be possible. This 

 practice is one of the essential elements in the successful control of 

 the weevil. 



SOME REASONS FOR EARLY DESTRUCTION OF STAL.KS. 



It is naturally impossible to fix any date for the destruction of stalks 

 wliich would apply to all localities and under all conditions. The 

 condition of the soil must be considered as well as that of the maturity 

 of the crop. While the condition of the soil can not be changed, the 

 time of the maturity of the crop is largely within the control of the 

 planter, since by early planting of early maturing varieties nearly 

 the entire yield may be matured before the usual time of i)icking of 

 the first cotton from native seed. Whatever the qualifications which 

 must be made, thej^ do not decrease the general strength of the reasons 

 which may be given for the early destruction of stalks. The principal 

 reasons are three in number: 



First, the absolute prevention of development of a multitude of 

 weevils which would become adult within a few weeks of hibernation 

 time. The destruction of the immature stages of weevils already 

 present in infested squares is surely accomplished, while the further 

 growth of squares which may become later infested is also prevented. 

 This stops immediately the development of weevils which would nor- 

 mally hibernate successfully, and by decreasing the number of wee- 

 vils which will emerge in the spring the chances of a good crop for 

 the following season are greatly increased. 



The second reason is that by a proper manipulation of the stalks 

 a very great majority of the weevils which are already adult can be 

 destroyed. One of the most successful j)ractices is to throw the stalks 

 in windrows, and as soon as they have become sufficient!}^ dry they 

 may be burned. If the weather is favorable, the burning maj^ take 

 place in about two weeks, and many of the weevils will not have left 

 the cotton stalks b}^ that time. In case rains delay the drying it will 

 be found advantageous to expedite burning by the use of crude petro- 



