THE WEATHER AND THE WEEVIL 105 



four acres a day. This fits in with prevailing folkways 

 of southern cotton culture as every member of the family 

 except the smallest children can be used in the work. 53 



Three applications are necessary, the first when the 

 squares begin to show. Professor Coad doubts the efficacy 

 of the method. . . . "in many experiments," he writes, 

 "we have yet to find where dusting with calcium arsenate 

 is not more profitable and more effective than the use 

 of poisoned sweets." 54 The method will likely survive, 

 however, simply because in the southern cotton field 

 human labor is cheaper than machinery. 



A method has also been worked out in Florida at the 

 Experiment Station by G. D. Smith. It has proved ef- 

 ficient at a cost of only $1.57 per acre. It depends upon 

 knowledge of completion of spring emergence of weevil 

 and consists in removing and destroying all the squares 

 on the plant at a time when about two per plant are 

 present. If followed by dusting of the terminal buds many 

 of the pests are destroyed. 55 



In February, 1923, the Southern Agricultural Work- 

 ers at the Memphis convention indorsed the calcium 

 arsenate and Florida methods and called for new tests 

 on the molasses-arsenate treatment. At the same time 

 the Department issued warnings against patent anti- 

 boll weevil medicines. 50 



The risks of the weather are as great for cotton as 

 any other major crop. Because of the southern climate, 

 droughts and excessive rains are very real dangers to 

 special localities. 



53 Alfred G. Smith, "Winning the Weevil War," Country Gen- 

 tleman, May 31, 1924. 



64 Cited by W. H. Hubbard, op. cit., p. 46. 



55 The Boll Weevil Problem, p. 30. Ibid., p. 1, 



