112 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



This battle against the weevil is in two di- 

 visions: 



The first division of the work consists in 

 reducing the number of weevils just as much as 

 possible so that a crop can be made. 



The second division is to push the cotton 

 plant to maturity as fast as possible and by 

 extra cultivation and fertilization cause it to 

 put no more forms or squares than it can mature, 

 so that what the weevil takes is only a surplus 

 of no consideration in making the crop. 



The burning of the stalks is very destructive 

 to the weevils in the field, but its value depends 

 considerably on when and how it is done. It 

 must be done early and before frost. Demon- 

 strations have been made showing that it 

 caused the destruction of as many as 97 per 

 cent, of the weevils if done early and properly, 

 but if delayed it might allow as many as 45 

 per cent, to escape. 



There are several methods of destroying the 

 stalks. First, every third or fifth row may be 

 allowed to stand and the rows on each side 

 uprooted and thrown against it. Second, all 

 the stalks may be cut and thrown into piles 

 of convenient size. In either case, some of 



