1 82 KNAPP METHOD OF GROWING COTTON 



they will continue to enjoy this distinction. 

 The Mexican cotton boll weevil threatened 

 the industry but, after two decades of experi- 

 ence with this most destructive of all cotton 

 pests, it has been demonstrated that cotton 

 can still be grown profitably in the presence 

 of the weevil. In fact, the crop has con- 

 stantly increased during the past five years with 

 more than half the cotton-producing territory 

 infested. While there is little doubt that this 

 troublesome pest will invade every field where 

 cotton is grown, it is believed that it will 

 become less destructive in the northern part 

 of the Cotton Belt. It is also probable that 

 natural enemies of the weevil and better cul- 

 tural methods will reduce the damage in 

 sections already infested. It is doubtful, how- 

 ever, whether any territory once infested will 

 ever be entirely rid of the weevil, though the 

 danger of serious damage may be reduced 

 except in years of unfavorable climatic con- 

 ditions. 



There is little reason to believe that the 

 United States will lose its supremacy in the 

 production of cotton with their rich lands, not 

 only adapted to cotton but to the greatest 



