COTTON 139 



common than before. The type of plant and kind of seed used 

 have received more attention, as the risk must be reduced to tlie 

 mininmm from other causes than the weevil. It has added a 

 considerable burden to the production of cotton in that all the 

 weevils than can be found must be picked off earl}^ in the spring 

 and destroyed, and later the squares that have been punctured 

 and the egg deposited in which the larva will develop must be 

 picked up and destroyed. The culture must be more rapid so as 

 to bring the plant to maturity at as early a time as possible. 

 More study is being given to the fertilization of the cotton plant 

 than heretofore. During a season of hot, dry weather it is pos- 

 sible to keep ahead of the boll Aveevil pretty well, but during 

 periods of heavy rains in the growing season of the cotton it is 

 very difficult to handle the weevil. The use of calcium arsenate 

 as a poison against the weevil is being used to a limited extent 

 and gives promise of success. This is more effective in a dry 

 season than a rainy one. The cotton stalks are plowed mider 

 early in the fall so that the food of the adult weevil Avill be 

 destroyed and it will go into the winter as weak as possible. In 

 this way a great many of them are destroyed. 



The boll weevil does more damage than all the other insect 

 enemies of cotton combined, but there are several insect enemies 

 that in the aggregate do considerable damage. The red spider 

 does much damage at times, infecting cotton fields to such an 

 extent some seasons that the growth is very materially checked 

 and the yield reduced. It is combatted by special cultivation or 

 by sprays. The cotton worm attacks the cotton at times in the 

 latter part of the season. The cotton boll worm or corn ear 

 worm destroys the young buds or bolls and in this way reduces 

 the crop. These two pests are held in check Avith i^oisons. 



AYilt, anthrocnose and rust are probably the most common dis- 

 eases of cotton and cause more loss than any other diseases. The 

 wilt is confined to a large extent to the sandy areas of the Coastal 

 Plain, and the only method of combatting it found at this time is 

 by resistant plants. The same method is also employed against 

 anthracnose, Avhile, in some cases at least, fertilization with 

 potash fertilizers will help to reduce the rust. 



Information can be had from any of the agricultural colleges 

 or experiment stations in the cotton belt regarding the produc- 

 tion of cotton, as this is the main crop, and practically all of 

 them have compiled a considerable amount of data regarding 

 this crop that they are desirous to put at the disposal of those 

 who can use it to an advantage. 



