ENTOMOLOGY 243 



buried, together with those already on the ground, in moist soil, 

 and a large percentage of the material will rot before the contained 

 insects have developed. 



The following is an outline of the practical methods of con- 

 trolling the boll weevil. These methods are based upon extensive 

 studies and much field experimentation. They represent practically 

 all that is known about combating the most important enemy of the 

 cotton plant. They form a system consisting of several parts. The 

 planter can insure success in proportion to the extent to which he 

 combines the different essential parts. 



Destroy the vast majority of weevils in the fall by uprooting 

 and burning the plants. This is the all-important step. It results 

 in the death of millions of weevils. It insures a crop for the follow- 

 ing season. 



Destroy also many weevils that have survived the preceding 

 operation and are found in the cotton fields and along the hedgerows, 

 fences, and buildings. This is done by clearing the places referred 

 to thoroughly. 



As far as possible, locate the fields in situations where damage 

 will be avoided. This can not be done in all cases but can frequently 

 be done to good advantage. 



Prepare the land early and thoroughly in order to obtain an 

 early crop. This means fall plowing and winter working of the land. 



Provide wide rows, ana plenty of space between the rows and 

 the plants in the drill, for the assistance of the natural enemies of 

 the weevil, which do more against the pest than the farmer can do 

 himself by any known means. Check-rowing, wherever practicable, 

 is an excellent practice. 



Insure an early crop by early planting of early-maturing vari- 

 eties, and by fertilizing where necessary. 



Continue the procuring of an early crop by early chopping to 

 a stand and early and frequent cultivation. Do not lose the fruit 

 the plants have set by cultivation too deep or too close to the rows. 



Where the labor is sufficient, pick the first appearing weevils 

 and the first infested squares. Do not destroy the squares but place 

 them in screened cages. By this means the escape of the weevils 

 will be prevented, while the parasites will be able to escape to con- 

 tinue their assistance on the side of the farmer. 



Use a crossbar of iron or wood, or some similar device, to cause 

 the infested squares to fall early to the ground, so that they will bo 

 exposed to the important effects of heat and parasites. 



Do not poison for the leaf-worm unless its work begins at an 

 abnormally early date in the summer. 



Do not go to the expense of buying special preparations for de- 

 stroying the weevil. Disappointment and loss is certain to follow. 



In some cases, where, for instance, a farmer has a small area of 

 cotton growing for seed selection, it is practicable to resort to special 

 means of control that would be impossible in general field practice. 

 For the benefit of the many farmers in the infested area who arc 

 beginning to improve their cotton by selection, the following sug- 



