298 COTTON GROWING 



fall plowing to destroy adult weevils, cleaning up the adjacent 

 grounds, the burning of any stalks which are not plowed under, 

 the prevention of fall volunteer cotton all of these methods have 

 been learned and are more generally practiced since the advent of 

 the Mexican boll-weevil. 



The boll-worm is the same insect which is more commonly 

 known in other states as the corn ear worm. 



The adult moth is said to lay as many as one thousand eggs 

 for one generation. These are often deposited on young corn 

 silks. When the larvae hatch they find their way to the tip of the 

 ear and produce the effects commonly seen on green corn. If no 

 young corn is growing, the adults will lay their eggs on cotton 

 plants, preferring the leaves. Here the larvae feed on any tender 

 parts, especially the buds. If poison is applied to the growing 

 cotton the larvae will be destroyed. As the larvae grow they attack 

 the bolls of growing cotton and much damage is done. When 

 full grown the larva burrows its way into the ground a few inches, 

 where it passes the pupa stage, emerging in a few days in the form 

 of a mature moth. Five generations are usually produced in a 

 summer in warm latitutes. Early in the season there may be 

 enough young corn to prevent the adults from laying their eggs 

 on cotton plants to any great extent. Later in the season young 

 ears of corn are less abundant and insects turn their attention to 

 cotton, where fresh buds and young bolls are always to be found. 



Preventive measures are now well known and practiced by 

 the best cotton growers. The same methods which were recom- 

 mended for combating the boll-weevil are applicable here. The 

 growth of any early variety of cotton will do much to produce a 

 good crop before midsummer, when the boll-worms abandon the 

 corn crop and attack cotton. 



By growing trap crops of corn near the cotton field a succession 

 of green succulent ears may be produced throughout the season 

 and the attacks on cotton will be almost entirely prevented. 

 A few rows of corn are planted at different seasons on all sides of 

 the cotton field, or perhaps in strips across it. This corn will pro- 

 duce enough good stock feed to pay for the cost of the method. 



Poisoning the cotton plants is sometimes extensively practiced. 

 This should be done at the season when the boll-worms are apt 

 to abandon the corn fields, because of the advancement of the 

 corn. The poisoning is done more commonly by dusting than by 

 spraying. Paris green, mixed with ashes, road dust, lime, or 



