22 Growing Sea Island Cotton Under Florida Conditions 



Fig. 8. Making sure that the hibernated weevils have been completely elim- 

 inated. WPA Field Assistants examining a field of Sea Island Cot- 

 ton at the end of the poisoning season. Note the dense woods at the 

 border of the field. 



Picking Up Squares 



If, due to unfavorable weather, some of the poison apphca- 

 tions are omitted or not made on time, or the first application 

 is not made until squares are punctured, a considerable num- 

 ber of weevil-punctured squares will be found during- the latter 

 part of the poisoning season. These should be carefully picked 

 up and burned, otherwise weevils will hatch and seriously 

 damage the crop unless several extra applications of poison 

 are made under favorable weather conditions. 



Slinging 



Ordinarily, if properly poisoned from the time squares ap- 

 pear until hibernated weevils cease to enter the field, early 

 planted Sea Island cotton will mature a full crop without fur- 

 ther attention. However, if the cotton matures late for any 

 reason, such as too heavy soil, too much rain, or too late an 

 application of nitrogen, weevils may migrate into it from un- 

 poisoned cotton before the bolls are safe from attack. If the 

 summer weevil migration is excessively heavy, such as might 

 be experienced if the poisoned field is in the immediate vicin- 



