FOREWORD 



As sponsor of the State-wide Boll Weevil Poison Program 

 on Sea Island cotton in 1938, the State Department of Agri- 

 culture wishes to thank all growers who cooperated. 



Owing to a prolonged spring drought which covered the 

 area from Suwannee County southward and prevented the 

 germination of seed until near May 1, followed by the terrific 

 downpours of midsummer, it is felt that Sea Island cotton 

 growers were confronted by almost insurmountable odds in 

 1938. In other words, research has shown that in order to 

 grow Sea Island cotton successfully under Florida conditions 

 extra early planting, followed by an intensive campaign to 

 poison all over-wintered weevils, must be practiced. Where 

 Sea Island cotton seed do not germinate until well up into the 

 month of April due to moisture scarcity or late-planting, suc- 

 cessful yields are seldom secured. 



At the time this report goes to press acreage control has 

 been removed from bright or flue-cured tobacco and late re- 

 ports indicate that Sea Island acreage in the "Old Florida Sea 

 Island Belt" may be reduced. Sea Island acreage increase is 

 indicated only in the extreme southern and western edges of 

 the Florida Belt. 



The results of research work by the WPA Entomologists 

 are brought up to date in the following report and all cotton 

 growers will find much useful information concerning the 

 Sea Island cotton problem. 



This bulletin should be read carefully and stored for future 

 use as Sea Island acreage will be greatly expanded if and 

 when the price of bright tobacco makes the culture of that 

 crop unprofitable. I wish to call particular attention to the 



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 ^. C. State College 



