130 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



force his crop to set many bolls before weevils are abundant. 

 Only the late buds will then receive the attack of the enemy. 



Forcing is done in several ways : . 



(a) Prepare the soil thoroughly and early. 



(6) Plant early and use enough seed for a good stand of 

 plants. 



(c) Cultivate often during the growing season. 



(d) Grow varieties which set bolls early. 



(e) Select seed from early fruiting plants. 

 (/) Apply phosphoric acid fertilizer liberally. 



2. Pick the cotton crop as early as may be, and immedi- 

 ately destroy the entire field of plants for the purpose of 

 starving the weevils several weeks before cold weather drives 

 them into winter quarters under trash. The prompt destruc- 

 tion of the plants after harvest may be done in either of two 

 ways: (a) cattle may be turned into the field in such num- 

 bers as to eat all leaves and young* growth, after which the 

 stalks are promptly cut up and plowed under well, (b) The 

 stalks may be pulled and burned. 



3. Poisoning the early spring weevils on the growing tips 

 of cotton plants is sometimes tried. For this purpose arsenate 

 of lead is applied in the form of powder at the rate of 2% 

 pounds per acre. This must be done before the appearance 

 of the first squares. 



4. Buds and squares which fall to the ground from the 

 attacks of weevils should be caused to wilt very soon and 

 thus prevent the further development of the insects which 

 would soon form another brood. The wilting may be has- 

 tened by planting the rows far enough apart to let sunshine in 

 freely. The wilting is also increased by dragging the buds and 

 squares to the open sunlight of the "middle." This is done 

 by the use of a special chain cultivator devised for the purpose. 



The boll-worm (Fig. 656) does not confine its attention 

 to cotton, but prefers young corn and tomatoes (Fig. 66). 

 It is the same insect which we call the corn "ear- worm." 



