"5. The life of the adult weevil when supplied with food is about 

 70 days. If deprived of food it lives only 6 or 7 days, except in hiber- 

 nation. 



"6. For a period after emergence from winter quarters the weevil 

 is comparatively sluggish and while feeding upon the cotton plants 

 it may be picked or poisoned. 



"7. The weevils remain mainly in the field where they locate in 

 the early spring until they become very numerous. Their principal 

 period of migration is in the fall. 



Based upon these life habits of the weevil, the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry has planned its fight for the production of cotton, which may 

 be summarized as follows: 



(1) Under boll-weevil infestation the fields selected for cultivation 

 should be well drained, because a successful crop will then depend upon 

 the possibility of cultivating them at the proper time. The low, 

 poorly drained lands should be devoted to other crops. They have 

 always been an uncertain factor in cotton production. It is not the 

 intention to state that well drained alluvial land should not be 

 planted to cotton. 



(2) The early destruction of the cotton stalks before frost and the 

 burning of all rubbish in and about the infested fields are imperative. 



(3) Break the field deep as early in the fall as possible with an im- 

 plement that does not bring too much of the subsoil to the surface. 

 Some winter cover crop should be grown if practicable; if not, harrow 

 occasionally during the winter. Before planting, thoroughly pulver- 

 ize the soil and make the best seed-bed possible. 



(4) Care must be taken to secure seed of an early-maturing variety 

 and of the highest vitality, not necessarily a small-boll variety, for on 

 uplands we have been more successful with some large-boll varieties. 



(5) Plant reasonably early in rows somewhat wider apart than 

 under non-boll-weevil conditions. Planting should be delayed until 



■ all danger from frost is past and the soil is warm enough to produce 

 rapid germination and growth. 



(6) The use of the section harrow before planting and after plant- 

 ing, and again just as soon as the plants are well up, is advised. 



(7) Use intensive, shallow cultivation of the crop and never lay by 

 the cotton till picking commences. Late cultivation is very important. 



(8) In case it is evident that a large number of weevils have been 

 overwintered, it is advisable to hand-pick or poison the early appear- 

 ing weevils. 



(9) As soon as the weevil commences to work, as evidenced by 

 the punctured squares, attach a pole or brush to the handles of the 

 cultivator so as to knock the squares off. Most of them will fall of 

 their own accord in a few days after they are punctured. 



168 



