are formed by the cotton plants. As only a small per cent of 

 the weevils entering hibernation in autumn, survive until the 

 following spring, there are not sufficient weevils in the fields 

 in early spring to cause any perceptible damage. Their rate 

 of increase is, however, so great being in excess of fifty-fold 

 for each successive generation* that by the middle or latter 

 part of August the weevils have usually become abundant 

 enough to puncture (and hence prevent the development of) 

 every square. The advisability of early planting must there- 

 fore be self-evident. 



The cotton should be planted just as early as possible, even 

 if some slight risk is taken of a late frost necessitating a sec- 

 ond planting. The advantage to be gained from an extra early 

 planting is sufficient to far more than compensate for the work 

 and cost of an occasional second planting as the result of an 

 unexpected late frost. 



Lands which are not subject to severe washing should, 

 whenever possible, be plowed with the turning plow in the fall 

 so they will be in the best possible condition for early spring 

 planting and for rapid germination of the seed. Aside from the 

 advantage of this fall plowing with relation to the boll weevil, 

 it also serves to destroy large numbers of the boll worm (an 

 insect entirely separate and distinct from the boll weevil), 

 which in most years is responsible for a large amount of dam^ 

 age to the Louisiana cotton crop. 



II Early Varieties of Cotton. 



For early planting in boll weevil sections, "King" cotton 

 has been found most satisfactory. "Rowden" is preferred by 

 many farmers on account of the staple being more in demand 

 than that of "King" and Rowden, during the present sea- 

 son has been reported as giving very satisfactory results. 

 "Shine's" is also a good variety for use where an early crop is 

 desired. 



Prof. W. D. Hunter, of the Bureau of Entomology, reports 

 that the "Triumph" variety, originated by Mr. A. D. Mebane, 

 of Lockhart, Texas, has yielded on the black lands of Texas, 

 with boll weevils present, to exceed 1100 pounds of seed cotton 

 per acre. It is not unlikely that this variety will be found well- 

 adapted to some of the similar Louisiana soils. "Parker" cot 

 ton, in the experiments conducted by the Bureau of Entomo- 

 Hunter & Hinds, Bulletin No. 51, Bureau of Entomology, p. 97. 



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