reached the adult stage prior to the time of this destruction 

 to remain without food until time for them to enter hibernation. 

 In the average season, only a small per cent could possibly 

 survive as long as five weeks without food. On October 16th, 

 1905, a supply of adult weevils was collected in a cotton field 

 in DeSoto Parish, all of them being taken from squares upon 

 which they were feeding. These weevils were furnished with 

 water daily, but were not given any squares or bolls 

 upon which to feed. By October 28th, 50 per cent of them were 

 dead, and by November 6th, 84 per cent were dead. It is very 

 doubtful if any of them will survive until December 1st, and, 

 judging from the actions of the weevils in the fields at present, 

 it does not seem likely that any considerable number will seek 

 hibernating quarters before the latter date. 



The early fall destruction of the cotton plants accomplishes 

 a double purpose: the prevention of the development of the 

 usual late autumn brood of weevils, and the death by starvation 

 of at least 75 per cent of the weevils that are present in the 

 fields at the time the plants are destroyed by the planter. 



Practically the only objection to this fall destruction of the 

 cotton pi ants which has been advanced, is that the stalks can- 

 not be destroyed early in autumn without sacrificing a consid- 

 erable part of the crop not yet gathered. Under the present 

 system : :i vogue on most of the Louisiana farms, the objection 

 is a valid one, BUT THE SYSTEM MUST BE CHANGED to 

 that of planting an early variety of cotton, planting it early 

 and giving it proper care and cultivation. If this is done, the 

 bulk of the crop will be open and ready for picking before the 

 time arrives for the destruction of the cotton plants. The 

 mere fact that some farmers do not have the labor at hand to 

 pick out the cotton within a reasonable time after it opens, is 

 by no means the fault of the remedy. The early fall destruc- 

 tion of the cotton plants is an absolute requisite to successful 

 and profitable cotton production with the weevil present, and 

 the farmer in the weevil-infested section who cannot adapt hie 

 labor conditions. and farming methods to meet this requirement 

 will save money by not attempting to grow cotton. 



In most of. the Red River Valley, and in the eastern portion 

 of the territory which has not been entered by the boll weevil 

 until the present season, the weevil damage is not likely to be 

 excessive in 1906, regardless of what farming methods may be 



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