2 BULLETIN 382, U. S. D]^PARIi;^IENT, 0]^ , AGEICULTUKE. 



natural control of the weevil, namely, the mortality produced by 

 heat in these fallen forms. The ground remained so moist between 

 the rows in many fields for considerable periods that the weevils were 

 able to mature under the most favorable conditions and consequently 

 to multiply prolificall}^ 



To meet these new conditions various direct control measures have 

 been devised and practiced. The most popular of these consisted 

 of the collection of the overwintered weevils from the plants in the 

 spring and the gathering and destruction of the fallen infested forms 

 from the ground. These operations are commonly termed " weevil 

 picking " and " square picking," respectively^ They are based on 

 the fact that the most critical period in the yearly cycle of the weevil 

 and the time at which its numbers reach the lowest ebb is in the 

 spring when the comparatively few survivors of the winter are 

 emerging. In an average season these overwintered weevils are 

 relatively scarce, and it is not until their progeny begin to mature 

 and multiply that the actual severe damage to the cotton is produced. 

 Owing to the very high fecundity of the individual females, each 

 overwintered weevil destroyed early in the spring means the elimi-' 

 nation of an enormous number of potential progeny in the later 

 generations, and, in the same way, the collection of the immature 

 stages of the weevils of the first-bred generation in the fallen forms 

 not only reduces the weevil abundance by the actual number col- 

 lected but also retards further multiplication. Because of these 

 facts a number of cotton planters have considered it a paying proposi- 

 tion to incur a considerable expense per acre to destroy these early 

 weevils. It was found, however, that the results secured by the 

 different planters practicing these control measures varied widely 

 and their conclusions as to the actual benefit derived were equally 

 diverse. Many claimed very positive gains while many of their 

 neighbors operating under much the same conditions could see no 

 benefit from the measures and considered the expense thus incurred 

 an absolute loss. 



Another factor enters into the problem and further complicates 

 matters. This is the question of labor supply. Under the conditions 

 at present prevailing in the Delta the available labor, during the 

 months of May and June, is always more or less short of the labor 

 needed. In addition to this, one very important effect of the weevil 

 on the economic system of this region has been the forcing of diversi- 

 fied farming instead of the old one-crop system. The new crops most 

 generally adopted were corn and oats. As a result the labor crisis 

 during the spring period has become even more acute. Not only does 

 the cotton require cultivating and hoeing, but it is also necessary to 

 cultivate and hoe the corn and cut, shock, haul, and thrash the oats 



