82 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
Let me describe the whole process. We take northern seed, the 
plant of which matures much more rapidly than the Texas seed. We 
plant it as early as possible. We plant the rows wide apart, because 
the weevil prefers shade. 
The Cuarrman. How far apart? 
Mr. Howarp. Three or four feet, because the weevil prefers shade 
and breeds most abundantly in shaded conditions. Then we cultivate 
it if we can. If we can not we let it alone, and thus get an early 
maturing crop from which we can pick a fair remunerative crop by 
the middle of October. Then we cut down every stalk of cotton in 
the field, let it dry and burn it up, thus destroying all weevils that 
remain in that particular patch of cotton. The following year the 
number of hibernating weevils is very greatly lessened. 
This year we have conducted demonstration farms at seven localities 
in Texas. Those farms have from 50 to 250 acres of land under our 
supervision. By following out this particular cultural method, which 
depends, as I say, only upon an intimate knowledge of the fact that 
the insect breeds in a certain way, and develops with a certain degree 
of rapidity, we have upon one of those demonstration farms of 100 
acres raised 103 bales of cotton, an average of a little over a bale to 
an acre; whereas in surrounding territory the crop was from one- 
eighth to one-fifth of a bale per acre, which showed that it can be 
cultivated in spite of the weevil. But we want to do something 
further. We want to be able to call upon a certain sum of money for 
the checking of sporadic outbreaks, by which I mean outbreaks far 
away from the immediate danger of natural spread. 
The Cuarrman. Have those occurred ? 
Mr. Howarp. The one at New Orleans is the only one. 
The Cuarrman. At the experimental station? 
Mr. Howarp. At the experimental station. We have heard of one 
in north Louisiana in the last few days, and one of our men is now 
investigating it. 
Those things are liable to occur. The weevil is already within 25 
miles of the Louisiana boundary, at several points. It may be carried 
across in ginned cotton, or it may be carried in cotton seed. It may 
be carried in baled cotton which has not gone through the compress. 
It may be carried in hay for bedding for cattle in cattle cars. It may 
be carried in a freight car, as I have said. The Department ought to 
be in a position to stamp that out. That is what I mean by checking 
sporadic outbreaks. We want money enough todo that in case it 
becomes necessary. We wish to continue our demonstration of the 
cultural methods because they have been of great value to the citizens 
of Texas. Many of the most intelligent planters have gone and done 
likewise this past year, and the result is that some men have raised 
good crops in spite of the weevil. 
Mr. Haveren. How much money will you need for that? 
Mr. Howarp. For that particular item I have estimated it would 
be well to have in reserve for this question of checking sporadic out- 
breaks $25,000. I have not estimated for the demonstration experi- 
ments any amount. It depends on how many it is thought desirable 
to have, not only in Louisiana, but in Texas. "We have had seven this 
year. 
The Cuatrman. That is, under your $30,000 appropriation ? 
Mr. Howarp. Under our $30,000 appmemtinlinn. Eonar 
