HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRIOULTURE. 7 
concise business discussion of the whole proposition involved, and I 
wish to call brief attention to some portions of that report: 
Crisis In Corron Propucrion. : 
The invasion of the cotton-boll weevil has been a special menace to our cotton 
crop, and has done more than anything else to awaken widespread apprehension as 
to the future of this most important crop. The boll weevil first appeared in the State 
of Texas in 1894, and from that time on has been under observation and investigation 
by the Department through its Division of Entomology. It was not until 1902, how- 
ever, that this branch of the Department was able to undertake anything like thor- 
ough and systematic work in the matter of studying this very destructive enemy of 
cotton. In 1903 the cig le of the work was further enlarged, an appropriation of 
$20,000 being made in the Division of Entomology for the investigations. Aside 
from this work the Bureau of Plant Industry has, during the past year, been carry- 
ing on considerable work with a view to securing, if possible, early and resistant varie- 
ties by breeding and selection; and has been conducting some more or less general 
experiments in the matter of crop diversification at special points in Texas. It has 
also been engaged in distributing a considerable quantity of cotton seed of early 
maturing and promising sorts. 
The work of the Division of Entomology has shown conclusively the value of good 
cultural methods, the planting of early maturing varieties, and the destruction of 
weevil-infested material, this conclusion having been reached only through the care- 
ful and detailed studies of the life history and habits of the insect. The demonstra- 
tion work along these lines, which the Division carried on the past year, has been 
exceedingly promising, as it has been shown that cotton can be grown in remunera- 
tive quantity, despite the presence of the weevil. Notwithstanding what has been 
accomplished by the Department, however, the fact remains that the boll weevil is 
constantly spreading north and east, and it is probably only a question of time when 
it will reach all of the cotton-growing States. Thus the country is confronted with 
a very grave problem, as the invasion of this insect must necessarily mean a com- 
plete revolution in present agricultural methods. During a recent visit to some of 
the Southern States considerable time was spent in the weevil-infested district, and 
from the facts gathered in this way I am convinced that energetic measures must be 
adopted to meet the present emergency. After thoroughly canvassing the situa- 
tion with representative men in Congress and with others, I am of the opinion that 
a cotton investigation fund should be appropriated and set aside for immediate use in 
connection with this most serious problem. .In order to make the work compre- 
hensive and thoroughly effective, I am of the opinion that a sum not less than 
$500,000 should be made immediately available for this purpose, the same to be 
expended under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, in such manner as 
will give the most immediate practical results. As to the problems which might be 
handled by the Department with such a sum available, I would respecttully call 
attention to the following: 
RECOMMENDATIONS, 
1. Checking sporadic outbreaks of the weevil.—It would seem highly important that 
some action be taken looking to the checking, if practicable, of sporadic outbreaks of 
the weevil in the territory immediately adjacent to that now infested. This could 
best be accomplished by the organization of a corps of competent entomologists and 
could be carried on in cooperation with the State authorities. In orderto make this 
work thoroughly effective it will be necessary for the States interested to enact proper 
legislation. This is amatter that could be handled and guided by those in authority, 
working under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture. 
2. Demonstration work to show the value of improved cultural methods by which farm- 
ers can produce fair crops in spite of the weevil.—This is the most promising field for im- 
mediate relief, and owing to the fact tlfat the weevil is so far confined to Texas, the 
work here outlined would necessarily be limited more or less to this State, although 
regions in adjacent territory should also have such investigations carried on in them 
in order that the people may become enlightened in advance of the insect’s ravages. 
The object and scope of the work would be to show by actual demonstration exper- 
iments the value of better cultural methods, the value of early maturing varieties, and 
the value of and necessity for complete and thorough destruction of all infested mate- 
rial. To carry out this work thoroughly and effectively would require a corps of 
men familar with cultural conditions, and who have the knowledge and ability to 
direct the necessary specific work that might be ordered by the Secretary of Agricul- 
ture. Legislation would be required in this case, also, to enforce the destruction of 
infested material; but, under proper organization, this could be brought about. 
