COTTON" BOLL- WEEVIL CONTKOL IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. 9 



with, proper protection from the weevils would make far better cot- 

 ton crops than the land which has been in cultivation for a longer 

 period. Considering these obstacles to be overcome and the degree 

 of efficiency in weevil collection which must be developed by a me- 

 chanical picker, it is easy to see that there will be great difficulty in 

 developing a satisfactory one. 



One factor in the relation of these weevil-picking measures to the 

 plantation complex is the effect upon the labor itself. On many 

 plantations it is desirable to have the laborers conduct some direct 

 control measures in order to encourage them to work the crop thor- 

 oughly. In such cases the bag-and-hoop method seems to satisfy the 

 needs very well. The laborers can capture a considerable number 

 of weevils and the fact that they are actually destro} T ing these weevils 

 often seems to encourage them greatly. In fact, a number of planters 

 who practice this control measure state that they do not consider 

 that they are deriving any direct benefit from the reduction in weevil 

 infestation, but that the operation is worth while because of its bene- 

 ficial effect upon the morale of their labor. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. 



Plat tests of five square pickings at seven-day time intervals gave 

 an increased yield of 23 per cent over the check. 



Tests of seven weevil pickings with the bag-and-hoop indicated 

 similar results. 



The seasonal conditions obtaining during the course of the experi- 

 ments described in this bulletin have been referred to; it is possible 

 that different seasonal conditions might yield different results. 



Comparative observations on different methods of collecting 

 weevils demonstrated the great superiority of the bag-and-hoop over 

 hand picking so definitely that there should be no question as to 

 which method to follow. 



The margin of profit to be derived from these two control measures 

 seems to be too slight to allow their operation on a wage basis. For 

 this reason the only condition under which they should be attempted 

 is on tenant cotton where the work can be performed without any 

 direct outlay for labor. 



Owing to the shortage of labor in the Delta these operations are 

 very likely to interfere seriously with the regular plantation work 

 and thus cause a loss more than sufficient to offset any benefit derived 

 from them. In such cases it is not advisable to attempt to pick 

 either squares or weevils. 



In case it is necessary to choose between a cultivation and a wee- 

 vil or square picking, cultivate. 



