42 BULLETIN 564, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



From Table 37 it is seen that at the first test the mechanical picker 

 averaged 2.6 weevils per row while the bag-and-hoop averaged 9.9. 

 At the second test the averages were 48.4 and 77.5, respectively. 

 This shows definitely that the mechanical picker does not even 

 approach the bag-and-hoop in the number of weevils collected from 

 any given area and, since the bag-and-hoop certainly does not collect 

 all present, the mechanical picker must leave a very high percentage. 

 The observations on the infested forms collected likewise show the 

 bag-and-hoop to be very much superior to the mechanical picker. 

 It is only in the time required that the mechanical picker shows an 

 advantage over the bag-and-hoop. These figures show the bag-and- 

 hoop to require about 20 minutes per row, while the mechanical 

 picker required only from two to three minutes per row. 



One interesting observation was made on the comparative efficiency 

 of different individuals when using the bag-and-hoop. While con- 

 ducting the test on July 13, it was noted that one of the negroes 

 operating the bag-and-hoop was very fast, while the other one was 

 very slow. Consequently, separate records were kept for these two 

 women. It was found that the faster woman took just one-half the 

 time to the row that the slower one did, and the faster woman averaged 

 14 weevils per row while the slower one averaged 4. This is an excel- 

 lent example of the variation in the efficiency of the individual 

 pickers. 



GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND SUMMARY. 



The studies described in the preceding pages, together with those 

 of the season of 1915, 1 seem to warrant some conclusions on the 

 subjects dealt with and a general consideration of their relation 

 to the planter. 



Two points stand out preeminently in the results of the studies of 

 1916. These are (1) the complete failure of the picking operations to 

 exert any appreciable beneficial effect on the weevil infestation, and (2) 

 the injurious effect of the use of the bag-and-hoop upon the plants 

 themselves. All points considered in connection with these studies, 

 such as the degree of weevil infestation, plant fruitage, and actual 

 yield, have shown consistently that the bag-and-hoop treatments 

 were not reducing the weevil infestation within the treated plats to 

 any extent. The control exerted by the collections of the weevils 

 seems to have been completely overcome by the number of weevils 

 escaping capture. In this connection it is interesting to compare 

 the results of 1915 with those of 1916. It will be recalled that studies 

 on the collection of fallen forms conducted in the face of the fight 

 weevil infestation prevailing during 1915 resulted in a definite 



i U. S. Dcpt. Agr. Bull. 3s2. 



