14 



this season cooperation was carried on with the Mexican commission 

 charged with the investigation of the boll weevil in that country, which 

 was arranged on the occasion of a personal visit of Dr. L. O. Howard 

 to the City of Mexico in the fall of 1901. Specimens of parasites were 

 frequently exchanged, and through the courtesy of Prof. A. L. 

 Herrera, chief of the Mexican commission, an agent in charge of the 

 investigation in Texas visited the laboratories at the City of Mexico 

 and Cuernevaca, where a study was made of the methods of propa- 

 gating parasites, especially Pediculoides ventricosus Newp. A large 

 number of specimens of this mite was brought back to Texas, where 

 they were carried through the winter successfully and used in field 

 experiments the following season. 



The favorable reception by the planters of Texas of the experi- 

 mental field work conducted during this season, with the increased 

 territory invaded by the pest, brought about an enlarged appropria- 

 tion for the work of 1903. By enactment which became effective on 

 the 4th of March $30,000 was placed at the disposal of the Division of 

 Entomology. It thus became possible to increase the number and size 

 of our experimental fields as well as to devote more attention to the 

 investigation of matters suggested by previous work in the laboratory. 

 Seven experimental farms, aggregating 558 acres, were accordingly 

 established in as many distinct cotton districts in Texas. Despite 

 generally very unfavorable conditions the results of this experi- 

 mental work demonstrated many important points. The principal 

 ones are detailed in Farmers' Bulletin No. 189 of this Department. 



DESTRUCTIVENESS. 



Various estimates of the loss occasioned to cotton planters by the 

 boll weevil have been made. In the nature of the case such estimates 

 must be made upon data that is difficult to obtain and in the collec- 

 tion of which errors must inevitably occur. There is, of course, a 

 general tendency to exaggerate agricultural losses, as well as to attrib- 

 ute to a single factor damage that is the result of a combination of 

 many influences. Before the advent of the boll weevil into Texas 

 unfavorable weather at planting time, summer droughts, and heavy 

 fall rains caused very light crops to be produced. Now, however, the 

 tendency is everywhere to attribute all of the shortage to the weevil. 

 Nevertheless, the pest is undoubtedly the most serious menace that 

 the cotton planters of the South have ever been compelled to face, if 

 not, indeed, the most serious danger that ever threatened any agri- 

 cultural industry. It was generally considered, until the appearance 

 of the pest in Texas, that there were no apparent difficulties to prevent 

 an increase in cotton production that would keep up to the enlarging 

 demand of the world until at least twice the present normal crop of 

 about 10,500,000 bales should be produced. Now, however, in the 

 opinion of most authorities, the weevil has made this possibility very 



