125 



numerous rather isolated infestations which were discovered early in 

 1904. The area thus scatteringly infested formed a narrow strip 

 extending eastward from the area of general infestation varying in 

 width from 5 to 50 miles, and comprising altogether an area of about 

 2,500 square miles. The widest portion of this area coincided with 

 the region of greatest commercial activity. 



DISSEMINATION THROUGH SHIPMENTS OF SEED COTTON AND COTTON 



SEED. 



No more striking instance of the carriage of weevils in the seed 

 cotton could be given than that by which the weevil was originally 

 carried from the Brownsville region across a stretch of non-cotton- 

 producing country nearly 100 miles in breadth to Alice, where the 

 cotton was taken for ginning in 1893 and 1894. But for this assist- 

 ance the invasion of the principal cotton-growing area of Texas might 

 have been many years delayed. 



Aside from circumstantial evidence, numerous observations have 

 proven that weevils may, and often are, contained in shipments of 

 seed from infested localities. Plate XIX, figs. 79 and 80, show two 

 small bolls taken from seed thus shipped from infested to non-infested 

 territory. When found, these bolls contained live weevils. This 

 instance is only one of many that might be given. 



On January 5, 1903, it was discovered that Texas-grown cotton seed 

 was being imported into the southeastern part of the Laguna district 

 in Mexico. a Examination of this seed, made by Prof. L. de la 

 Barreda, revealed the fact that six lots had been received from infested 

 points in Texas and that each of these lots was at that time infested 

 with live boll weevils. The results of an examination of samples from 

 three consignments is given below: 



Table XXXV. — Results of examination of infested cotton seed shipped to Mexico. 



Number 

 of sacks 

 of seed 

 exam- 

 ined. 



Boll 



weevils 

 found. 



Alive. 



Dead. 



8. 

 4 



2 



27 

 11 



57 



2 

 2 

 10 



25 

 9 



47 



14 



95 



14 



81 



The results of these careful examinations show only too clearly the 

 possibility of transporting live weevils in shipments of cotton seed. 



a Boletin de la Coruisioii de la Parasitologia Agricola, II, 2, pp. 45-58. 



