40 
ber of weevils survive the winter, unless the stalks have been destroyed 
the previous fall and the number going into hibernation has thus been 
reduced, I doubt if the best cultural methods will avail to make an 
average crop. On the other hand, if midsummer be wet and the 
fruit formed drops, the best of methods can not make a crop. With 
normal weather conditions—if there be such in Texas—a crop can be 
made simply by the best so-called cultural methods, but it is abso- 
Inte folly to rely on them alone. The only real means of checking 
the weevil economically is by the destruction of the stalks in the fall. 
When this is generally done the weevil will cease to be feared in 
Texas. That it has not been done before is because it has never been 
demonstrated to the planters on a scale large enough so that they could 
clearly see the resulting benefit. We entomologists may be satisfied 
from our field studies and small experiments that it is of value, but 
we have not as yet convinced the average planter sufficiently to secure 
his adoption of our recommendations. It will take a demonstration 
on a scale so large as to secure the cooperation and subsequent 
indorsement of a whole community before it can be entirely demon- 
strated to the unbelieving that the destruction of stalks in the fall is 
a necessity for the entire State. I am persuaded that the only real 
method for controlling the spread of the boll weevil is by this fall 
destruction of the stalks. Were it generally practiced in Texas and 
in the infested spots in Louisiana, I can see no reason why any large 
number of weevils should spread to uninfested territory, and the few 
spreading could be prevented from becoming numerous by adopting 
the same method. But all the laws of the Medes and Persians wili 
not stop the spread of the boll weevil or any other similar insect by 
any method of quarantine yet devised, much as I sympathize with 
the adoption of these measures in the Southern States. If the natural 
conditions are such as to permit and encourage its gradual spread 
along the Gulf coast, it will spread in spite of all that man can do. 
All he can do is to deter its spread and control its injury. But if 
unchecked at its source and throughout the infested region, it will 
spread at a maximum speed, and it will be much more difficult to bring 
it under control. It seems, therefore, that the greatest benefit to the 
uninfested States would come from the passage in Texas and Louis- 
iana of laws compelling the destruction of the stalks in the fall, and 
any influence that other States can bring to bear toward this end will 
do more than anything else to prevent the weevil’s entry and subse- 
quent depredations in their States. 
And, in closing, permit a brief digression to consider a more gen- 
eral aspect of the case. The boll weevil in Texas and the gypsy and 
brown-tail moths in New England are raising some points in the 
relations between States which before long will need careful discus- 
