258 [September, 1908. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



DEMONSTRATION WORK IN CO. 

 OPERATION WITH SOUTHERN 

 FARMERS. 

 By S. A. Knapp. 



(Concluded from page 169,— Read cash 

 for catch on page 169.) 



The Cultural System for Producing 

 Cotton under Boll-Weevil 

 Conditions. 



As it is evident that the cotton boll 

 weevil will soon spread over the entire 

 cotton-producing territory of the United 

 States, it is a matter of general interest 

 to know how cotton is at present produc- 

 ed with the weevil present. 



Success in making a cotton crop under 

 boll-weevil condition is based upon there 

 principles. It was found (1) that the 

 numbers of the weevils could be limited 

 so that they would not become totally 

 destructive to the crop until the first 

 and middle crops are out of danger ; (2) 

 that the cotton plant can be so bred 

 and selected as to throw nearly its whole 

 life forces into the lower and middle 

 crops ; and (3) that the plant can be 

 so hastened to maturity by the applica- 

 tion of cultural methods tliatmost of the 

 boll will be developed— to the safety 

 point before the weevils are too 

 numerous. 



Guided by the principles just men- 

 tioned, the Bureau of Plant Industry 

 has worked out a co-operative plan of 

 producing cotton under boll-weevil con- 

 ditions, which is known through the 

 South as the "cotton cultural system." 

 This plan is based upon our knowledge 

 of the cotton plant upon the life habits 

 of the boll weevil as ascertained by the 

 Bureau of Entomology.* Its chief 

 features may be briefly mentioned as 

 follows :— 



(1) The destruction of the weevils in 

 the fall (a) by burning the cotton stalks 

 early in the fall while the weevils are 

 still upon them, and (b) by burning all 

 rubbish in and about the field which 

 might serve for hibernating quarters. 



It is so difficult to secure a general 

 adoption by the farmers of the plan of 

 early burning of the cotton stalks that 



* See Bulletin No. 51 of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology. 



we have allowed the stalks to be turned 

 under provided the immature bolls are 

 destroyed. 



(2) Immediately after destroying the 

 bolls breaking (ploughing) the field as 

 deep as conditions will allow. 



(3) The shallow winter cultivation of 

 the soil. 



(4) As early planting as the season 

 will allow with safety to the crop. 



(5) The planting of early-maturing 

 varieties of cotton, 



(6) The use of fertilizers. 



(7) Leaving more space between the 

 rows, and on ordinary uplands having a 

 greater distance between plants in the 

 row than is usually allowed. On rich or 

 highly fertilized lands it is better to 

 crowd the plants slightly in the rows to 

 avoid the excessive growth of the stalks. 



(8) The use of the toothed-harrow 

 before and after planting and on the 

 young cotton. 



(9) Intensive shallow cultivation. 



(10) Agitation of the stalks by means 

 of brush attached to the cultivator. 



(11) Picking up and burning the 

 squares that fall, where practicable. 



(12) Controlling the growth of the 

 plant if excessive by barring off or top- 

 ping. 



(13) Selecting the seed. 



(L4) The rotation of crops and the 

 use of legumes. 



It will be noted that the system as 

 outlined has a two-fold object: (1) To 

 reduce the number of weevils, and (2) to 

 aid early maturity in order to obtain a 

 crop in advance of the weevil. 



A few remarks concerning the main 

 features of this plan may prove of value. 



Destruction op the Weevils. 

 One of the greatest dangers to the 

 cotton crop is the wintering of large 

 numbers of weevils. By a failure to 

 destroy early in the fall the immature 

 cotton bolls and the rubbish in the fields, 

 enough weevils may be wintered over to 

 jeopardize the crops the ensuing year. 

 If the immature bolls and the field rub- 

 bish are destroyed, the stalks may be 

 safely ploughed under. The rubbish in 

 the field which may serve for hibernating 

 quaters includes the borders and fence 

 corners. 



