Full text of Agricultural News Letter : Vol. 6, No. 3

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NEWS LETTER
F E D E R A L
Vol 6, No. 3

R E S E R V E

B A N K

DALLAS, TEXAS

OF

D A L L A S
March 15, 1951

More Bolls Per Stalk
One of the easiest and most profitable ways
for southwestern farmers to meet the cotton
production goal of 1951 is to produce more
bolls per cotton plant. More bolls per stalk
mean more bales per acre and larger profits
per bale.
Essential steps in a program to produce
more boles per stalk include planting im­
proved cotton varieties on land adapted to
cotton production, proper use of legumes and
fertilizer, and— most important— carrying out
an effective early season cotton insect control
program. Early season control of thrips, leafhoppers, boll weevils, and other insects helps
to insure the development of healthy, vigor­
ous plants that fruit early and hold the first
crop of bolls.
The accompanying photograph illustrates
this point. The cotton plant on the right of

the man holding the stalks is from a field
that received early season applications of in­
secticides, while the one on his left is from a
field which received no treatment for insects.
The importance of holding this early crop
of bolls is emphasized by the fact that 90 per­
cent of all bolls set by the plant during the
entire season usually are set during the first
month of bloom. If insects destroy the early
bolls or stunt the growth of the plant during
the first few weeks of growth, no amount of
poisoning later in the season can make a full
crop. But when early season insect control
permits the first crop of bolls to mature, con­
tinued applications throughout the season can
be profitable. For example, the Texas Agri­
cultural Experiment Station found that in
1950, even though continued insect infesta­
tions caused by migrations from untreated
fields required as many as 12 applications of
insecticides, the net profit was $91 per acre
more than on untreated fields.
These facts present a strong case for fol­
lowing a rigid early season cotton insect con­
trol program in 1951. Many farmers proved
the value of such a program to their own
satisfaction during the very bad cotton insect

K. P. Ewing, entomologist, U. S. Bureau of
Entomology and Plant Quarantine, Waco,
Texas, compares a typical plant from an early
season treated plot ( on his right) with a
plant from an untreated plot. Early season
treatment resulted in the crop maturing 2 to 3
weeks earlier and with twice as many bolls
per plant. Increased profit per acre, $78.

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AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

year of 1950 by harvesting a bumper crop
while their neighbors harvested very little
cotton because of extensive insect damage.
The program was even more successful
when practiced on a community-wide basis.
Several entire communities in Texas which
carried out the recommended control pro­
gram in 1950 had average increases in yield
of lint over untreated fields of 213 pounds
per acre and an estimated average increase
in net profit per acre of $78.
The cotton insect control program can be
divided into three phases: ( 1 ) early season
control, (2) late-season control, and (3)
early stalk destruction and farm clean-up.
Early Season Control
Details of the early season insect control
program are given in publications by state
experiment stations and can be obtained from
county agricultural agents. In general, the
program calls for from two to four applica­
tions of insecticides at 7-day intervals, with
the first application usually made when the
cotton is in the 4-leaf stage. In some cases,
earlier applications may be needed to prevent
loss of stand by thrips, aphids, cutworms, or
army worms.
A second important point in the early sea­
son program is that the last application
should be made at least 30 days before the
bollworm usually appears. Discontinuing ap­
plications at that time permits beneficial in­
sects to build up in sufficient numbers to give
some protection against bollworms.
As mentioned earlier, individual farms re­
ceive considerable benefit from early season
control measures, but this program is most
effective when practiced on a community- or
county-wide basis. Such actio n is p a r tic u ­
larly beneficial, since it kills off larger num­
bers of the first generation of boll weevils and
prevents the migration of all insects from
untreated fields to treated areas; the larger
the area treated, the greater the benefits.
Late-Season Control
Late-season applications of insecticides
should be made according to the severity of

infestation. Any time that the number of in­
sects and amount of injury to plants become
dangerous, a p p lic a tio n sh ould be m ade
whether or not early season control measures
were followed. Specific information regard­
ing rates of application and insecticides for
la te -se a so n c o n tro l is given in Guides for
Controlling Cotton Insects in Texas, 1951,
Bulletin C-182; Cotton Insect Control, Ari­
zona, Bulletin C-179; and similar publica­
tions from other states. Copies of these bul­
letins are available from county agricultural
agents.
The Texas Extension Service emphasizes
the importance of making late-season appli­
cations at 5-day intervals. It is pointed out
that a cotton plant normally grows from 1 to
IV2 inches per day; thus, in 5 days from 5
to 7 inches of new growth have been pro­
duced which, of course, are not covered with
insecticide. This new growth is particularly
attractive to the cotton insects.
It is important to remember that if ade­
quate early season control measures have
been taken, the need for late-season control
is materially reduced. This is especially true
if the early season program has been con­
ducted on a community-wide basis. Killing
the first generations reduces subsequent num­
bers of insects, permits the development of
healthy, vigorous plants better able to with­
stand insect damage, and permits the de­
velopment of the crop from 2 to 3 weeks
earlier, which in many cases brings maturity
ahead of late-season damage. Moreover, the
amount of insecticide needed per acre in­
creases materially as the size of plant in­
creases and, thus, the cost of late-season con­
trol is much higher.
Early Stalk Destruction
It may seem early to talk about stalk de­
struction for the 1951 crop, but the effective­
ness of this control measure is, in part, de­
pendent upon action taken this spring. Plant­
ing the crop early and controlling insects
throughout the growing season permit earlier
maturity and h a rv e s t and, thus, enable

AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

growers to destroy and plow under stalks
earlier in the fall. The early plow-up of stalks
prevents the building up of cotton insects
late in the season and reduces the number
that will survive the following winter.
Sprays are becoming more popular with
farmers because they permit timely applica­
tion of insecticides— so essential for effective
insect control—while applications of dust are
frequently delayed for days or weeks by un­
favorable weather.
The importance of the insect control pro­
gram in meeting the cotton production goal
for 1951 cannot be overemphasized. It is
estimated that in 1950 cotton insects caused
a reduction in yield of 11 percent in Texas,
18.5 percent in Louisiana, and 17 percent in
Oklahoma. In Arizona and New Mexico the
losses were very small, but total value of the
loss for the five states is estimated at nearly
$160,000,000.
Some growers may feel that insects will not
be as much of a threat in 1951 because of
the severe weather during the past winter.
However, examination of su rfa c e ground
trash at Tallulah, Louisiana, at mid-February
showed 91 percent of all boll weevils found
to be alive; and according to Rudolph G.
Strong, assistant entomologist of Louisiana
State University, there are indications that as
many boll weevils may be present this year
as in 1950, and perhaps more.

Long-Staple Cottonseed to be
Purchased
Plans for purchasing up to 5,000 tons of
registered and certified cottonseed from the
1951-crop of Amsak and Pima 32 varieties
of American-Egyptian cotton are being de­
veloped by the Commodity Credit Corpora­
tion, according to a recent announcement by
Secretary of Agriculture Brannan. This pro­
gram is being undertaken in accordance with
a request by the Munitions Board to assure
production of sufficient extra-long-staple cot­
ton to fill military and essential civilian re­
quirements in an emergency.

3

Test Irish Seed Potatoes for
Freeze Damage
Irish potatoes should be tested for freeze
damage before planting, according to Louisi­
ana State University specialists. Potatoes that
were not properly protected during the recent
cold weather may not be suitable for planting.
The test recommended consists of warming
the potatoes to room temperature (about
70° F.) and then cutting them in half. If the
cut surface turns pink in color within 15 to
30 minutes, the tubers have been seriously
injured and are not suitable for planting.
The specialists point out that some of the
seed potatoes may be found to have a pink­
ish-purple coloring when they are cut open.
This is not the result of freeze damage and
is not believed to be a sign of damage to the
potato. The freeze damage will show up only
after the cut surface of the seed has been
exposed to the air at least 15 minutes.
Unless they have been severely damaged,
Irish potatoes affected by the cold may be
quite suitable for eating, even though they
will not sprout and, thus, are not suitable
for planting.
Approximately 90 percent of all the farms
and ranches in Texas now have central station
electric service. Experts say that there are
250 profitable ways for using electricity on
the farm.

Anhydrous Ammonia Fertilizer
Tests
A series of anhydrous ammonia fertilizer
tests were made at the Texas Agricultural
Experiment Station’s Bluebonnet Farm in
central Texas in 1950. The tests covered most
of the important money crops grown on the
Grand Prairie soils of central Texas and
were designed to test the value of anhydrous
ammonia, a relatively new and comparatively
cheap form of nitrogen fertilizer.
In all of the tests, fertilizer was applied as
a sidedressing and at rates varying from 20 to

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AGRICULTURAL NEWS LETTER

80 pounds of nitrogen per acre; in the case of
corn, an application rate of 100 pounds per
acre also was tested.
The following results were obtained during
this first year of experiments:
Cotton— Increases in yield were sufficient
to more than pay the cost of the fertilizer at
all rates of application tested. The increase
from 60 to 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre
gave the most significant increase in yield,
amounting to 99 pounds of seed cotton per
acre. Increases in yield between no fertilizer
and 20, 40, and 60 pounds of nitrogen per
acre were relatively small. Fertilizer was ap­
plied to cotton in early June as a sidedressing,
and moisture conditions during the season
were favorable for maximum utilization of
fertilizer.
Corn— Increases in corn yields were not
sufflicient to pay for the cost of the fertilizer
at any of the rates used in the tests.
Sorghum fo r grain— Application at the
rate of 20 pounds of nitrogen per acre gave
a very profitable gain in yield— 532 pounds
of grain— but heavier applications of nitro­
gen were not profitable.
Broadcast sorghum fo r hay— This test
was made on broadcast Hegari planted for
hay. Application of the anhydrous ammonia
was made in early June, when the plants were
approximately 6 inches high. Applications of
20, 40, and 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre
increased the tonnage of hay sufficiently to
offset the cost of fertilizer. The most signifi­
cant increase in returns above the cost of fer­
tilizer, $18.60 per acre, was on the plot re­
ceiving 20 pounds of nitrogen per acre.

More Good Roughage for
Dairy Cows
Dairy farmers th ro u g h o u t the United
States could maintain the present level of
milk production and also produce the milk
at lower cost by feeding their cows more
high-quality roughage and less grain, accord­
ing to Dr. Ralph E. Hodgson of the United
States Department of Agriculture.

Throughout the Nation the average dairy
cow gets enough nutrients from roughage for
body maintenance and for about 33 percent
of her milk production, according to Dr.
Hodgson’s calculations. In the 14 southern
states, however, the average cow gets only
enough forage nutrients for 10 percent of her
milk production in addition to her mainten­
ance. Dr. Hodgson called attention to the fact
that roughages can be produced cheaper than
grains and, also, that more total digestible nu­
trients would be available for winter feeding
on southern dairy farms if better methods
were used in preserving forage crops.
Cotton farmers are reminded that treat­
ing planting seed will aid in securing a better
stand and will also help control angular leafspot and soreshin.

Treal Early for Hornflies
Tests have shown that control of hornflies
on cattle increases gains from 10 to 20
pounds per month, according to James A.
Deer, assistant extension entomologist of
Texas A. 8s M. College.
These tiny, grayish-black flies will begin
to bother cattle in the next few weeks, and
since they multiply very rapidly, early appli­
cation of control measures is essential. Spray­
ing or dipping with an 0.5-percent DDT solu­
tion made by adding 8 pounds of 50-percent
wettable DDT to 100 gallons of water or
spraying with an 0.5-percent toxaphene solu­
tion made by adding 10 pounds of wettable
toxaphene to 100 gallons of water will pro­
tect cattle for a period of 20 to 45 days. The
first application should be made when the
homfly population reaches about 25 flies per
animal. If the first spraying or dipping is done
early and thoroughly, the number needed
during the summer may be reduced greatly.

The Agricultural News Letter is prepared in
the Research Department under the direction
of C a r l H. M oore, Agricultural Economist.