The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-10
SHARPSHOOTERS IN COTTON.
(Harvie Jordan in A tIanta Journal.)

have recently examined cotton bolls
in this (Jasper) county, and find that a
small insect known as the "sharpshoot-
err is singing bolls badly. When the
boil is first stung small black spot APP
pears which soon increases in size and
in a few days the boil rots. The insect
| is in appearance much like the small
sand doodle" and can generally be
found during the day hid within the
scallop surrounding the square in in
| tested fields.
Complaint from the destructive work
OF this insect is being reported from
several counties. l have heard from
them in Putnam, Twiggs, Spalding and
others. Col. Dudly Hughes sent some
infested bolls recently to the depart
ment of entomology and / trust Mr..
Scott will be able to devise a remedy to
get rid of the insect. One gentleman
reports that out of nine bolls on one
stalk of cotton eight bolls had been
ruined by this insect. / may be mis-
taken as to the insect or cause for this
boil rot but believe it to be the work
Of the sharpshooters.
THE COTTON SITUATION.
The time is now at hand when the
producers need all the information pos
sible bearing upon every phase Of the
cotton situation. Such information,e TO
be reliable, or to carry weight to the
mind of the reader, must of necessity
be based upon facts, or as nearly upon
actual conditions as they exist. No mar
can have any correct idea as 20 the
value Of his staple, nor can he place
himself in a position to demand any
fixed price for his cotton, unless he is
made acquainted with all. the conditions
of supply and demand as they exist at
the time he wants TO go upon the market
to sell his products.
l have devoted a great deal of my
time, not only in writing articles upon
this subject, but in travelling over the
country in an earnest endeavor to secure
for the producers their rights, and to
post them as far as 1 was able upon the
true state of affairs surrounding the
great money staple of the South. Cot
ton is our money crop: it is the very
life and sinew of the prosperity or the
Southern farmer. and the Southern peo~
pie generally in all the varied avocations
they pursue. Let the cotton crop be
odCIii1Ceu upon market DelOW IHe cost
of production and the wheels of trade in
nearly all Southern industries will be
clogged and retarded proportionately to
the lowsprice received.
The marketing of the cotton crop, both
the lint and seed, therefore, becomes q
question of prime and vital importance
to our people at this season of the year:
l felt last spring and knew that the pro-
ducers had it absolutely in their power
to Fix the price of the staple this sea-
son by holding down the cotton acreage
to what it was last year. Every effort
was made to impress this idea upon the
minds of the farmers, but many thou
sands of them refused to heed any adj
vice and an increase of over two million
acres was the result. Had there been
no increase in acreage the current price
for cotton at this time would have
easily been from 10 to II cents.
PROVIDENCE AGAIN.
Again the hand of Providence has been
laid heavily upon the folly of our peo-
pie and saved them once more from the