The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-08

|
 to our cattle industry in more ways than one. Its presence severely handicaps us | in matters of trade in the .great meat
 markets of the West besides its baneful efforts, as a parasite upon our animals, materially interfering with their satisfac- 1 tory development, both as beef and milk producers ,and in many instances caus- ing serious loss through fatilites oc-
 casioned by its ravages
 Tt Is sincerely to be hoped that those | who, in the different States, have given
 their thought and time to the adoption of
 some satisfactory method by which this | enemy to the Southern stockman may be
 extern mated may te abandantly awarded | with success, and that the deliberations
 at this time. concerning this important
 matter, may add materially to cur general
 knowledge of the subject, and greatly ad- | vance our efforts in this direction. Livestock sanitary legislation in those
 of our Cotton States that are sti1l with. out such, is another matter which com.
 mend to your special attention. Our cit. | izens are entitled to legal protection against the ravages of the many conta-
 gfous and fatal diseases of their nve- ] stock, whether from sources of exotic in-
 lection, or from that arising within the
 borders of individual States. The con- trol of contagion or infection is a mat | | man, and should be placed in the hands of competent veterinary sanitarians, and the necessary sanitary and hygienic i measures backed up by authority-such as the State Department of Agriculture, and enforced by the strong arm of the law. as indeed should other menaces of c somewhat similar character, such as dam gerous insects, fungi. etc, affecting our crops. orchards. etc., be placed by law, ixzvffh htn kHn Agriculture to take whatever action may be found necessary in the interest of our citizens.
 Mexican Boil wosvil.
 "Our cotton growing interests are be- ing threatened by the increase and spread of that destructive pest, the Mexican cot ton boil weevil, and which, unfortunately appears. so far. to have baff1ed the inge- nuity and scientific skill of our entomo- logists to completely control and extermi- nate. This is 8 most serious menace to our great Southern staple. and should stimulate us all to united effort in order to amelioriate the unfortunate conditions arising from the presence of this insect In Texas, and try to place an embargo on it's extension to other States as yet unaffected, to the utmost of our power It is truly to be hoped that the efforts being put forth by our entomologists both national and state, and also any measures suggested, adopted and prac- ticed by the various local and state au- thorities. to destroy the weevil. or other wise prevent its dissemination, may be crowned with the greatest measure of success. And I am of the opinion that the National Government should assist, financially this work of extermina ton, so as to protect, to the very utmost. an industry of such monumental importance to our Southern country. This, gentle men, is a matter which should be thor l oughly discussed at some time during the present session of the Association. and should receive our most earnest and se- rfous consideration. We are informed by those in a position to know that it Is only matter of a few years until the boil weevil may spread to. and infect the whole of the cotton-growing sections of the South. This is anything but a pieas- ant prospect to contemplate, and n should behoove us to put forth every endeavor
 to stay the ravages of this pest. and delay the evil day as long as 1t is possible: and besides and in addition to this, it should stimulate us to encourage our people, by every legitimate means at our command | to make early preparation to avert seri- ous loss. by adopting diversifcation in their planting and farming operations. and become independent of any one-crop system of agriculture.
 Selection of Seed
 "It is gratifying to know that efforts are being made by our experiment sta- tions in the line of seed selection, and of the success that has already been at- tained in that direction. Careful selec- ton is just as much a necessity to the higher development of plant life as it Is to the greater development and improve ment in animal life. and we all are fa- Iv,aiIf have been accomplished in that direction in recent years.
 'The fruit and trucking industries of the Cotton States. which already are a source of considerable revenue to many of our citizens, are yet capable of large extension in many sections adapted to them, and are destined some day to be- come very potent factors in our material development. Each year sees greater progress along these lines of agricultural work and the areas devoted to them very much increased in extent in the different States.
 During the past few years fin Louis jana, and take 1t. that 1t Is much the same in other Southern States, fruit and truck growers associations have iu- creased in numbers to a very gratifying degree. And along with. and in addition to the growth and production of fruits and vegetables. the canning factory has made it's appearance as a valuable ad- junct to the business of the fruit and truck grower and a medium through which he may be able to dispose of the surplus product which he may be unable, profitably. to ship to a distant market. Thorough organization in this line of in- dustry is an absolute necessity, where the greatest amount of success is to be ex- pected; for. the business of securing the right markets. and being able to dispose of and distribute such perishable products at the right time, and on the best mar ket, is branch of the business of even greater importance than that of raising them.
 Breeding Cotton Plant.
 "Plant-breeding, which understand is to be discussed during this meeting-in relation to cotton-is a subject of very great importance to Southern agriculture and should in my humble judgment. re- ceive extended consideration and trial by our experiment stations. A good deal Of valuable work has already been done In this line. but 1t ought to be enlarged. which no doubt it will be, to embrace greater variety of economic plants. It is reasonable to presume, that relatively similar results may be looked for in the intelligent and careful breeding of plants as in animals; and any effort put forth that will result in increased production, or any other quality that will enhance values, will be received with qualification by our people. and will add to our ma terial good.
 staples in several of our Southern States. r.. T ufa nd