The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-05
TO WEEVIL
Department Of Agriculture Experts
y Develop New Strain Of
Cotton Plant.
Will Probably Save the Industry in
Texas and Win Reward for
Uncle Sam.
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, Aug. 5.-The government may
claim the reward of $4,000 which has been
edy which will check the ravages of the boil
weeyil, which is destroying the cotton crops
in the southwest. Thousands OF acres, it is
reported, have already succumbed, and the
plague, which began in the fields farther
north and east, has worked it's way to Texas
and is rapidly devastating the state.
ID head Of the
agriculture. is convinced that the problem
has been solved: Dr.; Herbert j. Weber has
been working for three years on the boil
weevil and he will soon make formal an
nouncement of his discoveries. All other
remedies having failed, Dr. Weber decided
that the only recourse was to breed or dis
cover a variety of cotton resistant to the boil
weevil. He has been at work breeding and
experimenting with different varities, making
careful selections and testing the results
under all possible circumstances, and is
convinced that he will soon have the glad
news for cotton growers. The department
may not insist upon the reward. altho the
secretary of agriculture is inclined to col
iect the $4,000 and turn it into the public
treasury. DR.. Weber, however, altho he has
done the work. will not claim the reward.
Like other specialists in the employ of the
government he is bound in honor to turn over
to the government all the beneficial results.
A Secret Of Nature. .5n
The secret of breeding variety Of plant
which will resist certain pests and diseases
is one which Is not disclosed by the man who
did IT. The power of which the expert makes
use Is really one Of natures secrets. Whence
It comes, or why, is a mystery never solved.
The different plants, under the microscope,
and examined in all other ways, to all
appearances Identical. But experience shows
that one of the plants has the power to srow
in field which has been devastated by the
pest BY BY the boil weevi for example and
vastation on al lsides, with all its environ
! ments the same, this plant will stand up and
hurl defiance at the disease or animal which
causes the destruction. It has in itself some
| mysterious power which keeps it immune
| The scientists have theory that there are
| certain anti-toxin compounds developed in
| the plant which makes it immune. The plant,
| in other words. becomes as If vaccinated or
as II it had been thru one attack Of the dis
! ease, and is now immune, for reasons SINH
| lar to those which make human beings who
have had smallpox or yellow fever immune.
| But the plant has the fortunate faculty of
| transmitting its immunity to its offspring. This
| is the foundation of the work Of the experts
in evolving resistant strain; the individual
| plants which have survived in a field
rayaged by the pest are carefully selected,
! and set apart by themselves as the parents
OF crop of seed grown carefully and in
isolation From this seed other crops are
grown under conditions where they will be
exposed to the pest, and these survivors are
again made the parents of new strains. Thus,
| finally, by selection, strains are evolved
which, when grown beside a field of cotton
ravaged by the boil weevil, will remain quite
| untouched. -,
New Stock Must Be Planted.
The cotton planters will probably have tc
destroy all their present stock, replacing II
ty stock obtained, from the government
Several years will be required to get the
| new stock substituted. But the trouble will
amply repay the planter, who is now threat
| ened with ruin from a pest which there ap-
pears to be no successful way to combat
| The governments bureau of plant industry
| mas shown cotton growers what it can dc
| TO save them from a pest, in the case Of the
| root-rot disease which struck the sea island
cotton district about five years ago This
district IS or the coast of the Carolinas is.
lands of the Atlantic. and the cotton pro
| duced is world famous.
1 The plantations, before this plague ar
rived, were worth $500 an acre. In abou
eighteen months the land had dropped +,
50 an acre and no purchasers at that. TIL,
planters believed the sea island industr,
doomed.
} IS Sea Island Cotton Saved.
But Weber and Woods came to the rescu
With variety Of sea island which they ha
discovered, and which they demonstrated wa
resistant to root-rot. The planters hastene
to destroy all the old stock, and got new re
ststant stock from the department In fou
ysars the new strain has replaced the old Of
! oil plantations, full crops were again raised
, ana the land: was once more worth $500 a