The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-14
VARDAMAN WAS
WITH COTTON MEN
SlNEWS OF WEEvIL WAR.
A RIGHT THE SOUTH MAY DEMAND
OF THE GOVERNMENT.

the Subject of the Boil Weevn
War Were Heard from Experts.
Think 1t Can BE Checked.
Shreveport, La. Dec. 13.-To-days
sessions of the National Cotton Con-
vention were largely taken up with
speeches by prominent delegates and
discussions of the boil weevil problem.
Probably the most important addresses
were those of DIR. w. D. Hunter of
the Bureau of Entomology, Depart
ment of Agriculture, and Prof. j. H.
Connell, editor of the Farm and Ranch
of Dallas. Tex.
At the afternoon session Gov. Varda-
man of Mississippi appeared on the
stage. He was greeted with applause
and addressed the delegates briefly. He
had no doubt but that the federal gov
eminent would lend it's financial as
sistance to any proper method to check
the ravages of the weevil-not as
gift, but as a matter of right; for, he
said, the Southern states contributed
their just share of taxation for the adj
ministration of the national govern
ment.
The first session was called to order
by Permanent Chairman Peters
promptly at 10 o'clock. He introduced
DR.. l.. o. Howard, chief of the Blu
reau of Entomology. DR.. Howard said
he was here as the personal represent
tative of Secretary Wilson, and he
spoke of the interest the Secretary is
taking in the fight on the boil weevil.
Explained Governments Work.
Mr.. Howard briefly reviewed the
history of the insect in Texas and
Louisiana fields and said that DR.. W.
D. Hunter, who has had so much val
liable practical experience in combat
ing the spread of the pest, would ex-
plain the work of the government
more fully.
Dr.. W. D. Hunter said in part:
THE ravages of the boil weevil have
affected not only the cotton producers
of Texas, as well as of the United
States, but have also disturbed the
general economic conditions through
out the South, and have caused dis
turbances in every quarter of the
globe where American cotton is used
in the factories. 1t has caused every
person in the world. who uses cotton
in any form to pay more for it than
formerly. The pest was first known to
occur in Texas in the vicinity of
Brownsville about 1892. Since that
date it has advanced annually forty
or fifty miles, and there seems no prob
ability that it will not eventually reach
all parts of the South where cotton is
produced, if it does not indeed reach
other cotton producing countries. At
present the infested territory covers
practically all of the cotton producing
counties in Texas, and the larger por-
ton of six parishes in Louisiana. Nu-
merous reports regarding the occur
renee of the pest outside of the states
that have been mentioned have been
investigated and found to be errone-
Gus. cae af}t
will Die Ont.
Careful investigations of the life
history of the pest reveal few factors
that seem to indicate that it will die
out as has been the case with some
of the injurious insects, although it
is not beyond the range of possibili-
ties that some such occurrence may
eventually take place. The only sug-
gestion that has been offered towards
checking the invasion of the pest is
in the establishment of a wide zone of
land in which the cultivation of cotton
should be prohibited. On account of
the many difficulties in the way of such
a procedure and on account of the
reasonable degree of success that has
pest in Texas. it seemed doubtful if
such means would be justified.
WeeviI Ravages in Texas.
The effects of the ravages of the
boil weevil in Texas may be sum-
married. as follows:
First. 1t has during the past five
years caused a loss of at least $780,
100000
Second. 1t has increased decided
ly the area required to produce bale
of cotton.
Third. 1t has practically destroy
ed the credit of the small farmer, who
has been in the habit of depending up
on cotton, although farmers who have
diversified their crops are still able
to obtain necessary credit.
Fourth. 1t has had the effect of
driving large numbers of negroes from
the cotton lands of the state. Negroes
lend themselves poorly to the modif-
cations in the system of producing
the staple, which are necessary on ac-
count of the ravages of the pest. In
tense cultivation, to which negroes
can be brought only with great diff
Guilty is one of the great essentials in
producing crop.
Fifth. 1t has forced a diversified
ton OF crops, and in this way is con-
sidered by many parties as a beneh-
the ultimate result of the work of the
boil weevil, the depression that comes
from the changes necessary before
complete system of Investigation may
be followed is apparent to all parties
who have investigated the matter in
Texas
Cut Down Production.
TT will be noted that cotton pro-
duction in Texas has decreased an
nually with the exception of one year,
1900 since the invasion of the pest,
although the reduction has not, on the
whole, been very decided. This absence
Of great falling off in production Is
due to two principal factors, % that
there has been a considerable increase
In acreage, and (2) following the sug-
gestion of the bureau of entomology OF
the United States Department Of Ag-
riculture and their own experience, the
planters Of Texas are becoming Ia
miliar with the proper system that
must be followed TO mitigate the dam
age by the pest. The system recon-
mended by the Department of Agri-
culture, as the result of several years
study Of the habits Of the pest and
experiments upon large scale in va
rious parts of Texas is now generally
known as the Cultural System" fhe
greatest danger 10 be feared from
further invasion of the cotton belt Is
that this system, which has been found
TO work well In Texas, may be less
applicable elsewhere. Many conditions
OF climate and plantation practice