The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-02-18
BOIL WEEVII
FIGHT is ON
SECRETARY WILSON TELLS or
DEPARTMENT PLANS.
BIG FORCE OF SCIENTISTS
Experts TO be Sent Throughout Infest-
cd District to Hunt for Parasite
Eli to Erect Branch Home for Disa-
bled Veterans.


rcUlture Wilson states that he is rap
idly putting into execution the plan
for fighting the Mexican cotton boil
weevil, which was determined upon
sometime ago. Besides the work on
the thirteen experimental farms of 100
acres each in Texas, there will be lab
oratory and demonstration work by
Or. S. A. Knapp, Investigation work
by w. |. Stillman, work on cotton boil
worm by Prof. A. L. Quaintance, work
on other cotton insects by Prof e. ID.
Wright Sanderson, on cotton diseases
by G. L. Shear and on plant breeding
work by III. j. Weber. Every day
we are taking on new men, said the
secretary, and within a short time will
have an extremely we'll trained and
efficient force Of scientists on the
ground IN the southern states to aid
the people in that section to rid them
selves Of this pest. We will not con-
fRe ourselves to the boil weevil alone,
but viii study all other destructive
insects and plant diseases of that re-
gion and will also endeavor to teach
the people how to raise other crops so
that should our efforts fail to exter-
inmate the weevil, the people may be
enabled to raise other products unaf-
fected by it. We propose sending men
TO Central and South America in
search of parasite to kill the weevil
The boil weevil is a Central American
insect that has gradually worked il
self north and accustomed itself to
conditions there. We are informed
that in Central America there is a GER
tain species Of cotton not quite SO
good as our own American product.
but still cotton. which Is obnoxious to
the boil weevil. We propose bringing
specimens Of that cotton to this coun-
try and hybridizine it. 1t is reasona-
bic to suppose that this new element
Will have material effect upon the
rayages Of the insect. The corn worm
oil the north, known in the south as
the boil worm, has been successfully
fought, and the department has been
enabled 10 do something with that fell
low. The cotton root rot and rust has
also been conquered and the only
work for the department is the educa-
ton of the people Of the southern
states IN the line Of preventive meas
ures. Another feature Of the depart
ment s work iii the direction is its en-
deavcr to induce the raising of other
crops IN the southern states. In Tex
as, for instance, but II per cent of
the state is under cultivation. The
people Of Texas could still go on rails
ing just as much cotton as ever, while
turning their attention to the plant
ing OF other crops which would be
Just as valuable The question Of the
cotton boil weevil III the south and the
education Of the people there in diver
sifed crop-raisinG is probably the
most important one the department
has before it. and the situation is pro-
baby as important as any it has had
to deal with. The department OF az
riculture should have been Of its pres
ent size 100 years ago, and the people
OF the country are just beginning to
realize its worth and the value of it's
work. In other regions of the coun-
try, although it reaches the whole of
the United States, can its efforts be
better expended than in the south.
The ravages of Father Time are al
last beginning to show on Senator
Morgans of Alabama. The hero Is
physical powers are failing fast, but
his mentality remains undimmed and
as keen as ever. The Senator's voice
has been getting weaker and weaker
ever since the beginning Of the pres
ent session, and last Saturday ii
failed him altogether. He was com
PEELED to call on d substitute to deliv-
er part OF his speech. Senator Nor
gan s is the first one in the front row
only about ten feet from theoficial re-
porter Of the senate, yet the latter had
difficulty IN catching the words Of the
last speech he delivered Senator
Morgan S capacity for work is prodi-
gious. Those who are associated with
him say that he works until 2 or
o'clock every morning in the prepare.
ton of data for use in his arguments
Governor Wright has sent in a re.
port Of the desertion Of sixteen mem
bers of the Constabulary, and says
that there is no danger of spread
Troops and constables are after the
deserters, who took some released
prisoners with them
Victimsin Iron Mountain Wreck.
Engineer Sam Leatham and Fire
man Ed Hickerson, who were kille6
in a wreck on, the Iron Mountain Rail
road at Reidsville, Ark. were resident!