The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-28
[NENI)anaaaN VIEWS for }IK


OF I'VE MARIANA POLYTECHNIC rNsrI , |, drive the machine faster and to cover more ground.
 In this cotton several counts showed that each boy was gathering more than 100 bolls per minute for the ma chine.
 Those who care to do so can make their estimates from this remembering that the usual number ot bolls per pound of seed cotton is between 70 and 100, as found in a large number of varieties in test at the experiment station at Auburn.
 From such fragmentary tests no positive conclusions as to capacity can be drawn. but most farmers were in- clined to think that the operation was much faster than the work of an equal number of laborers picking without the help of machinery.
 Remembering that this Is the first machine, that 1t has been only c few weeks since its first test in 6 cotton field, and that numerous. improvements are being made already. and that doubtless others will follow. I think that a solution of cotton picking by machinery is practically solved. where all conditions are favorable to the use of machinery.
 J.F.Duggar. Prospect of the Bell weevil Entering
 Mississippi.
 The government experts. in Texas. that have been studying the boil weevil for the last ten years have steadily maintained and yet maintain that this insect will eventually spread over the southern part of the cotton belt and very likely over the whole of the area now devoted to the growing of cotton. The Louisiana people, who are cer- tainly strenuous in all that they under take to do. felt confident that they could stop the spread of this pest into their State along its eastward march. This they have failed to do so far for 1t Is in three different parishes at present with~every probability, 1t seems to me. of going farther and farther. It is only just to say however. that the weevil was in these localities last year in every probability. and had an ex- cellent opportunity to spread before their presence was known. But that Is exactly one of the conditions to take into account in the spread of this in- sect.
 It is a most difiioult thing to watch the border of so large State as Mis- sissippi and prevent so small an insect from crossing the aline. It is like clutching at a phantom. It Is an un- seen foe that can steal in upon one una wares.
 Our greatest danger. seems to me lies in two directions. First there are careless, minimizing, irresponsible peo- pie that do not understand the danger and will import labor and materials liable to contain the weevil in spite of all warnings. Second, there is the Red River running directly from the infest- ed districts of Texas into the Missis- sippi. This. in my opinion. is our greatest source of danger and one which there Is no known way of meet ing. The overfiows pick up bolls and squares containing the weevil or grubs and carry them down stream. dropping them here and there along the banks and finally carrying some into the Mis- sissippi. From these lodged bolls and forms. in my opinion, will come our infestation along the bapks of the Mississippi. in the region of the Delta where its spread cannot possibly be checked. So much for the prospects of obtaining the weevil. This next ques- tion Is, what will happen when the weevil comes.
 What will be the result when the weevil reaches Mississippi? In the
 
 ing of cotton just as many have aban- doned 1t in Texas. Those that aban don the culture of cotton will do so in the first two or three years after the appearance of the weevil. It takes three or four years to become acquaint- ed with the weevil and to learn how to outwit 1t sufficiently to grow cotton proftably. Those that maintain their courage and stick to 1t for the first two or three years and make a close study of the literature on the weevil and learn enough of it's habits to prevent its ravages will still raise cotton. raise it profitaby. and raise 1t in quantity. Its a curious fact that Texas still pro- duces an ever increasing annual crop of cotton. That of itself is a sufficient indication of what Mississippi will do when the weevil comes. With tmprov- ed methods of cultivation, with more intelligent selection of seeds. with the planting of quickly maturing varieties cotton growers will still produce cotton profitably. We need have no fear, for the Mississippi farmer will rise to the emergency. The weevil may be a bles- of bringing about a universally more intelligent, more prosperous, more widely informed. and cultured agricul- tural population. To grow cotton in the presence of the wsevil will require an acquaintance with improved farm implements. with good agricultural literature and with our agricultural colleges and experiment stations. Ac- quaintance with these things is sure to lead to more prosperous. somforta- ble. and attractive agricultural condi- tions.
 Prof Glenn W. Herrick, kaA nsuk& faN H~.
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