The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-12-07
Baking THE BOIL WEEVIL.
National Boil ReeyiI Convention to.
Meet at Shreveport.

N@St - Sh Ny@FUtss
New Orleans, Dec, 5. The
National Boil Weevil Conven-
tom to be held at Shreveport,
La, Dec. IL to 18th, and which
will be attended by delegates
from many States both East and
West Of the Mississippi river, has
cut out for it a task, the success
of which means the salvation and
the failure of which means posi-
bly, the eventual destruction or
serious curtailment Of the South's
great staple. This subject will be
discussed in far broader and
more comprehensive manner than
ever before in the effort to find
ways and means to check the east
ward progress of the weevil over
Southern cotton fields.
Preparations have been made
to have present many of the most
distinguished scientists of the
country to confer with the practi-
cal planters, and it is believed
some substantial benefit will re-
suit and a device will be found to-
check if not totally eliminate the
pest which threatens the very life
of Southern prosperity.
Planters, cotton men, spinners
and statistlcians are agreed that
this seasons crop, favored in
every way by ideal weather, has
taxed the labor and the acreage of
the South to the utmost degree.
The perfect combination of cir
cumstances, which may not be du-
plicated in generation, has re-
suited in a record breaking crop.
Undoubtedly the spinners will
consume far more cotton this sea-
son than ever before in the histo-
ry of the industry, and just so
long as the South continues to
supply all the cotton the spinners
require, no very strenuous or
sweepingly concerted effort will
be made to make India, Africa or
Australia big cotton producers.
The rapid encroachment of the
boil weeyil, however, is having a
very serious effect on the conf
dence of foreign spinners who,
looking ahead several years, are
wondering where their supplies
of raw cotton are to come from
when the boil weevil will have de-
wasted all the fields west and pos
sibly east of the Mississippi, as
they have done in Southern Tex
as, and when the American mills
shall have greatly increased their
annual takings.
Every year the world requires
increased quantities Of clothing,
and the manufacturers of dry
goods require increased quantities
of raw cotton.
For a hundred years to come
the South can and will produce
all the cotton the world win re-
quire, provided the progressive
rayages of the boil weevil be
checked. In the boil Weeyil in
tested districts ten acres in many
instances fail to yield one bale Of
cotton. Experts assert this will
be the condition Of the entire cot
ton belt, unless some successful
method of destroying the boil
weeyil be found Immediately.
Governor Vardaman, of Missis-
sippi, whose recent telegram to
President Francis, of the Louis
lana Purchase Exposition, in re-
gard to President Roosevelt has
caused wide comment, will pre-
| side over the deliberations Of the
convention.
The deepest interest in the com
ing convention is being taken BY
leading citizens throughout the
South, and by the Northern and
foreign cotton interests.
Success will mean much to the
South, but should the delegates
fail to find a remedy for the boil
weeYil evil, it will mean nothing
less than calamity to the cotton
industry Of the South within a
very few years. Therefore many
prominent men, who have given
Che matter deep thought, are per-
Esonally urging the various sec
tions of the several States to send