The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1906-10-12


and methods. When the weevil came
to Texas the people were not prepared
for him and the resultant damage was
immense. Now, after several years
contact with the pest, it is considered
by some in the shape of blessing
rather than curse. At first the price
of lands tumbled to less than half their
former value and it looked as it the
country was ruined; however, with
general diversifcation of the crop and
an intelligent handling of cotton, the
ravages of the weevil have been mimi
mixed and the country is again becom-
ing prosperous. There is no reason
why Mississippi should not profit by
the experience of Texas. If our people
would take an interest in the matter
and acquaint themselves with the con-
dition that must be met, the damage
would not be near SO great. 1t was for
that the writer tried so hard to get as
sistance from the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture in waging cam
paign of education, preparing our peo-
pie for the advent of the weevil before
he got here. There is no desire to
brighten farmers or to unnecessarily
alarm them, only to create an interest
that will insure their becoming famll-
iarized with what is necessary to pre-
vent the great damage done in Texas.
The preliminary meetings OF this cam
paign will be attended by prominent
people who are prepared to give the re-
suit of many years experience with the
pest in Texas and Louisiana. These
are to be followed up by precinct meet
ings in the territory that will first feel
the effect of the weevil. By this means
the people can be prepared to handle
the matter sensibly and to their advan-
tage. 1t is to be hoped that the inter-
est will be such as to warrant a contln-
uance of this campaign.
The writer in his official capacity has
been endeavoring to create an interest
in the approach and sure advent OF the
boil weevil; not to cause unnecessary
uneasiness, but for the purpose OF &C
quainting our people with the habits OF
the insect and the proper methods OF
fighting him. The Aberdeen Examiner
along this same line offers the follow
ing good advice:
Don't worry over the approaching
bell weevil; simply put your house IN
order and defy him. The evil, almost
inevitable, unless some strange phe-
nomena arrests its progress, will only
be temporary. With climate and soil
like ours, all things are practicable In
In the way of culture. The fact is, you
can pillow prairie lands deep, harrow and
roll them, and get more out of your hay
crops than most of you can on your cot
ton, and as to the labor question, that
will cease to worry you until the gen
eral revival of cotton planting. Two
years of boil weevil on the prairie will
make that section the greatest stock
section of the Union. AS to the sand
lands, we do not believe that they will
be invaded by the weevil."
This is excellent advice, especially
that part relating to getting your house
in order and defying the weevil. The
advent of the weevil will undoubtedly
mean Investigation of crops and
necessarily rotation, and may after all
prove blessing to our State If taken
properly. 1t has proven so in Texas
and it stands our people in hand to
profit by the experience of that great
State. Don't worry, but be prepared.
At intervals during the past few
years the writer has called attention to
the possibilities of ginseng culture in
Mississippi. An acre of this plant at
seven or eight years of ageis said to be
worth some $4,000. What it would
cost to produce this acre of ginseng is
predetermined, but surely nothing like
it would be worth. At Hickory Flat,
in Benton county, Rev. W. E. Crum is
growing a bed that is now about four
years old. Near Aberdeen another
planting was made last year and in the
course of time we will know from actual
experience what can be done with the
plant in Mississippi. 1t grows wild in
the northern section of the State and it
appears reasonable that it could be cul-
tivated successfully.
Attention to our timber wealth is
keeping up with the same interest as Of
wore. Prospectors from all sections of
the country are in the State every week
and the increase in price does not seem
to deter them in the least. The i'm
mense wealth of our State in timber
continues to be one of our principal as
sets.
Yazoo City has been having some
trouble with her water supply, but at
last all has been overcome. A we'll
that flows 624 gallons per minute was
struck there few days since and the
water is pronounced excellent. 1t has
been connected to the reservoir and
hereafter that splendid city will expert
ence no trouble in having good water
for all purposes. Nothing could be
worth more than an abundant supply
of good water and our neighbors at
Yazoo are to be congratulated upon
their good luck.
The State and private schools opened
during the past week and all report