The Tupelo journal., 1906-09-14

A matter that is worthy of attention
and investigation at the hands OF the
cotton raisers of Mississippi just now,
is the combating of evil effect OF the
boil weevil which is sure to be with US
in a short while. Our people are con-
fronting a condition right now and not
a theory. The weevil in it's eastward
migratory movement will reach the
southwestern corner of the State next
year and gradually extend to other Sec
tions. The stopping of this movement
has been given up as an impossible task
and the energies of those to whom the
work of prevention is entrusted has
been centralized upon a campaign of
education to prepare our people to COM
bat the effect as far as possible. This
is being done by systematic preparation
of the soil and cultivation OF the crop
as well as by the breeding and propa-
cation of a plant that will best resist
the invasion Of the pest. Approaching
the fact that there was a fertile field for
educational work among the people OF
our State, and that the best time to be-
gin such a campaign was before the
weevil reached here, the writer spent
several days recently in Washington In
conference with the agricultural de-
partment and the heads of its various
branches, in the effort to impress upon
them the Importance of such work at
ttas particular time and enlisting the
active aid and cooperation of those in
authority in the movement. 1t is graf
flying to report hat the greatest inter-
est was manifested by all those seen
and that without exception the assist
.ance asked for was readily promised.
Several Of the heads of bureaus eE-
pressed themselves as anxious to visit
this section and see for themselves the
situation just as it exists, and arrange
ment will be made to hold two or three
central meetings where the people a
congregate and spend a day with these
gentlemen. 1t is hoped that Secretary
Wilson can be induced to make at least
one appointment in he State, and
should he do so there is little doubt but
that the largest hall to be found would
be packed with those interested in our
principal crop and the threatened in
vasion of the weevil. Announcements
concerning these times and places will
be made just so soon as all arrange
ments can be perfected, which should
not be more than two weeks at the
latest.
The program roughly outlined is to
follow up this Introductory work by the
higher officials of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture with q more
extended campaign by competent men
A every community, and more espe-
cially in the sections where the weevil
is most likely to first appear. The de-
partment has one man engaged in this
work at present, Mr.. w. M. Bamberg,
who is thoroughly competent and eff
cient, and is doing great good, but the
calls for him are so numerous that it is
impossible to comply with all 1t is ex-
pected that after the visit of the distin-
guished gentlemen who head the
branches of our United States depart
ment to have more men assigned to
this important work.
In the meantimes and pending def
mite announcements, let u people be-
gin to work up interest in these meet
ings and see that a full turn out of rep
resentative farmers is had to each and
every meeting. We must i~ntelligently
prepare for the coming of the weevil
"A o,,-1ro1 nit y tho ,yoo N
ons best suited for defense. Expert
ence has taught our neighbors in the
infected districts much along this line,
and the opportunity. is presented our
people to profit by what they have
learned at great cost before the pest
arrives in our State.
Not daunted by the loss of an i'm
mense oyster territory to Louisiana by
a recent decision of the United States
supreme court, the State will develop
the beds which are undisputedly ours
and are of the best in the world. In
Pascagoula bay $4,000 barrels of shells
have already been planted this season
and the work of putting down ar addi-
tional 10000 was commenced a few days
since. By properly fostering the in
dustry the business will not seriously
suffer from the courts decision.
J. M. Lindsey, president of the South
crn T~ruckgrowers' League at Laurel,
recently shipped a watermelon to friends
in the North that weighed II pounds.
The crop has been exceptionally good
lii that section, and it is likely that
melons were produced that would have
crowded the %100-pound mark pretty
close. Mississippi is truly a watermelon
State.
Hazlehurst will have several trade
days some time during this month, ar
rangements for which are fast being
perfected. The good people of that en-
terprising place appreciate the fact
that in this day and time they must hus-
tie for all they get, and are, of course,
hustling.
The Itta Bena Commercial Club is
getting busy for the interests of that
town, as recorded by the Progress. 1t
is a wonderfully rich section and the
trade center for a good territory.