The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-03-03
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
WAR ON THE BOIL wEEvIL.
Southern Planters Urged to Alter
nate In Raising Cotton, Corn,
COwpeas and Oats.

Cowpeas and Oats.
w. ]. Spillman. agriculturist of the
United States department of agricul-
ture, and in charge of the Office OF
farm management, visited New Orleans
recently.
MIR. Spillman was en- the programme
for a paper at the session of the Sci
entists' convention, but was unable
to reach the city in time to appear.
His special mission to the south was
to inspect the 30 object-lesson farms
that his department is establishing in
the cotton-growing states.
The future prosperity of the south
will be made permanent only through
the diversifcation of its crops" said
Mr.. Spillman. THE farmer of this sec
ton must depart from his manifest in
clination toward specialization.
II am speaking more particularly OF
those states that produce the cotton.
In those states the planter has suffered
from the boil weevil. This insect, 1t
has been proved by statistics, has re-
duced the cotton crop so per cent. En-
tomologists have told us that the boil
weevil can not be entirely eradicated
from the cotton fields; that he lives
and thrives only in the cotton field.
However, the experts who have been
seeking the humiliation Of this pest
have shown the planter that he can
minimize the area in which the weevil
works destruction through the applica-
ton of known precautions, the de-
struction of the cotton crop early in
October and the planting Of an early
variety of seed in the spring. This will
prevent the late Matching Of the weevil.
But this advice the planters have not
been disposed to follow generally.
my department has still another
remedy, and that is that rotation or
diversification Of crops. Plant some
thing that the weevil does not like
and he disappears. Feed him cotton
oil the same ground and he will al
ways be with you. Our plan is to al
ternate the raising of cotton, corn,
cowpeas and oats. This will insure four
crops in three years. and there will be
feed for live stock, and supply of fer
tiiizer that will save the farmer buying
this needful stimulant for his soil.
1--WE have conducted demonstrations
proving that under this plan as much
cotton can be raised on one-third the
land that Is being used for the raising
of that staple under the old idea of
specialization.
"Seven Of these object-lesson farms
have been located in Louisiana, but
their operation was delayed a year ow-
ing to the health condition here the
past summer. There are two in Ar
kansas, three in Mississippi, three in
Alabama, three in Georgia and three
In South Carolina We are not expert
menting. We know through the re-
ports of the government experiment
stations what can and what can not
be produced on the southern soil.
I'VE are merely going about giving
lessons On the information furnished
us by these experiment stations The
plan Is to select given points in state,
choosing farmers that are known to be
progressive and anxious to learn. We
apportion the land and remain for the
planting, and then see that the farmer
cultivates and haryests according to
instructions that we furnish him. We
go further, and aid him in disposing
of his crops, II it so happens that he
has grown a product which he Is not
accustomed to marketing. The soil of
these southern states will grow almost
everything that the states at the north
do.
1.-THE farmers here know this, but
they have been timid about attempting
to grow anything but the staples, and
perhaps some patches Of potatoes and
corn sufficient to supply their family
use.
Five years ago my department
showed the Texas farmers that they
we're making a mistake in going in fol-
cotton exclusively. We induced them
to plant potatoes and onions.
Great crops of the latter were raised
without sacrificing the output Of cotton
In the least. They saw that the plan
was profitable, but last season erred in
the overproduction Of potatoes, the re-
suit being such low market that the
tubers were allowed to rot in the
ground. II the farmer will be guided
by the law of supply and demand, ant
| he can secure his information through
the department Of agriculture, there
is no reason why there should not bt
a uniform price for his products yea
| in and year out.
HE must learn to get the full worth
out Of his land 1t Is our business t.
chow him the way, and IL he will but
follow our instructions he can not fail.
SPRING CABBAGE CROP.