The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-21
BOIL WEEVIL RAVAGES,
Cotton Fields Being Stripped In North
 Louisiana.

LOdiSldllds
 From the New Orleans Times Democrat
 According to Dr. Irion. president of the state board of health, the ravages of the boil weevil in North Louisiana will to the latter point, whereupon de- the state to abandon the culture of cot ton for a few years and devote their energies to other lines of agricultural activity. In other words, Dr. Irion is of the opinion that following the instinct of self-preservation North Louisiana farmers will engage in stock raising and apply themselves to the cultivation of such crops as hay, corn, oats, cowpeas, etc., and by so doing Dr. Iron is of opin- ion that farmers will have occasion to regard the boil weevil invasion as blessing to disguise instead of an aeri- cultural calamity.
 Dr, Irion has just returned from Bos- sier parish, where he owns three small plantations. He said:
 The outlook for cotton crop in Bos- sier and neighboring parishes Is gloomy fin the extreme The pernicous boil weevil is taking everything in sight. As one negro expressed it, The is sitting up by moonlight to see that nothing gets away from himl The fields are clean diQ we'll CulllNdleu, put the SLdlkS are barren of fruit. I have never seen so disheartening a prospect. The farmers with commendable pluck are active in working their fields, but 1t is a forlorn hope. The best they can expect is a fifth of crop. They are all extremely de- spondent, but with grave determination are facing the situation and making plans for the future that leave cotton outside of the reckoning"
 Did you inspect the fields person. ally?' Dr. Irion was asked.
 'I did,' was the reply, and it made me sick to see the awful ravages the weevil has committed. I was at first un- der the impression that the punctured compel the farmers of that section of that was left on the stalks was sound. squares dropped to the ground and that TOT. At my request two neghbors ex- amned their fields with a view to de- termining the condition of squares on tho stalk. Out of twenty-four squares In one field that looked sound and vigorous, twenty were found to be punctured In another field eight out of nine showed similar results. The investigation didn't go any further. They were appalled, by the prospects,
 Flow much cotton did Bossier parish make last year and how much in your opinion will 1t make this year," was asked.
 BoSSler parish made oO,U0O bales or cot ton last year. If this years crop equals 10,0Jo bales it will exceed my anticipa- tons About 5000 bales will be nearer the mark, I think. Merchants and farm CTS are alive to the situation, and will noc advance one dollar on the growing crop. hey are trying to retain their negro labor in the face of thls staggering blow but much of 1t will doubtless go to leyees and railroads and lumber camps In fact 1 know one planter who has abandored his crop and is going to bid for levee work. Another has plowed up his cotton and is planting Mexican June corn"
 How about the future?" was asked
 'There Is nothing the matter with the future Bossier parish can raise anything on earth. and If It's farmers will go to ho; raising they may snap their fingers at cotton 1 will undertake to raise hogs in Bossier at cost of cents per pound Bermuda hay can be raised at trifling cost Two crops, ono of oats and an other of cowpeas, can be raised any year on these lands. If the farmers of Lou isiana will try raising cattle, horses. mules and hogs, they will soon be over their troubles, and will thank heaven that boil weevils came along to teach them diversified farming. I have been preaching this doctrine for years but they would not listen to me. 1 have raised hogs as cheap as IF cents per pound. Of course, the present situation Is ca- lamitoCs, but out of the wreck of the cotton growing Industry I think | can see a greater and more prosperous Louis iana raising her head to the skies.'