The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1908-10-03
SATURDAY, OCTOBER ;, 1908.
Weevil Expert Speaks.
MIR. EVANS GIVES ADVICE TO COT.
TON PLANTERS.

NIX. EVANS GIVES ADVICE TO COT
TON PLANTERS.
Mr.. j. A. Evans of Shreveport,
State agent for the Farmers Co.
Demonstration work of
the United States Department of
Agriculture, in an address at Tai
lulsh, last Friday said:
There seems to be an idea prevalent
that the weevil is not here permanently.
but that it will be as they were previ-
Gus to its advent. This is a false idea.
for the weevil is here to stay. There is
no reason why 1t should desert the cOun,
try which it has Ovsrrun. az conditions
are to its liking and it Is satisfied to
stay. II Is first. last and all the time q
cotton pest, attacking no other species
Of vegetation. and will naturally remain
In the cotton country. The planter is
placed to a great disadvantage in his
fight on the pest by the fact that there is
nothing TO indicate its presence. as with
the other cotton pests, until 1t reaches
maturity. all its various stages If growth
being hidden from sight within the
boil. The planters will be forced to ad-
just themselves to the new condition
brought Oh by the wseviI and planting
in the Delta lands before and after its
advent will bs two different propositions
as remote as the poles. would like 10
hold out encouragement and assure the
planters that the damage will not be
great; that the situation has been pain.
ted too blackly. but cannot. as the mat
ter is serious to the extreme, and the
probable damage Is incalculable; how
great 1t will be will depend to a great
extent upon the planters themselves.
The proposition Of how best to combat
the pest is fearful one to the cotton.
growing country, aud a fatal mistake
has been made in awaiting its appear
ance before making any effort to pre-
pare for aud cOunteract its work. The
planters shOnld have been preparing
themselvef during the years 1t has been
steadily advancing eastward. 1t has
been stated that the weevil Is q blrssing
In disguise. but want to tell you right
here that for the next three or four
years. or until the country has become
accustomed to the new order OF things,
you will see only the disguise. the bless
ing will not be much la evidence.
Il have baen lighting the weevil since
its appearance was first noted in Texas,
about fourteen years ago, and know the
ruin. distress and decentralization that
follows In its wake and the panic that
marks its advent. l want to say to some
OF you planters who are now rated IN A
No. and who are worth $4,000 or
more. that in year Or two years from
now your credit will be nil and you will
be bankrupt IL you attempt to rsise cot
ton under the conditions with which
you are familiar and along the lines you
are now working. The proposition now
presented you Is harder one than that
which the Texas planter has overcome,
for climatic conditions anu the soil here
are totally different and are against you;
Yes. tens Of thousands Of acres Of delta
lands on which advise that not pound
OF seed be- planted, for the crop Oh these
moist. black lands, which are poorly
drained or not drained at all. cannot be
forced to maturity and the weevil will
ruin II before boil Is open. Plant your
cotton only on your highest and dryest
land. irrespective Of whether 1t il your
poorest lands, and select your seed. aud
would advise the use Of some acid
PHOSPHATE u fertilizer, rs the phosphate
will hasten the maturity Of the cotton
from ten to fifteen days and under boil
weevil conditions. ten to fifteen days
means the difference between a good
crop and no crop at all; also, III plan
ting, would advise that the rows be 51l
10 6 feet apart. the wider the better. and
that the plants be far enough apart that
there will be no tapping, at least not un.
I'll maturity Of the plant.
Rows close together. and the plants
,lOse together and overlapping, a. under
present conditions. means Q paradise for
Weevils. The hot sunshine will prove to