The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1908-11-05
The Boil Weevil Convention.

1uG OOu VCGVn NOnVCnltO0.
The vicksburg Herald says edi-
torially:
"There is little that may be said
by way of comment on the Vicks-
burg boil wee,il convention that
would add information or emphasis
to the addresses to which the large
number of cotton growers and
others in interest listened. These
were literally warnings to flee from
the wrath to come, or rather, to
prepare and make ready for slast
ditch" struggle with the boil
Weevil. The chief speaker, j. A.
Evans, of the government entomo-
logist service-whose speech,
which is an amplification of the one
at Tallulah, is published to-day,
said: II do not come here to
preach despair, altogether, but |
must warn yod of the impending
danger that is sure to come and
which must be met in the best way
possible to Wardoff its severity.
1t must be admitted that his preach
ment in view of the delta planters
environments, is almost, if not
altogether, = one of despair. !"
But the warming" warranted as
it is by facts as recorded in the ex-
perience of other sections where
the blow has fallen, is timely, and
in order. For only by painting the
case in all its menacing proportions,
could the cotton growers be aroused
to adopt such precautions as offer
even mitigation of the boil wee
vii ravages.
"Whatever the outlook, there
will, because there can, be no
despair" where no quarter is
offered. Surrender to the invaders
is not to be thought of. The issue
is one that no one who owns plan
tation property can evade-even if
he wished there is no way to dodge
it. In this light, as the truth in all
its darkness can only act as a
stimulus to impress upon those who
are yet free from the boil weevil,
it is best to know it in all its full
ness. This is so, though even at
the best, it tells of a very severe
and almost ruinous trial in store.
That this is what must be exper-
fenced the reports from the Red
river plantations, where the boil
weevil is in its first year of
thorough infestation, leave no room
to. doubt. The lesson these de-
plorable accounts from a section
where the cotton growing is carried
on much as it is in the Vicksburg
river section, is very impressive to
those who have year TO prepare
for the coming of the boil weevil
"For further information on the
now all absorbing boil weevil
question, the following letter fur
nished the Herald by @. w. Har-
den, Of Palmyra, in this county is
published. The writer, Prof.
Harmed, of the A. & M. College,
and who has charge of its entomo-
logical work, has had ample ex-
|perience in boil WeeviI studies and
experience in Texas:
October 8, 1908
20. w. Harden, Palmyra, Miss:
Dear Sir-The insects you send
US are the genuine Mexican cotton
boil weevil. This notorious pest
reached this state about one year
ago, but came too late to do any
serious damage last year and was
confined almost entirely TO a mar
row strip Of country along the Mis-
sissippi river in Adams and Wilkin-
son counties. This year it has
spread very rapidly and has now
covered six counties in the south-
west corner of the state and has
been found in five other adjoining
counties, viz: Pike, Lincoln, Co
piaf, Kinds and Warren. These
counties will undoubtedly be
covered by the end of this season.
1t has done considerable damage
this year, but from now on its
damage will undoubtedly be much
greater in this state unless we will
ali get an intelligent understanding
of this insect and know how to
meet the problem.
Texas and Louisiana have been
dealing with the Mexican cotton
boil weevil for years nov and have
spent many thousands of dollars in
studying and fighting il. The
United States government has
spent hundreds Of thousands Of
dollars and has employed many ex-
perts to work on this problem. We
have the benefit Of their work and
we should profit BY the experience