Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-09-04
emD RESULTS, or THE RECENT Farm.
ERS:: INSTITUTE At NAIcHEz.
Organized. Efforts to Fight the Cotton,
Boil Weevil and Improve Crops.


Natchez, Miss, Aug. 29.-The
past week has been a momentous
one, week that marks the be-
ginning of new epoch. Within
fifty miles of the center Of the
cotton-producing area of the en-
tire South, the city itself. being
in the midst of the finest cotton
plantations of the country. every
phase of life and prosperity has
been more and more dependent
on the success of each, years cot
ton crop. Not since the revival
of prosperity after the. war has
there been any general. diversifi-
cation of crops. As far as, pos
sible every available acre and all
energies have been directed tow
ards the production of more and
more cotton. With the increased
price of cotton for the past few
years especially has this been the
case. With the large supply OF
the most reliable negro labor in
the South such a policy has been
successful, until no town or Sec
ton of the country has been more
prosperous. The banks show large
deposits and the tenant labor is
largely free from debt.
Last fall late in the season. the
boil weevil made it's first appear
ance in the territory tributary
to,Natchez, not in great numbers,
and so late in coming and 50
widely scattered on. both sides of
the river as not to have done. any
material damage to the nearly
matured crop. This spring, with
a conservatism characteristic. of
the farmer and plantation owner,
large crops of cotton were again
planted, as, heretofore, but care
full watch was kept for the APP
pearance Of the wsevil. The watch
ers were dismayed to find him
appearing in July in manyplaces.
Multiplying and spreading rapid
ly, it soon became evident that
he was to do much damage to
many crops. Each day brought
i'll fresh reports from new local
tiles of his arrival or of his in
creasing ravages. CONSERVATION
prevailed and. 6 gloomy view was
taken by many of the merchants
and farmers, While they realized
that the results for this year
would. not be widely disastrous,
they felt that the future of the
section as a great cotton-produc-
ing region was seriously threat
ened.
Just at this time the newly or
ganlzed Chamber of Commerce of
Natchez, composed of the leading
business and professional men of
the city, together with not few
of the leading planters who are
closely identified with every ele.
ment of the towns. life, saw in
the situation o splendid chance
to render real service to the
town and section. Mr.. l.. E.
DAVIS, the energetic Secretary of
the organization, at once called
the various committees together
to plan a Farmers Institute. The
States Institute Conductor, Prof.
R. E. Lloyd, was communicated
with and he at once promised his
support Realizing the lack of
experimental knowledge OH the
part of this States force of prac-
tical men, from the State corps
of institute conductors Mr.. Davis
at once enlisted the assistance of
DR.. S. A. Knapp, Chief of the
Farmers Cooperative Bureau of
the Department. of Agriculture,
who at once pledged, the support
of his department by agreeing to
send some of his best men, fresh
from the fight with the weevil in
Texas and western Louisiana. Also
the Governors of both Louisiana
and Mississippi lent their aid, as
did the Departments Of Agricul-
ture of both States.
Advertisements of reduced rail.
road rates, accompanied by cor.
dial invitations to the planters
of both States, were sent out to
the humber of several thousands,
so that OH Monday, August "a
and %, Natchez was thronged
with the leading planters. of both
States, all anxious to learn from
the speakers and experts sent by
the National Government and the
three States-Mississippi,. Louis
lana and Texas.
There were six sessions of the
Institute during the two, DAYS,
addresses by Governor e. f.
Noeh, Commissioner of Agrieul-
ture. for Mississippi BIakeslee,
Pros. j. A. Evans and Prof. G.
II. II. Afford and others of the
United States Government forces.
Prof. Wilmon Newell, of the
Louisiana C,,on Doat N:.