The Tupelo journal., 1908-09-11


present in some of the districts where
the weevil knocked the bottom out of
everything q few years ago. Although
times were hard for a year or two,
when the people recovered and began
an intelligent handling of their farms
they were today in better condition
than those who had never had the
the weevil to contend with.
Three meetings of the greatest agri-
cultural importance have been held in
the state during the past month-meet-
ings that were well attended and char
acterized by intense interest on the
the part of those who came. The boil
weevil convention at Natchez was the
largest attended, drawing people from
six counties in Mississippi and three or
four parishes in Louisiana. This meet
ing was promoted by the Natchez
Chamber OF Commerce and was a splen-
did success. 1t vas made possible by
the fact that the boil weevil had ar
rived in the territory adjacent to
Natchez and that some prompt action
was absolutely necessary to counteract
its damaging effect. The large theater
building used for the meetings was
comfortably filled at all sessions except
the first, and at times standing room
was freely used. 1t denoted the fact
that the people in that section had be-
gun to realize the great damage to be
done by the weevil and their interest in
remedial measures. While there were
a number of excellent speakers upon
various subjects, by far the most in
structive and interesting talker of the
occasion was DR.. Evans, of Shreveport,
La, who is in charge of the govern
ment demonstrations with reference to
the weevil in Louisiana and Texas. He
was in a position to give actual expert
ences with the weevil covering a period
OF five years spent in fighting the pest.
his advice was particularly interesting
and instructive, and it would be worth
a great deal if he could be secured to
make this address in a large number of
the Mississippi counties that are to be
infested with the weevil during the
next few years. DR.. Newell also deliv-
cred an illustrated lecture on the weevil
that carried with it valuable informa-
ton. Other speakers upon the main
subject, as well as others of import
ance, were given strict attention. The
meeting was a splendid success from
every standpoint, was made permanent
and date announced for another later
on. The people of that section are
deeply interested in adopting approved
methods to combat the weevil, and will
no doubt work the matter out s~atisfac-
torily.
The Farmers Congress at Lexington
was another meeting of Importance and
splendid attendance. This meeting
was under the direct supervision of DR..
5. A. Knapp, director of the farmers
demonstration work with the United
States department of agriculture. 1t
held for four days, and the interest
showed a healthy increase throughout
the entire time. One of the features of
this meeting was an excellent exhibit
made by the farmers in that county.
1t was selected from the demonstration
plats throughout the county and shown
as an example of what could be accom-
plished oy cultural methods. DR..
Knapp delighted the audience with two
splendid ~discourses on agriculture and
a number of short talks on specific
propositions during the meeting. He
was located for a number of years at
Lake Charles, La, and is thoroughly
acquainted with conditions in Missis-
sippi. A number of gentlemen spoke
upon agricultural propositions, and sew
eral demonstrators gave their expert
ence, together with the success attained.
1t was a great meeting, and will be
productive of good throughout the Sec
ton from which the attendance came,
covering several counties in that part
of Mississippi.
The roundup of farmers institutes at
the A. and M. college, under the direc-
ton of Prof. E. r. Lloyd, was the most
recent event of this character to take
place. For a number of years this has
been the general meeting for those who
we're enough interested in agricultural
development to make a trip to the col
lege. The attendance has only been
fair so far, but a special effort was
made to bring the number up to 500 for
the 1908 roundup. That it did not
reach the desired mark this year was
no fault at all of those behind the move
ment. Every effort was put forth to
bring the people to the meeting, and
while the attendance was gratifying it
should have been better. 1t is we'll
worth a trip, together with the small
expense incurred, and it is to be hoped
that next year more thar five hundred
of the best farmers in Mississippi will
be on hand.
These agricultural meetingsare grow
ing in favor each year, which is a
source of pleasure to those who have
labored for their success. The ipsti-
tutes have shown a decided increase in
attendance and interest, and few coun-
ties indeed fail to call for them now.
This is a strong Indication of the fact
that Mississippi and Mississippians are
awakening to the fact that preparation
is necessary for intelligently handling
the problems that continually confront
the farmer.