The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-11-14

HAC
the top crop and water from tn,
Brazos had backed up on some o.
his cotton, and ran through it, bul
the cotton was not killed and came
out and made fine cotton. Some re
planted did not do So Welt have
q sample of 1t also.
In driving through these lands
we went through Jane; the cotton
on the left was good very good. on
1.-THE right .itwas q failure. asked
fOtpatin watt TO stop his buggy, an
object lesson was before us and j
| wanted to learn it. Mr.. Moody
owned the crop on the right. / called
on him and asked why his croo was
50 poor, and the cotton next to him
so good. He said he did not know
| asked Mr.. Moody how often he
plowed his cotton. He said he did
not know, he plowed his cotton all
the time. The Lord was against
Moody. or he lacked elbow grease.
| l left East Brazos, with hopes for
the Ouachita. The crop was good
and Captain Watt said he knew it
was profitable. Being a banker he
may have had information that only
a banker gets.
| met the plow boy in the fields
and examined his crops. l met the
small farmer in his fields and ex-
amined his crops. | associated with
the King B farmers, and went all
over their crops and have come to
the conclusion, which is unanimous
among the Texans l Lave interview
in icto -h1
have the boil weevil, have got to
change our method of farming. If
we hope to cope with the weeyil
First we must take the risk of plant
Ing early, even if We have to plant
over; second, we will have to abol-
ish the one mule sweep and use cul-
tivators. If our negroes do not know
how to run them they viii have to
take lesson from Texas and learn.
We must put our cotton to one
stalk from the first working. then
the weevtl will have less cotton to
feed and breed on Tnen we must
use intense cultivation and pIow the
cotton instead of three or four times,
eight and in many instances twelve
times, as they do in Texas. The av-
erage to the hand must be increas-
ed and he must do more plowing, if
he expects to make living, as the
boil weeyil will certainly demand his
top crop. Indeed when rainy years
come, as they will. the weevils may
demand both middle and top crops
For this reason we will have to prac-
tice the most rigid economy; ali
leakes on the farm will have to be
closed, all excessive advances will
have to be stopped.
Ii you would escape the sad expe-
rience of the Texas farmer, l would
suggest that you go slow on cotton
the second and third year; after the
third year the unanimous opinion
among the Texas farmer, is, that boil
are not so ravenous. Cut and
burn your cotton and corn stalks, Ii
possible burn all stumps, logs and
dead trees next to your tillable lands,
thereby you destroy thousands of
in Information. Another idea
let me forcibly impress upon you.
Next to your timber barricade it with
your corn crops. just as far as you
can, then let your cotton intervene
between your corn and the river
front on your highest, lightest lands
that are well drained. Give up the
dea of ever making another top crop
IF cotton. | did not see single |
bloom on any corn in Texas, except /
The Guinea crop, near Corsicana, /
md | must have seen close to mil |
ion acres In cotton.
There is absolutely no method of !
the weevil; he is factor /
We have to reckon with. You can /
,ope with him and some years win,
others you will lose, but if possible
diversity, SO that you can even up
n case of cotton failure. AS your
| made a close and |
examination of condi-
ions in Texas. trudged through the
otton fields myself. hunted the Wee
Ill and in every stalk of cotton l ex-
mined. never failed to find him.
Hundreds of white farm tenants
AVE left West and Central Texas
nd gone to Northwest Texas and the
on account Oh boil wee
ills. 1t has been a transmigration
Il Texans more than it has been in
influx of emigration. Take for in
JaQCc JOEcS SOunts III ASVV @.AS |
made only 7,493 bales OF cotton and
906 she made 39,731 bales and
907 3s,711 males. Take Haskell
ounty. In 1900 she made 2,510
ales, in 1907 she made 1870 bales.
AXE Fisher. In 49, she made g.
64 bales, in 1906 she made Is, ,S09
ales. Take Hail. In 1909 she ma .e
II bales. and in 1907 she made 49,
Is bales. ..hus you see, gentlemen,
that boil weevils have accomplish
d: created new counties in Texas
Or cotton among her own citizens,
tho emigrated rather than risk
heir all against this pest. :.
Now let's see what has been the
eneral results in Texas since 1900
gainst boil weevils. In 1900 Texas
aised 3,419,959 bales; in 1901. q
95,144 bales: in 1902, 2,49. ,102;
, 1903, 2.4f1.147; in 1904, 3.12S.- !
AZ; in 1905, 2,545, 5,196; in 1906. A. I
63.91O bales; in 1907, 2.320.S15- ,
I these figures are not exactly cor
.ct. they are so nearly so there can
e no argument about it.
What is the conclusion drawn {
.om these figures We must learn =,
-om them that climatic conditions ,
cure results in the yield of the !.
rop as well as boil weev.-s- For in
9O6. when weather conditions were
re now in Santiago on a Presiden-