The Port Gibson reveille., 1909-11-04

H. E. BLAKEsLEE.
The Boll Weevil situation.

Inc boil WeeNlA SltuAbAOAs
DR.. Hunter has completed his sur
vey for the new line in Mississippi
for boil weevil infestation, and the
announcement made carries with it
some extremely interesting informa-
tion. Everybody in the state is more
or less interested in the advance and
ravages of the insect. That it Is com
pletely revolutionizing the methods
used in growing cotton, cannot be
denied. 1t is no longer necessary
to go to other states for this infor-
nation now. We have plenty of ex-
perience right here in Mississippi.
The line for 1909 will be drawn
through Washington county, near the
center, thence in almost direct line
to jackson in Kinds county. South
of Jackson, the main line of the Gulf
& Ship Island railroad will practical
ly be the line. OF course at the time
this investigation was made, during
the first two weeks in October, the
exact migration could not be deter
mined, but approximately it is cor
rect. For instance, in Washington
county the weevil was found at Glen
Allen and nearby points in the ex-
treme southern portion Of the coun-
ty. With some time still to elapse
before Information takes place, fur
ther advance would be made. In the
southern portion Of the state, where
approximately ninety miles bad been
made, it was possible for many more
to be added before weather drove the
weevil to Information.
Thirty counties in the state now
have the weevil and it is important
that the people take an interest in
the methods to be used in making
cotton in spite of the weevil. Little
can or has been accomplished in the
way of fighting the pest, but great
deal is being done to make cotton de-
spite his ravages. Adams county has
had an experience that it would be
well for other counties to take ad-
vantage of. Adams is normally about
$4,000 bale county. Last year the
yield was a little less than $4,000
bales. This year, it is contended by
many Of the best posted citizens that
the yield will not be more than g.
900 bales. It should be considered
however, that the acreage for this
year was less than half of that OF
last year to begin with and some of
this was abandoned later and put in
other crops.
The production of other crops in
Adams has greatly increased and the
general determination is to diversity
and raise some cotton anyway. Con-
siderable trucking was done this
year and the corn acreage almost If
not quite doubled. Grasses and stock
raising are receiving attention and
there is a movement on foot to build
a packing plant at Natchez to insure
a reliable market for hogs. Other
counties in that section where the
weevil has seriously interfered with
the growing of cotton are adopting
similar methods.
It only means few more years
until the whole Of Mississippi Will
be infested and it is time that our
people were looking upon it as a Sc
rious proposition and beginning to
take advantage of methods that will
become necessary when the weevil
comes. Counties not yet infested can
easily learn of what is absolutely ne
cessary by the experience of thi9
counties in our state first infested,
and begin now to make preparations
for his coming. A great deal can be
saved by this course.
1t is foolish to pretend that the
weevil is a scarecrow and that there
Is nothing in it as many are doing.
1t is a serious proposition and the
people of Mississippi can and Will
meet it in a safe and sane manner as
they have always done. Begin right
now gathering information as to
methods to be adopted and put them
In use. IT will save you multiplied
dollars in the near future, possibly
from ruin.