The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1909-02-25
LETTER FROM DR.. KNAPP.
Answers Telegram and Shows
Interest in South.

DR. S. A. Knapp, in charge o
Bureau of Plant Industry of the
Agricultural Department, asking
that he aid this section as much as
possible in its fight against the
boil weevil. In reply to one of the
telegrams DR.. Knapp says:
Editor Reveille:
We appreciate your wire and
wish to assure you that we will do
everything possible to relieve the
situation in the Mississippi Valley,
as has been done in previous years
in Texas while the boil weevil was
making its way across that State.
Your people are at the present
time experiencing exactly the same
panic as existed in varying de-
grees from year to year since the
first advent of the weevil in the
State of Texas. 1t has taken Texas
a few years to master the boil wee
VII situation, but the statistics of
cotton production will show that
the Central and Eastern sections
of the State, which had always
produced the larger portion of the
cotton crop, are still producing it
and that, Notwithstanding the put
ting in of many new lands in the
Pan Handle, the center of produc-
ton of the State of Texas has made
but a small movement toward the
West. We are thoroughly con-
vinced that if the people of Texas
have mastered this situation, the
people of Mississippi will be equal
to it.
One of the first things which the
people should do is to put in a
good crop of corn, vegetables, ETC.,
so that the living for the family
and the stock will be made eco
nomically and with as little ad-
vance as possible. Of course,
to limited amount, to planttWs
who WILL FOLLOW PROGRESSIVE
METHODS. This we think should
be encouraged as far as possible.
The second point is, that the cot
ton land should plant only early
maturing prolific varieties and
then cultivate them intenslvely.
If these points are carried outWe
feel reasonably sure that fair crop
of cotton can be made in yonr
county in an average season.
The report has been circulated
that there has been such differ
ence in rainfall as to prevent you
from raising the crop, but you will
readily see that the annual rainfall
is not the factor in the case. 1t is
not only question of the amount
of rainfall during the crop growing
period but of how it falls, because,
under weevil conditions,a a cloudy or
damp day is practically as ideal for
boil weevil conditions, as a rainy
day. If we should compare the
statistics of Port Gibson with
point even as far West as Dallas,
Texas, you will note the following:
Precipitation. 1905 1906 1907 1908
Dallas, Texas ..........2ozs zsos 1868 a1.S2
Port Gibson, Miss. .......26.eI 1913 z1.es a7.66
Clear Days. 1905 1906 1907 1908
Dallas, Texas, 70 90 "a So
Port Gibson, Afiss........... 7s "a rs II
Agreeing that the greatest enemy
the weevil has is hot sunshine, it
will be seen that your conditions
are not as discouraging as you
would think. The question to
which you must give your greatest
is in getting the owners
and managers of the cotton plan
tations in your county to realize
that their success depends upon
their own efforts and that, if they
change their cultural methods they
will be able to make cotton, but if
they do not change, they will fail.
Thanking you very much for
your hearty cooperation, am,
Very truly,
S. A. KNAPP,
Special Agent IN Charge.
Injured BY a Fall.
Last Friday afternoon Mrs. M.