The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1909-01-14

Ell the counties where more OF tn
smaller farmers reside. The yer,
fact that the Commission found cot
ton growing ten feet high-show,
conclusively that the party did no
follow our methods, because OH ricl
bottom land our methods require
that the rows should be wider apar
and that the cotton plant, by means
of barring off, shall be kept at al
ordinary size or at least not be al
lowed to grow over four feet high.
"This dwarfng ofthe plant can be
done without material extra ex-
pense if the farmer knows how, and
will ensure, in connection with oui
other methods crop upon rich bot
tom lands. So our methods vary
quite little according to the soil to
be cultivated and the conditions uu-
der which the cotton plant must
live.
"This Is written with no intention
to criticise: the simple object is to
correct some errors which we think
have unintentionally crept into this
article and which are liable to do
injury. Now we will rejoice more
than a little if this Commission has
found a better way than the one we
advocate, and we are always glad
when county can take care of its
own affairs because we heve three
times the demand for ai6 that we
have funds to supply. In fact,
many counties are furnishing con-
siderable of the funds for work. It
should be noted also that counties
that we have worked considerably
are more willing to give aid than at
the commencement of our work.
zone county in Texas, where we
thought we had continued the work |
until we could remove the agent to
a more necessitous point. voluntari
ly this year raised the funds to keep
that agent. We wish III all cases
that the people themselves should
be the judges of what thew need
and to what extent our assistance
Is valuable to them We believe
that the people should investigate
and try if possible toberome so well
that they will not need as
sistance from any one We are
therefore in entire accord with this
spirit of investigation. and it will
relieve us materially to know that
your people are able to handle the
without any suggestions
from us. But I repeat that our
are only candid and
fair representation of what has sue
ceeded in various parts of the boil
weevil territory and has been most
effective in producing a crop.
ITO substantiate what I have
said. I give the following clipping
from our Bulletin No. 3I9, issued
one year since. giving the met hods
advised by this Department:
"First-The destruction of the
weeviI in the fall (a) by burning
the cotton stalks early in the fall
while the weevils are still upon
Them; (b) by burning all rubbish
in and about the field which mig hit
serve for alternating quarters.
"It is so difficult to secure gem
eral adoption by the farmers of the
plan of early burning of the cotton
stalks that we have allowed the
stalks to be turned under provided
he immature bolls are destroyed.
Immediately after de-
stroying the bolls breaking (plow-
ng), the field as deep as conditions
will allow.
"Third-The shallow winter cul.
ivation of the soil.
sFourth-As early planting as
he season will allow with saftey to
he crop.
"Fifth-The planting of early-ma-
uring varieties of cotton.
"Sixth-The use of fertilizers
Seventh-Leaving more space
the rows, and on ordinary
iplands having greater distance
between plants in the row than is
Usually allowed. On rich or highly
ersilized lands it is better to crowd
he plants slightly In the rows to a.
roid the excessive growth of the
stalks.
"Eighth-The use of the toothed
narrow before and after planting
and on the young cotton.