Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-25

leave him the scraps and you will WIN
the fight against him.
So says G. w. Roms, of texas, who
spoke to the boil weevil congress in ses-
sion at the auditorium on Wednesday.
According to statements from such ex-
perts as DR.. s. A. Knapp, special agent
of the United States department of agri-
culture; w. F. Proctor. special agent for
the United States department of agricul-
ture for Texas; G. w. Roms and others,
the boil weevil is not nearly so much TO
he feared as the scare that its presence
produces. In other words, where intelli-
gently fought the boil weevil is easily
gotten rid Of and instead of producing
dire results brings good. This good is
brought about by diversified farming and
better cultivation of lands.
The first address on the program for
Wednesday morning was that of DR..
Knapp. who has made such an extensive
study of the boil weevil and who has
given so much attention to its life and
the means of it's determination that he
reels off facts and figures without re-
ferring to notes, with readiness that is
striking.
COLONEL PEEK PRESIDED.
President E. Cabaniss, of the Georgia
Farmers union, who was to have presld-
ed over the meeting Wednesday, was I'M
abba to attend, and in his stead came
Col w. L. Peek, first vice president
DIR Knapp began his remarks by say
ing that great advances had been made
in agriculture in remarkably snort time
and that much of this was due to the
NI,a fprrlfI Ia
nartment and other organizations of a
ike nature. DR.. Knapp also said that
he believed Georgia and the south to be
on the eve of an Astounding prosperity.
This was DUE he declared, to the fact
that farmers were raising more OF what
thew needed at home and buying less
each year The only blot in clear sky,
he said. was the boil weevil, but that he
came with a message of hope.
The department of entomology, he said,
had done much to place facts in the pos
session of those who were fighting and
Manning to fight the boil weevil. The
weeyil. he said, was more of local than
general insect and confined its opera
tions to their fields where it fed. 1t never
flies. said DR.. Knapp, except when COM
neIled to do so for food and goes into
winter quarters right where 1t feeds. The
weevu cannot live more than six or seven
DAVIS without food and feeds entirely on
cotton. Sixty-fve or 70 days is the av-
erage life of the weevil when fed. 1t
laws its eggs in little squares.
HOW TO FIGHT.
Knowing these things, DIR. Knapp said
the fight against it should be divided into
two sections These we're how to fight
the insect and how to bert force the
crop to maturity. In order to extermi-
nate the weevil. DIR. Knapp said, 1t would
he necessary to burn the cotton stalks
in. the fall Run a plow through the field
he said, leaving every third row stand
ing The weevil will then go to the
standing stalks and they when burned
will carry the pest with them in smoke
If unable to get the crop out in time
to do this, DR.. Knapp said. the next best
thing was to cut the stalks and turn
them under the ground as soon as pos
sible. But in a warm climate this was
not nearly so sure a method as the eggs
might hatch and come out unless there
was plenty of rain. DR.. Knapp also ad-
vocates the picking up of squares and
saws that any man who can make crop
without the weevil to contend with can
make one with it. Pillow deep, was his
advice, with an instrument that will not
turn up too much of the sub-soil.
Well-drained lands are also very nee
essary, said the speaker, as. too much
moisture makes a poor crop. "All vege-
tation takes it's nourishment in soup
FORM" said Dr.. Knapp, ''and the soup
must not be to weak. Too much wetness
is like putting a spoonful of milk into a
gallon of water to feed baby.
Early planting, said DR.. Knapp, Is a
dangerous thing. Men who did accord
ing to figures that had been proven cor
rect would lose their crops about once
out of every two years as a result OF
frost Late planting after the ground
had gotten sufficient heat to insure safe
ty was the best. But by using early seed
late planting might mean an early
crop and better results. Then by getting
the crop out early the weevil might be
starved. A variety Of cotton that fruits
low was also recommended.
NO IRON-CLAD RULES.
1.-THE average man." said DR. Knapp,
Elves below his opportunities. He dies
one-eighth of man when he should
have been fully 100 per cent. There can
be no iron-clad rules to any form OF
farming, and practical agriculture must
be applied to all things. But in all To-
calities where the lava Of the weevil
will live I advise picking up the
squares. In Georgia the man who does
this will make a crop. 1t will cost less
than 81 an acre and Will bring In the
greatest returns possible"
In concluding his address DR.. Knapp
said he was not giving new ideas. that
the Romans knew what he had just
spoken Of and that farms for demonstra-
ton were as old as the world.
Adam had the first one" he said, but
did not make much of success. Pessi-
mism is the worst thing we have to con-
tend with, and If it were possible tc
poison II I would do so. 1 would not
give a yellow dog for man without
hope Teach manhood to your tenants
abandon everything possible at home
and prosperity is sure to result.
PROCTOR'S PRACTICAL TALK.
Mr.. Proctor followed DR.. Knapp. He
began by saying that he was Texan