The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-10-21
4 BLESSING N DISGUISE.

U2AOOWVV ~ |
It seems to be the prevailingopin-
on among those who are more OPP
timistic that the boll-weevil, if it
will be a blessing in dis
And there are others who
seem to think that it will end all,
and play havoc in general.
We are inclined to be with the
optimists, and feel sure that though
the pesky bug may come upon US
and cause q devastation Of our crops
for a season or so, at the same time
we feel that our good people will
be able to cope with the situation,
and that they will come out of the
ARRAY with a splendid agricultural
education.
It is evident to all that the Delta
will never properly develop its
natural resources as long as
its people continue to throw their
money to the Northern markets for
commodities that they should raise,
and that could be produced by them
at a less cost oven than they are
produced by the sturdy yeomen of
the North and West.
They at present seem contented
with this extravagant system of
farming and la1ity of methods, and
have not yet been charged with the
push that ch~aracterizes the farmers
who r now getting gravy in the
shape of the enormous profits they
are receiving for the products they
are sending into our State. They
do not, as q majority, heed the
warnings and accept the advice of
those employed to study out the
better methods of farming, but
continue to bask in tho shades OF
this restless dependence upon the
cotton crop.
The advent of the boll-weevil
into certain parts of the State has
taught many a farmer a lesson, and
now that farmer is raising his own
mules, hay, corn and other necessi-
ties for the production Of the cotton
crop. He has put a crimp in bis
old method of paying out all his
profits to the dealers up North and
in the West, and is now p~racticine
economy and raising his cotton
crop at a cost at least half OF what
he expended before the invasion o.
the weevil. His plantation makes
better appearance, a more system
attic method is employed in ttt
management of his farm, and there
is more content and prosperity thar
ever before.
This change will be wrough
when the boll-weevil throws it,
phalanx of destruction upon GU!
cotton crop. Our people will maxi
a successful fight against its inva
sion, but will sustain much los'
during its presence. In a shor
time the bug will be entirely eradi
Gated, and the Delta will be covered
with improved farming in ever!
line. Our farmers will be fount
raising their own mules and horses
they will be eating their home
raised meats. Plenty OF corn, hay
rice, will be on hand and there will
be an air of prosperity that ha
never been experienced. All of GU
cabins will be white washed; ever,
farm will be fenced in with tn
proper material. Better gins viii
be installed, and probably by tina
time a sufficient number of cotto'
mills will have been established il
the State to use the supply.
At any rate, there is no use to b
so uneasy over the little bug. 1t i
on its way, SO the experts say, an
the time is not so distant when j
will be here by the millions. TIL
whole situation will turn out thai
instead of taking time by the fore
lock and begin farming in the RICH
way, our people will have to pa,
handsomely for the tuition.
It would be so easy to start mex
season crop off Alright and be read,
to make the fight a less strenuou
one, instead of having to suffer TO
not needing the admonition so wide
~ given out by the experts in thei
talks through the press and from
the stage.
Mr.. Robert Gardner came home fror