The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-03-15

urNYSt we nave SfSA A4ic~h y 20
cotton crop In all but the Atlantic
seates. taught some valuable lessons:
rirsf-It demonstrated that q crop
cotton. under heavy boil weevil in
saat3tior. could be made after July LIST,
crowded the farmers pick up the
n,,notIrcd squares and work the field
rnsensiyeiy. in fact, there were very
raQy hollis on the cotton plants in Lou
;s;ana and southwest Mississippi on
g,Iy list, 1903. The Weather then
became dry and warm, n such as
followed the instructions of the Gov
rrnment demonstration work made a
fair Cr0D Of cotton. both on the al
tlviai bottoms and on the hill lands,
and the planters who failed to follow
.5ch Instructions made very little.
louisiana has always had years of a
short crop, due to adverse weather
conditions, The GRO Of 1905. though
practically unaffected by the WeeHll,
yas only 611,12S bales. which, is less
rhan half the product Of 1904. Owing
=, the loss of labor and tear OF the
boil Weevji. about thirty per cent less
than normal acreage was planted in
c0tton IN 1909 and when practically no
cotton was made up to July 1st, such
vas the alarm that a large area of
cotton was ploUed up and planted 10
other crops. The amount piowed up
OF abandoned is by good
Judges at forty per cent. Bur ailoW
mat il Mas twenty per cent, ~deductins
E~Om the probable crop in such q sea-
son. to-wit: 5I1.738 bales, the thirty
per cent not planted and twenty per
lent Dl0Wed up or abandoned, and the
crop OF Louisiana, without alluNIng
anything for weeyil damage, hould
naTe been bout 286,51i bales. AS
ar as can be aScertained the crop was
about 10000 bales. This clearly
proves that the fright is more DAM
aging than the weeNil.
The second item emphasized by the
experience Of 1909 is the Importance
If picking III and burning the pune
tIred squares. There never had been
any question but picking up the
squares in the fore part Of the season
could check the WeeViis, but it was
proven in 1909 that it was effective
tftar the field was fully infested. il
rapid cultivation was continued.
The third item of value demon
atcated by the season Of 1909 is the
Importance of having the lana well
drained 50 the crop can be worked as
soon as the rain ceases. Under boil
%eeN5i conditions the heavy black
land ana temporarily drained fields
should be devoted to other crops, be-
cause intensive working of the crop is
d necessity. There must be no weeds
aud no grass in the crop.
Fourth, The past season has added
rs conclusive testimony in favor OF
the plan for making cotton under boil
~teNIi iRtestatfon which plan, approx
ed BY the United States Department OF
Agriculture, is as follows:
THE destruction of the weeYils
m tho T1ij M. ~ ~ n ~ l.I 49,
material in and about the field which
might serve for alternating quarter:
,! the WeeVilS, and breaking tplow-
'uSf the soil as deep as conditions will
tlipW.
The shallow winter cultivation
" -Ae sou II no V crop is used.
5-Daiaying the pIan TIL tn
"' and temperature are warn
enough III make it safe.
The planting of early maturin:
&fioiica OF cotton.
The use of fertilizers.
leaving more space etween tn
-'"9' and on ordinary uplands HAVING
greater distance between plants i!
ne row than Is usually allowed.
ne use OF the section harrow
'ei"r" and after planting and on tn
Dung cotton.
Intensive shallow cultivation.
3,-Agltation of tho stalks b.
means Of brush attached to the culti
EatOr.
ho--Picklng up and burning tn
TiudfeS that fall under Weevil condi
"oh3' especially during the first thirt
pr forty days of infestatfon.
it1contrOlling the growth of tn
liant II excessive by deep and clos
"tuFatlon while the plant is Young.
Selecting the seed.
"'-The rotation Of crops and tn
'S@ of legumes.
IL VIII be noted that the system. a
@@1'lli;cd, has a two-fold object: Il
ttduce the number Of weevils an
y? 10 aid early maturity. The fore
Ing methods may require modinca
- ~ % suit the soil and climate
W"efe there is too much food and
"tpiuS OF moisture available 20
. a IN any soil, sense die