Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-11-23
CHECKING WORK
OF BOIL WEEVIL
The War Against Pest Has
Been Successful.
(By Martin w. Calvin.)

/
visited upon cotton growers in Texas
and Louisiana aggregate millions of
dollars. The government estimate for
1904 was that the loss occasioned by
the weevil amounted to $4,000, 900;
1905, $18,G00.0OO; 1906, $40, O00, 900;
1907 $25,OOO,OOO 1908, 100000, 900.
Since 1905, the loss seems to have
been heaviest in Louisiana.
The remedy which has been most
fruitful of good results is that which
checked the weevil by burning the
stalks in the fall, the careful selection
and systematic use of seed of the earl
lest varieties of cotton, proper prep
aration of the SOIL liberal use of
high-lgrade fertilizer adapted to the
plant, and rapid, light cultivation far
into the season..
The introduction of war-waging in
sects did not materially hinder the
weevil, and, while the parasites were
active in their field of endeavor, the
| host of the weevils pressed forward
| and on. Dryness-the absence of rain
proved to be a factor of more than
ordinary Importance and effectiveness.
Varieties of cotton known as King,
Rowden, Russell's big boil, Mebane,
Shine, Gibson and Parker figured con,
spicuously in the contest and gave
more or less satisfaction. King, Park
er and Shine are the preferred yarie-
| ties.
in order that l might present your
readers with a clear insight into the
situation, enabling them to understand
how very effective were the efforts of
the government officials In the war
against the weevil, and especially the
immense value of the simpler proec-
dure i. e. the best seed of the earliest
varieties of cotton, thorough prepara-
ton of the soil far in advance nf
planting time, rapid and light cultiva-
ton. / have studied the comparative
and the average acreage and crop
during six years of non-occupancy
by the pestiferous pest.
In Texas, during the six years of
non-occupancy. 1898-19O3, (the weevll
appeared in '99, but was not fully un-
tder way till 1904, the average acreage
amounted to 1871 Sol acres. During
the period of occupancy, 1904-19O9, the
average acreage was S,721, 165 acres,
an increase for the last periods of
,349, 564 acres.
The crop during the six years, 1898
1908, both inclusive, averaged 2,S13,-
62S bales. In the six years of occl-
pancy 1904-19O9. the crop averaged
3,083, 1875 bales-an increase of 269, 537
bales over the first mentioned period
In Louisiana, the acreage for the
six years of non-oceupaney, 1S9S-1903
both inclusive, the acreage averaged
l ,497 1888 acres. In the period of oc-
eupancy, 1904 1909, the average acre
age was 1,528,106 acres-an increase
of 80 623 acres.
The Louisiana crop, 1S9S-1903, aver
aged 778,563 bales In the period 1904
1909, the crop averaged 664, $50 bales
"a decrease in the annual average Of
1868 bales. These figures exclude
linters.
The foregoing statement attest the
fact that the war waged against the
weevil in Texas and in Louisiana has
been successful to a very gratifying
and encouraging extent The figures
show that the cotton growers of Mis-
sissippi, Alabama, Georgia and the
Carolinas have but to take time by
the forelock and be protected against
the weevil when he swoops down on
them
believe that the facts in this ar
ticle will highten interest, in the At
lanta Boil Weevil Conference this
week. in the minds of number of
your readers who may take the tron-
tle to wade through them.
Experiment, Ga.