The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-23
Lessons from the Cotton Crop Of 1909.

Lessons from the Cotton Crop Of 1909.
The season Of 1909, while one Of the worst
we have ever known for the cotton crop in
all but the Atlantic States, taught some
valuable lessons:
First It demonstrated that a crop OF
cotton, under heavy boil weevll infesta.
tion, could be made after July 1st, provided
the farmers pick up the punctured squares
and work the field intensively. In fact,
there were very few bolls on the cotton
plants in Louisiana and Southwest Missis-
sippi on July 1st, 1909. The weather then
became dry and warm, and such as fol-
lowed the instructions OF the Government
Demonstration Work made q fair crop OF
cotton, both on the alluvial bottoms and on
the hill lands, and the planters who failed
to follow such instructions made very little.
Louisiana has always had years Of q short
cotton crop, due to adverse weather con-
ditions. The crop Of 1905, though practic-
ally unaffected by the weevil, was only
511, ,73S bales, which is less than half the
product Of 1904. Owing to loss of labor
and fear of the boil weevil, about thirty
per cent. less than normal acreage was
planted to cotton in 1909 and when prac-
tically no cotton was made up to July 1st,
such was the alarm that large area OF
cotton was plowed up and planted to other
| crops. The amount plowed up or aban-
doned Is estimated by good judges at forty
per cent. But allow that 1t was twenty
per cent, deducting from the probable crop
| In such O season, to wit, 511 1888 bales, the
thirty per cent; not planted and the TWEEN,
| the crop of Louisiana, without allowing
anything for weevil damage, should have
been 2s6, ,754 bales. As far as can be ascer-
| tanned the crop was about 100000 bales.
This clearly proves that the fright Is more
damaging than the weevil.
| The second item emphasized by the ex-
perience Of 1909 is the Importance OF pick
| Ing up and burning the punctured squares.
There had never had been any question
but picking up the squares In the fore part
of the season would check the weevils,
but it was proven In 1909 that 1t was effect
| i've after the field was fully infested II rap
| i'd cultivation was continued.
| The third item OF value demonstrated
by the season Of 1909 Is the Importance OF
having the land well drained 80 the crop
can be worked as soon as the rain ceases.
Under boil weevil conditions the heavy
black land and the poorly drained fields
| should be devoted to other crops, because
intensive working Of the crop is neces-
sity. There must be no weeds and no
grass in the crop.
Fourth. The past season has added its
conclusive testimony In favor Of the plan
for making cotton under boil weevll infes-
tation which plan, approved by the United
States Department OF Agriculture is as
' follows:
/. The destruction Of the weevl in the
fall by. burning all rubbish and material In
and about the field which might serve for
alternating quarters Of the weevils, and
breaking (plowing) the soil as deep as con-
ditions will allow.
3. The shallow winter cultivation Of the
soil II no cover crop is used.
8. Delaying the planting till the soil and
| temperature are warm enough to make 1t
safe.
4. The planting Of early-maturing va
rieties Of cotton.
5. The use Of fertilizers.
6. Leaving more space between the
rows, and on ordinary uplands having a
greater distance between the plants in the
row than ;s usually allowed.
7. The usaof the section harrow before
and after planting and on the young cot
| ton.
8. Intensive shallow cultivation.
9. Agitation Of the stalks by means OF
| brush attached to the cultivator.
| 10. Picking up and burning the squares
that fall under weevil conditions, especial.
ly during the first thirty or forty days OF
infestation.
II. Controlling the growth Of the plant
IL excessive by deep and close cultivation
while the plant Is young.
IA. Selecting the seed
| 13. The rotation Of crops and the use OF
legumes ,.
lined, has two-fold object: Q) To reduce
| the number OF weevils and ~ to aid early
maturity. The foregoing methods may
require modification to suit the soil and
climate. Where there is too much food
and a surplus Of moisture available for
cotton in any soil, common sense dictates
! that these conditions should not be In
creased by deep fall breakings. We there,
| fore advise the following plan under boil
Weevil conditions on such lands:
Burn all the cotton stalks, and after the
weeVils have gone into winter quarters
burn all the rubbish In and about the field
as early in the fall as possible. In the
spring, bed the firm ground, giving more
seed bed before planting and maintain
ridge cultivation through the season. The
foregoing is especially for lands where,
under weevil conditions, there Is an excess
of plant growth.
Fifth. The lands must be well drained
and no larger area planted than can be In
tensively worked.
Sixth. All the supplies Of food and for
age must be raised at home and can be on
the lands not planted to cotton.
Seventh. II Is practically safe to make
advances In boil weevil territory II the
farmer follows Government instructions.
Eighth There should be rigid system
Of inspection to see that the Government
plan Is followed.
The great drouth and the Intense heat IN
July and August last year throughout Tex
as and Oklahoma accentuated the impor-
tance Of deeper tillage and more thorough
preparation Of the soil.
l ask every Agent Of the Farmers Co.
operative Demonstration Work and every
farmer in the Southern States to do his
best to make a banner crop Of all farm sta
nles In 1910. S. A. Knapp
Special Agent in Charge.