The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-12-06
tAtlanta constitutional

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was not only thimeiy but, 1 believe
will arous the farmers and business
interests Of the State generally to an
appreciation OF the impending danger
from this destructive insect.
However, Georgia has been actively
alive to the coming OF the boil WeeVli
for the past seven years. and several
thousands of dollars have been ex-
pended by the State Department OF
Agriculture and Entomology in pro-
tecting the State from the boil Weevll.
IN 1908. while you were president OF
the state Senate and / was chairman
Of the Senate Committee or Agricul-
ture, a bill was introduced and passed
appropriating none to enable the
State Entomologist to study the habits
of the weeviI, issue bulletins to the
Farmers as. how best to safeguard
their cotton crops from the insect, and
also to establish and a strict
quarantine against the shipment Of
products from the Weevil-infected ter
ritory of the Southwest into this State.
oar State Entomologist has been
acting along these lines for the past
seven years, and the farmers institute
and extension work of the State Col
lege of Agriculture has likewise been
an important factor in preparing the
farmers of the State for the coming
of the weevil.
Within the next two or three years
the boil weeviI will invade the cotton
fields of this State and the real fight
against the pest will begin.
h United States Department of
Entomology and Plant Industry will
then establish a force of experts in
Georgia to assist the farmers, just as
has been the case in the other cotton
States already infected.
AS an adjunct to the State depart
ment and college work. it should be
the policy of the State to welcome all
h aid which car be given by the
Federal Government.
The boil weevil is the most disas-
trous insect known to science, and one
which no specific. as yet discovered,
will eradicate.
The cotton acreage of Texas has
been increased 80 per cent III the past
ten years, but there has been no cor
responding increase in production.
Normal crops in Texas can only be
assured when the winters are SO Sc
we're as to practically exterminate the
weeVils in their period of Information.
Last year, with nearly 100000
acres planted in cotton, Texas pro-
duced only $500, 600 bales.
IT. e State of Louisiana produced
over 1900 600 bales OF cotton in 1905.
but since the invasion OF the weeviIs
the crops for the past two years have
been reduced to a quarter Of a million
bales, practically paralyzing the cotton
industry Of that State.
In 1908 the State of mississippi
produced 100000 bales, but with the
invasion of the weevil the crops for
the past two years have been reduced
fully One-third.
[ believe that the climatic co-di-
fions in the old co~ttOn-groWing States
will be far more favorable for the
propagation of the weevil and it's con-
sequent destructiveness than is posi-
bic under the severe winters and hot,
dry Of Texas.
Georgia farmers should be i'm
pressed with tire seriousness Of the
situation they are to face within the
next three years. and, urged by the
State press and our departments Of
agriculture, to p for war In
times Of eaC
Follow the advice Of the Govern
ment experts. who have spent years in
The study Of the weeviI and have
learned the best methods OF fighting
the insect.
Above all things. teach the armer
Of Georgia to begin at once the pro-
ductiOn Of home supplies and to breal
no the credit system.
Teach trem the imperative necesst-
~ Of BEGINNING now the better meth
DDS Of Investigation and intensifyine
the culture Of the soils and crops.
If the AVERAGE farmer can be
rough within the mex three years to
the ownership Of d full corn crib aud
s~nlokehouse as a necessary part OF his
farm operations. the invasion of the
boil weevil in Georgia can be better
resisted, because the farmers will have
ammunition on hand with which to
make the tight.
The corn demonstration work, now
being SO splendif)v carried out in
Georgia Dv the United States Deuart-
rert or Agriculture. * doing ines+i-
Enabla good along these lines. and
should lie in every way encouraged
Let no man n1inimizc The trernen6o Gus
destructive forces % the Mexican cot
ton boil WeeviI. Millions Of dollars
have been expended ~ the States in
fecte3 and by the Federal Govern
rn~nt, ard the nest il, still going for