The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-22
AGENT REPORTS ON
MISSISSIPPI CROP
Half Yield of Cotton in Most
Sections
THE BOIL WEEVIL
saIe-warsIs Made ON Cattle
Tick-Associated Press
Operator Dies

Jackson, Miss, August 21.-(Special.)-
Prof. B. L. Moss, district agent of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work, has. during the past week, cover
ed a great portion OF the boil weevil
area in the southern part of Mississippi,
and gives out the following statement as
to the condition of crops In that Sec
ton:
"A careful inspection of cotton fields
Jackson south, to the Louisiana line, in
dicates that all of this territory will in
all probability produce better than half
a crop of cotton, despite the many ad-
verse influences that have affected the
crop. This view is shared by most of the
local crop authorities who have closely
watched conditions. A severe freeze the
last of April ruined all chances of a very
early crop, and the result of this, coupled
with reduced acreage, win necessarily
mean a small crop.
Reports from the southwestern part
of the state, where the destruction was
so to 60 per cent of normal crop on the
acreage planted. Close observers from
these counties seem agreed that the pro-
duction per acre is going to be far greater
than last year. despite the bad season
that has been experienced.
I'm the territory adjacent to Jackson
the indications are for as good or better
crop than last year. The weevil covers
all of Kinds county, but over the eastern
half the infestaulon Is comparatively light,
and this, with the vigorous war that has
been made on the pest, means that good
crop will be made. In the western and
southwestern parts of the county the
weevil has been serious factor. and
only half a crop, or slightly better can
be hoped for.
without exception, wherever a hard
fight has been made against the weevil,
fairly good crops are the result. Farmers
and business men are generally optimis-
tic, and are agreed that with anything
like normal season, and by close adj
herence to cultural methods, good crops
can be grown. In fact this has been
proven this year This spirit
OF hopefuness is fortified by the biggest
corn crop ever produced in south Mis-
sissippi. and by the presence of plenty of
good hogs on nearly every farm. The
that buys meat and corn next
season will be the exception, and 1t is
not improbable that some counties will
be exporters rather than importers of
these commodities"
Commissioner of Agriculture Blakeslee
received box of cotton bols in his mail
today from Wayne county, and which are
convincing evidence that the farmers of
the state have another dangerous enemy
to contend with. These bolls, ranging
hall f,tD Nov haa
attacked by a plant disease known as the
pink rot" and are as soft as mush.
The sender explains that he gathered the
lot of bols from one stalk. There are
about 20 in the package, SO that II all
other stalks In his field are similarly af
flicted his crop is cut one-half short.
The pink rot is a fungus growth, and
is distinguished from the dry rot or the
rot caused by wet weather by the dis
tinctly pink color Of the spots. 1t is not
conditioned entirely on wet and rainy
weather, but dampness Is believed to in
crease the disaster.
For the first time since 'befo de war;"
80 far as is known to the oldest inhabitant
seed wheat raised In Mississippi Is offered
for sale by the local seedmen and 1t ap-
pears to be an excellent quality, large
and full. This seed wheat was grown
in the vicinity of Rigeland, eight miles
north of Jackson, and sold here at SIPS
per bushe. There is every reason to be-
lieve that a great deal of this cereal will
be grown in this section of Mississippi
another year. 1t having been successfully
demonstrated to the farmers of the pres
ent generation that they can grow It Just
as well as they can cotton or corn and
that the bread 1t makes is good and
wholesome, II not so very white as the
mills Of the north turn out.
The live stock sanitary board is putting
In some good work Kidding the state of
the cattle-tick and other pests In 10
counties the federal government is do
Ing everything in its power to assist the
state authorities In getting rid of the
ticks-the bane of the cattle rasers of
this section. There are at least two men
engaged In each of the 13 counties. and
such another slaughter of ticks was
never before thought of in Mississippi
When this tick eradication work was
in this state a year or two
ago the farmers and cattle raisers threw
a great many obstacles in the way, and in
some counties the government experts
were run out by threats and intmida-
tons; the quarantine laws were defied,
and for while it seemed that the depart
ment OF agriculture was going to recall
all of its men, but finally listened to the
appeals of the state department Of ag-
riculture and to Governor Noel, so that
there has been but little interruption re-
Gently, and good work is being done.
W. L. Mcdonald. an Associated Press
operator, who has been taking the reports
for the Clarton-Ledger here for the past
year. dropped dead in his room last
night.
Mr.. Mcdonald had been cutting some
funny capers for two or three nights,
and tho Clarion-Ledger had been forced
to the necessity of getting another opera
tor for It's Associated Press WIRE Lee
had an idea that somebody was pursuing
him with a determination to kill him,
and while lodging in and out Of his
rooms and office was frequently heard to
exclaim. Don't shoot! But now that he
has hung 1907 on his hook the mantle of
charity is wrapped about him, and the
sympathy Of his friends goes out to his
wife. who has for several years been a
on Texas newspapers. She
lid not Join him at Jackson
The body was laid to rest this afternoon
at Cedartown. no word having been re-
,eived from his wife or other relatives.
and only a few of his printer frineds and
telegraph associates accompanying the