The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-03-24
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. 1t demonstrated that crop
of cotton, under heavy boil weevil in
festation, could be made after July Ist,
provided the farmers pick up the pune
tured squares and work the field inten-
sively. In fact, there were very few
bolls on the cotton plants in Louisiana
ard southwest Mississippi on July Ist,
1909. The weather then became dry and
warm, and such as followed the instruc-
tions of the government demonstration
work made fair crop of cotton, both on
the alluvail bottoms and on the hill lands,
and the planters who failed to follow such
instructions made very little. Louisiana
has always had years of short cotton
crop, due to adverse weather conditions.
The crop of 1905, though practically I'M
affected by the weevil, was only 5II,-
78o bales, which is less than half the pro-
duct of 1904. Owing to loss of labor
and fear of the boil weevi, about thirty
per cent less than normal acreage was
planted to Gotten in 1909 and when prac-
Ist, such was the alarm that large area
CT cotton was plowed up and planted to
other crops The amount plowed up or
abandoned is estimated by good judges
at forty per cent. But allow that it was
twenty per cent, deducting from the prob
able crop in such a season, towit, 5II,-
1873 bales, the thirty per cent not planted
and twenty per cent plowed up or aban-
doned, and the crop of Louisiana, with
out allowing anything for weevil damage,
should have been about 2S6,574 bales. AS
far as can be ascertained the crop was
about 10000 bales. This clearly proves
that the fright is more damaging than
the weevil.
The second item emphasized by the ex
perierc cf 1909 is the Importance of pick
ing up and burning the pvncturcd squares.
There never has been any question but
picking up the squares in the fore part of
the season would check the weevils, but
it was proven III 1909 that it was effec-
tive after the field was fully infested if
rapid cultivation was continued.
The third item fvalue demonstrated
by the season of 1909 is the importance of
having the land we'll drained so the crop
can be worked as soon as the rain ceases.
Under bool weevil conditions the heavy
black land and the poorly drained fields
should be devoted to other crops, because
intense working of the crop is a necessity.
There must not 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 weevil
lnfestation which plan, approved by the
United States Department of Agriculture,
is as follows:
I. The destruction of the weevils in
the fall by burning all rubbish and ma
terial in and about the field which might
serve for alternating quarters of the wee
wills, and breaking (plowing) the soil as
deep as conditions will allow.
2. The shallow winter cultivation of
the soil if no cover crop is used
8. Delaying the planting until the soil
and temperature are warm enough to make
it safe.
4. The planting Of early maturing va
rieties of cotton.
s. The use Of fertilizers.
E. Leaving more space between the
rows, and on ordinary uplands having a
greater distance between plants in the row
than is usually allowed
7. The use of the section harrow before
and after planting and on the young cot
ton.
8. Intense 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, es-
pecially during the first thirty or forty
DAYS Of infestation.
II. Controlling the growth of the plant
if excessive by deep and close cultivation
IL. Selecting the seed
Is. The rotation of crops and the use
of legumes.
1t will be noted that the system, as
outlined, has a twofold object: I. To re-
duce the number of weevils and second, to
aid early maturity. The foregoing meth
DDS may require modification to suit the
soil and climate. Where there is too much
food and surplus of moisture available
for cotton in any soil, common sense die
tates that these conditions should not be
increased by deep fall breaking. We
therefore advise the following plan under
boil weeyil 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 on the firm ground, Civ
ing more space between the rows. Prepare
a good bed before planting and main
tain 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
imensively worked.
Sixth. All the supplies of food and
forage must be raised at home and can
be On the lands not planted in cotton.
Seventh. 1t is practically safe to make
advances in boil weevil territory if the
farmer follows government instructions.
Eighth. There should be rigid system
of inspection to Sc that the government
plan is followed.
The great drowth and intense heat in