The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1910-01-21
WEEV|L GIVES
PROSPERITY
Or. s. A. Knapp Addresses LARGO eCroy,o
Of Planters at 6reenviIle

Grenville. Miss. Jan i7.-Dr 8 A
Knapp. Of the agricultural department.
at Washington spoke this afternoon to the
largest number of planters ever gathered
IN Washington county courthouse, Vt be-
ing estimated that more -more than
200. 900 acres of land were represented ia
the courthouse. during the one hour and
fourty five minutes the speech consumed.
The auditorium Of the courthouse was
crowded and many people stood about
.he walls, while pupils from the high
school were forced to seek seating in
the galleries.
The result of the address was plainly
manifested throughout the gathering, as
the emphasis that DR.. Knapp placed on
the repeated statements that cotton can
be grown to a profit IN spite of the boil
weevil, and that the weevil gave prosper
ity to any section of the country where
farming is conducted according to gov
ernment system, brought rounds of APP
plause.
gest land owners in the delta assured DIR
Knapp that they were prepared now TO
make winning fight, should the weevil
appear IN the delta, and plantation after
plantation as offered tor the free use of
the department demonstration.
Look for a moment at the increased
demands for cotton" said DR. Knapp. ",f
vcu note carefully, you observe tina, it has
doubled once in abe ut twenty two years
If we estimate 100000 bales as mini
mum supply on the part OF the Un,-d
States for the world as clothing at the
present time, we 60 back twenty-five years
and find that little more than o, 900, 900
bales we're sufficient at that time, and
twenty-five years prior to that 100000
bales tiled the demand while twenty-five
yeaas before that $4,000 met the ex-
igencieS of the trade.
IF We pursue the same line for the fu-
ture. we discover that in 1912 the word
will require of us 10000. 600 bales and in
1854 S2,OoO,OOO bales of cotton must be
produced in the United States. Here is
one of the most wonderful opportunities
for wealth that has been known within
the historic period. Our lands and CHI
mate are exceedingly well adapted to the
production OF the feecy staple and the in
te!!igence of the farmers of the South and
their long experience with cotton have
equipped them to do the work and do At
well!
Diversincation Of crops and a lesser
acreage in cotton, but with . greater
yield per acre, is advocated by DR..
Knapp to meet the situation. He laid
especial emphasis on the need Of good
drainage on the plantations in order
that the planters get good stand. OF
equal Importance, he pointed out, WAS
the seed bed, the seed and the subse-
quent cultivation of the growing crop.
He also advanced the necessity for
planting early-maturing varieties Of
cotton that puts forth fruit limbs
among the first branches.
The rotation Of crops along scientific
lines, in the opinion Of the governmen
expert, would compel the breaking up
Of many of the large plantations and the
adoption of a plan Of cultivation along
cooperative lines.
"lt certainly will modify very much
the tenant plan," he said, "for hitherto
we have leased our lands, and allowed
the tenant to farm at will. In future
the successful planter will obliged to
have his plantation supervised and his
work done according to definite plans.
"ln the case OF. large number Of in
dependent farmers it will require that
one man be employed to supervise and
give special directions to the small
farmers, because it will never be safe,
under the boil weevil conditions, to al
low the old, loose way of cultivating
cotton to continue. 1t is sure to result
in failure. In fact, it has always been
a failure to a certain extent"