Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1911-04-27
DR.. KNAPP'S WORK
70 the Farmers Of the South:

To the Farmers Of the South:
The death Of Dr. Seaman A. Knapp
Of the United States Agricultural De-
partment, which occurred in Washing.
ton, D. c., on the 1st instant, has been
a great loss to the farmers Of the
United States and especially to those
Of the Southern States.
Dr.. Knapp understood thoroughly
the agricultural problems Of the south
and, as the official in charge Of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work Of the Department, it may be
comprehensively speaking, that he did
more than any other one man in our
time to bring about the adoption OF i'm
proved agricultural methods in the
South
When the Mexican cotton boil
weevil began to spread over the fields
Of Texas and there we're predictions
that it would render cotton production
Improbable in all Of the territory to
which it might spread, Dr.. Knapp de-
voted himself to solving the problem
LOT maintaining cotton propuction in
spite of the presence Of that insect.
| He and those who we're cooperating
with him in this work we're soon able
to demonstrate that cotton could be
grown proGtably under boil weevil
conditions, and that simply by the
adoption of proper cultural methodist
farmers could, in some localities at least
grow more cotton per acre with the
weevil in their fields than they had
produced before its appearance. AS a
! result, by the time the weevil had
T spread eastward TO the Mississippi
n river the farmers Of the South had
q been educated up to the knowledge
;, that, by following intelligently the ad
d vice given by Dr.. Knapp, its destruc
At tiveness could be greatly reduced.
e d. KNAPP was an apostle Of gooc
farming in every department. he
taught the value Of fall blowing wit
It deep breaking Of the ground, OF grow
It, ing winter cover crops, and Of builc
II ing up soil feartility BY the proper rot'
u ton Of crops and by intelligent us
e' Of manures and commercial fertilizer
ay He beIived in growing live stock,
as least to the extent Of utilizing all Il
u farm, and producing on each farm,
'1' far as possible, all Of the foods requi
u" ed by the men and animals on ii
" farm,
oY One feature Of Dr. Knapps wol
It" which beIive to be of inestimable vail
MT TO the South was his organization
OK the Boys Corn Clubs. While Il
'e' immediate purpose Of these clubs
eu the growing Of corn, they are pertorI
In- ina much more valuable work T
MS the South in growing of farmer
au Their full value to our section will
eF' realized when DR.. Knapps Corn Oh
'u' boys, as grown-up farmers, apply t
,sS same methods Of intensive farming
'''' other crops and to entire farms Il
me n, they have used in making yields
NV corn on single acres.
'eu While doing so much for the be
use Of the South, DR.. Knapp did not n'
e" the girls, and the organization OF
nay Girls Tomato club at Aiken, 5.
'eo' last season marked the beginning oI
MS : work which has been greatly enlart
my for this season and which, at the ii
u'' Of his death, he was preparing
'''' further to expand.
ms feel sure that | voice the Sc
anne ments Of the farmers Of the South
a'O Of all the Southern people in expr
ye' ing the opinion that Dr.. Seaman
lVa,' Knapp was one Of the mos useful
'0GR ,I zens Of the United States in his
ver w eraioa, aad that in his death
off Whole seetian has suffered
COM loss
the W. W. FINLEY,
peo, Presidel