Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-01-20
IN IMPENDING CRISIS
THE THREATING CLOUD HANGING
OVER COTTON
Facts and Figure Gathered by a NOx-
ubeean in the Boil Weevil Dis
trict of the State.
Editor of The Beacon:

Ell friends that when Mr.. j. >. Cav
ett and returned from our trip to
that portion of mississippi where
the boil weeviI has been so des-
tructive to the cotton crop, that
we would give you the benefit of
our observations. But after read
ing the very full discussion of the
boil weevil problem in your last is
sue by Mr.. M. A. Crosby, it seems
that it would be unnecessary for
me to undertake Il further discus
sion Of this subject. He knows SO
much more about it than / do, I
feel that | can do nothing but en-
phasize what he has written.
His article is so full of good COM
mon sense, and so well expressed,
that / can add to it in no way, so
/ shall content myself by giving
some facts and figures, gathered
from reputable men in all avoca-
tiOns, showing the effects of the
boil weevil invasion on the pros
perity of the country.
Many people in every cOmmu
nifty persuade themselves that the
weevil will pass them by, that they
will escape his ravages. That this
latitude is too cold, or the country
here too open, or that by their
methods of cultivation, and their
superior skill, they can still grow
cotton. This is undoubtedly a
fallacy-a dream from which they
awake too late. Experience has
.,..Own that the weevil can stand as
much cold as the cotton plant. and
his territory will be cO-eXtensive
with cotton. Two weeks ago the
thermometer stood not many de
grees above zero, but the first
empty boil we examined contained
a live weevill. A prominent law
yer at Fayette, Jefferson county,
remarked ''That the only people
who will escape the weevil are the
ones who escape taxes and death. :"
So get that idea out of your mind.
The people in the infested terri
tory say that the one serious and
RUINOus mistake made by every
community is in planting one cot
ton crop too many. The pest ap-
pears late in the season, and not
in such overwhelming numbers,
and they confident that they can
grow another crop, but generally
the next season they multiply SO
rapidly that the crop is destroyed
and they have burdened themselves
with a debt that will be hard to
pay. The wise course is to cut the
cotton crop to be planted after
their appearance, at least one half.
We should begin now to raise all
our supplies. We cannot make a
change of all our methods of farm
ing at once, so we should begin to
diversity right now.
/ have no pet plan or scheme to
suggest, but would urge farmers by
all means, to raise an abundance
of corn, meat and hay this year.
It is my observation that the most
successful farmers all along have
been those who made these neces-
ary things.
Without further remarks, shall
give you the facts and figures gath
cred from reputable men in the
communities visited. Our letters
of introduction put us in touch
with bankers, merchants, lawyers
and farmers. The figures were fur
nished in two counties by the
Chambers of COmmeace. Some of
these statements may be surpris-
ing, but / am not writing from
memory, for the figures were
made for us by business men or
taken down by me in their pres
ence.
/ wish it were possible that all