Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-11-22
JOHN N. Oracle ON
WEEYIL CONDITIONS
Sout!'> Largest cotton Planter Tells
How Staple is Being Raised De
spite the Pest.

Editor Graphic;
On our recent trip 10 Louisiana to
investigate the growing Of cotton un
der boil Weeyil conditions, We found /
the farmers of Madison, Riehand and /
Franklin palishes had raised Il good
crop of cotton. although the boil wee
vii was as numerous as amy previous
season After fully investigating all
conditions and methods of cultivation
we are satisfied that cotton can be
grown successfully under boil WeeVil
conditions. CGndensing our observa- +
tons into practical ideas, We are con- t
WINGED that to successfully grow cot
ton with tie Weevil the farmer must
closely observe the following rules. +
First. thorough preparation OF seeo
bed before planting. opening all !
drains and bitches to allow the soil
to become dry and warm with first
days of spring, thus insur.ng early
maturity of seed second, plant early
as danger Of frost will allow, say
from the first to the fifteenth
April; third, plant only the early ma
turing varieties of cotton, CFhe
Money-maker, Simpkims. Kings, I'M
proved and Cleveland Big Boil. seem
to be TIE k,nds that have proven most
profitable); fourth, cultivate rapidly
and push the growth of young plants.
You should pillow once every week
with cultivator or heel sweep; fifth,
and most important, pick mp and burn
all the punctured squares: it is use
less - try to grew cotton success
fully without destroying the punctur-
ed squares.
We find where these rules have
been carefully observed in Franklin,
Rec land and Madison parishes,
louisiana the farm rs have raised
three Ourths t. one bale per acre.
A few farmers are using nitrate OF
soda 10 push the growth of plant at
ter first hoeing: putting 100 to 1oo
pounds 20 the acre, dropping it along
the drill around the Young plants.
We found that the practice af cutting
and burning the cotton stalks in tee
fall had been abandoned. the govern
ment demonst rators cl ming that the
stalks cut and p,owed under were of
greater benefit to the land. In Wet
seasons the successful farmers use
turning plows and middle bursters %
Ike the middle clean. and the ordin
arv heel sweep and one-horse. cu1tl-
vators during dry weather.
There is a great diversity OF opin-
ion as to which is the most success
ful variety of cotton to grow under
bn,,'-- cyl conaitions Col. Maxwell
of Mounds, La., prefers the Simpk1ns
cotton: Mr.. Gilbert of Wisner plants
the Money maker. Both are very
successful planters, their crops yield
inc this season three-fourth to one
bale per acre. The negro tenants are
in better financial condition than they
were before the weevnl appeared. TIVE
unlim ted credit system has been
abandoned, ard tie tenants have been
encouraged to grow their meat and
bread. and not to depend upon their
landlord for everything they eat.
In our party there were eight ne
e,oes, good tenants from different
plantations. Thy investigator
thoroughly and returned home full OF
confidence that the Weevif can be
successfully combated.
To illustrate to our planters the
great success our Louisiana neighbors
are making, will give tie acreage and
crops of few farms that we inspect
ed The Hope estate, Mr.. Pennybaker
manasey, AGO acres, 400 bales; Mr..
Gilbert, 1900 acres, 1,000 bales, Cmade