The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-05-24

MeSSrS, G. n. COLLINS anu ~
Dovle of the United States Depart
ment If Agriculture describe in tn
Geographic Magazine their recen
ionrnev through Southern Mexico
ito investigate the cotton culture 0
that region.
"Aa the cotton boil weeVil wa
known to exist in that region, sa'
these gentlemen, ''it became Of inter
est to discover, if possible, why thl'
insect did not prohibit the CONNER
eial culture of cotton here as else
where in the American tropics,
II may interest readers to know
something of Mexican cotton anu
Mexican corn, so we here give the
noints of most Importance determln-
ed by these travellers.
Beyond Santa Lucia, say tnese
gentlemen, 1.-The country is very par
rem. There are long level stretcnes:
surrounded by high pinnacles Oh
rock which appear to be limestone
Here logwood is abundant. 80 Iar
az we could learn no use is maze
of this dyewood, and the transporta-
tion facilities are probably INSULT
Gent TO warrant it's expectation. Inc
only agricultural operations seen IN
this part of the country were rev
scattered fields of Indian corn and
.voung heneuuen plantations.
travelling in this sparsely inhab-
foTnC WnIl ar
the haciendas along the road, but III
the towns it is difficult to secure any
accommodations There is not suttl-
Gent travel to warrant hotels, and
the generous hospitality of the nm
oueros is entirely wanting in the
towns
''At Cintalapa we learned of a cot
ton plantation at Rosario, which we
visited. The way from Cintalapa TO
Rosario leads through two broad val
leys separated by low hills; the same
dry-land type of vegetation contin-
ned. consisting Of fine-leaYed Ie-
gumes, grass and occasional cactl.
Occasionally corn fields were the on
Iv signs of cultivation. The corn had
all been harvested, and the plants
showed that they had been doubled
and the tops cut for fodder. At
Rosario. which is located on similar
land, Senior TiradO is growing beans,
corn, tobacco, cotton, sugar with
irrigation), and henequen. He also
keeps a quantity of cattle, and is
making cheese. The place is strik-
ing example of what can be done on
these dry lands by intelligent man
agement. Senior Tirado gladly gave
all information requested, and is
willing to send seeds TO the depart
ment or aid in any way possible.
The cotton crop at Rosario had
just been harvested, but the plants
had not been destroyed, so that we
were able to secure data regarding
the nature of the variety and its
method of culture. The field used
this year for cotton was about TWEEN
~ acres of practically level, sandy
ground inclosed by low hills.
The method here employed for
com batting the weevil is to plant the
cotton only in alternate years. When
Senior Tirado began planting cotton
several years ago four or five other
fngueros began planting at the same
time. Contrary to the advice of
Senior Tirado the others planted the
year, and the weevils COM
pletely destroyed the crop. Senior
Tirado waited until the others had
planted for three successive years,
each time the crop being a complete
failure, when all gave it up. He then
waited another year and planted
again with good results, and has Sc
cured good crops every alternate
year since. The off year he plants
corn, beans, tobacco, etc, and gets
good use Of the land. He naively
says that cotton yields so abundantly
that one ought Q be satisfied with
every other year
From Senior TRADE we also OBJ
tanned five varieties Of Indian corn
hat are admirably adapted to dry
conditions. The corn natures here
IN from forty to sixty days.
Grain weevils are a serious pest
at Rosario, and Senior Tirado has
adopted several ingenious methods
to prevent their ravages. He pro-
tects beans by storing them in cow
hides, which are sewed up and the
seams sealed with lime. He states
that they will keep indefinitely in
packages of this kind.
"A common custom in these re-
giOns is to plant a climbing species
of bean in the corn fields soon after
the corn is planted The short-sea-
son corn natures and is doubled be-