Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-01-13
INTEREST TO FARMERS.
PREPARATION FOR THE BOIL WEE
VII AND OVERCOMING 1T,
Assistant Agriculturist Crosby Reviews
the Situation and Makes Some
Wise Suggestions
Editor of The Beacon:

to the coming or Che DOH WecNI 1
mentioned, first, some of the dis
tressing conditions found in those
portions of the State which are at
present overrun by this pest; Sc
cond, instance where farmers had
succeeded in growing cotton at a
profit in spite of the weevil; and
third, the six principal factors to
be observed in growing the cotton
crop under boil weevil conditions.
To make the latter more impress
sive to those who expect to keep
on TRYING to grow cotton after the
weeyiI has reached them | will re-
capitulate these six points.
First, the destruction of the
cotton stalks early in the fall
either by burning or plowing un-
der. This will destroy the weevils'
food supply and starve or so greatly
reduce the vitality of the majority
of them that they will not be able
to survive the winter.
Second, early and thorough pre-
marathon Of the land previous to
planting so as to insure gOod
stand and encourage a rapid early
growth of the young plants.
Third. early planting on well
drained land only.
Fourth, the use of early matur-
ing varieties of cotton. Those
highly recommended are the
sTeland Big Boil, Triumph and
Cook.
Fifth, planting in wide rows 50
as to admit plenty of sunshine and
permit the hot sun to Kill the
young weevils.
Sixth, early, frequent and shall
low cultivation and a continuation
of cultivation late in the season
DO everything possible to stimu-
late a rapid growth and early ma
turity of the crop.
These in brief are the principal
points to be observed in growing
cotton under bollweevil conditions.
They have proved successful in
many instances but are not by
any means given as infallible. A
cold, late spring, followed by
rainy summer would almost com
pletely upset all calculations and
the farmer who was depending en-
tirely on cotton would find him
self in very unpleasant circum-
stances.
1t will be seen then that cotton
growing is not to be depended on
absolutely as the only money crop
after the boil weevil reaches us.
We must have other crops to sup
plement cottOn-Other sources of
AGRICULTURAL income if farming is to
be success "uI and profitable. In
other words, we must diversity
ahd not place our dependence en-
tirely on one crop.
fully appreciate the fact that
there are many difficulties attend
ing a radical change from a one
crop to a diversified system of
farming. With the class of labor
we have to deal with such change
will undoubtedly be more difficult
to bring about in our cotton grow
ing country than it would in a
section where the labor is of a
higher intelligence or where a
greater percentage of the farmers
live on and manage their own
farms. Diversified farming means
more and better tools, more live
stock and more fences to keep in
our own stock and protect our
crops from the stocks of our neigh
bors. In fact, it means more or
less complete reconstruction of the
present farm scheme. Practically
everyone will admit that, all
things considered, a diversified
system of farming is superior to a