New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-01-07
BACK.FIRE THE BOIL
WEEVIL

Just at present there seems -
be a determined effort 10 induce
the cotton planters Of the coun-
try to beat the boil weevil " 1t
is realized that cotton is the best
money crop the South has yet pro
ducld. and when given the proper
| ultiyation, even with weevils, it
VIII yield substantial rewards.
THE progressive farmeis know
that intensive methods will win.
and when incentive methods are
coupled with diversification. total
J failure is practically impossible,
When prairie or forest fires
threaten in the Middle West, the
flame fighters thwart the foe by
:" back firing" " They kindIe a
blaze, headed toward the err
croaching terror, burn up all sus-
tenance on its oncomlng path and
starve 1T out of existence. War
against the boil weevil, to be sue
cessful, should proceed very much
along this line, and it is incumbent
upon he farmers of North Louisi-
ana as We'll as the entire South, to
do their dead level best to eradi-
cate the pest which caused such
| devastation in its march to the
Atlantic ocean.
We desire to emphasize the fact
that the best method of back-fir-
ing against this foreign invader
yet discovered is found in cul-
tural methods, and, above all, in
diversifieation. If the farmers
plant an early maturing variety of
cotton, they stand fair chance OF
picking a good crop before the bug
that eats gold gets his share of
the banquet. eEqually Effective
from another angle is the plan Of
diversification. which teaches in
lqensive cultivation of cotton on a
smaller acreage, with larger part
of the land put In crops immune
| to the nav of the little but ex-
tremely active enemy,
During the past few years Texas
and Louisiana have, in a limited
degree, adopted the diversification
and intensive methods. and where-
ever conscientiously followed, sue
cess has rewarded the effort Of the
farmers. But here i'll Louisiana
there is still much room for i'm
provement along these1hnes. 1t
used to be the universal custom
in North Louisiana to plant every
ere of cultivable land to cotton
ignoring corn and the other farm
products. The boil weevil chang
ed this, but in doing 80 almost
bankrupted the farmers. as many
believed they could not farm with
out planting all the best land IN
|cotton. Some however, realizing
that all could not live in the towns
land cities. diversified their crops
and are today rated as prosperous
Instead of giving up the struggle
and seeking employment in the
|sawmills and in other enterprise.
THAT promised temporary relief, tht
progressive farmer planted corn
potatoes, peanuts. rice vegetables
melons. few acres to cotton and
devoted some time to raising chick
ems, hogs and cattle. This wat
the only wise course to adopt, ant
lit is the one best way to "back
fire" the boil weevil. We cannot
hope to absolutely subjugate the
little pest in the present status o.
our knowledge. But we can min
ljmize his depredations. Better
still, in corn and cattle and hos
raising. and diversificaton gen
orally we can find a financial off
set for his toll. We earnestly ad
wise every farmer or North Lou
|isiana, however, to plant a few
acres Of cotton and cultivate 1t IN
tensively. Use early maturing va
reties and adopt other short cut
. possible to head off the weevll
When this is done the farmers 0
, North Louisiana will regain thel
! former prestige and take the lea
in building up the waste places o
solid foundation.-News-Star.