Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-01-10
EDUCATION Asa FACTOR IN THE
FIGHT AGAINST THE BOIL WEEVIL


The bon weevil. according TO experts
who have studied the situation. will
reach Georgia in 1873. and It Is naturally a
subject Of great concern for it has proven
most destructive to the cotton growers
Of everv state which IL has yet visited
When Il first made its appearance In
Texas but little was known Of its char
acter or habits A constant warfare has,
however been waged against X since
that time and while no means OF stopping
its onward march has been ascertained'
much about It's life history has been
worked out. and means OF combating
II SO as 10 enable the farmer 70 grow
cotton In the presence OF the boil weevil
Is now fairly well established. Invesuga-
ton and study have therefore been, well
worth while. and in order 70 prepare the
farmers OF Georgia for this invasion. the
principal concern nov should be 90 place
the information and data secured before
them IN a practical and graphic form 50
that they may acQuaint Hhemselves with
the habits Of this pest and therefore be
prepared 70 resist It's attack.
The important thing 10 consider at this
time. therefore. IL how 20 educate the peo-
pie concerning the boil weevtl, and the
following suggestions are offered along
this line. First OF all. some effort should
be put forth 10 educate men who may
he employed By the state as travelling ex-
perts 20 meet with the people IN various
sections and explain to them the life
history OF the weevfs and the best meth
eds Tor its destruction. Other men will be
needed to act in the capacity OF investiga-
tors. FOR II should not be concluded Tor
ene moment that nothing more concern
ing Is life history or habits can be dis
covered. since some means may yet be
found TO encompass its destruction or
hold Il in check quite in advance OF any
thing known at the present time.
Having these ends IN mind. the state
College OF Agriculture Is now through its
four-year course training a number OF
Georgia boys along lines which viii fit
them admirably for the duties which this
new agricultural problem win impose up
on the farmers Of the state The evident
appreciation OF q thorough course OF
training IN agriculture Is shown by the
fact that the attendance on the four-year
course has increased some 30 per cent
durinr the past year. To reach larger
: 49, = sAer>er-<+<he Is. Of course
fcsIr9Sle' Shd with this end IN view sew
eral courses have been organized for the
benefit OF young men Of limited means
one or these Is known as the one-year
course. and is designed 10 prepare men as
plantation superintendents or as practical
men IN horticulture. dairying. animal hus-
hnnslrv and cotton industry. No entrance
rfouirennents are exacted for this course
ana tuition il free The fact that II has
proven OF value is shown by the number
Of voune men who have taken Il and re-
turned TO their own farms or undertaken
the uaanagement OF plantations OF consid-
cradle extent. This course Is increasing
In public favor and Is Of immense con-
Germ TO every one who owns land and de-
slres 20 acquire more definite scienunc
knowiedge concerning good farm practice.
Men who take this course will be pre-
pared to meet the advent Of the boil
weevil with feeling Of confidence.
since there are thousands OF adult
farmers who can not be away from home
Tor year, Il Is desirable that something
be done 10 aid them, and to place within
their reach the largest amount OF prac-
teal knowledge In the shortest space OF
time To this end q farmers short course
lasting ten days has been organized. COM
mencing on January .. Il costs but little
20 take this course. and yet during the
limited space OF time mentioned the prtn-
cipal facts concerning the boil weevil ard
the methods OF sol cultivation and fer
tfllxation best calculated 10 check its In
jury can be fully acquired by any farmer.
Excursions are also organized 20 the
college 50 that the farmers may see
the improvements Deiu6 Audoc Oh eAAc
land through the rotation Of crops and
the Inauguration OF live stock farming.
The demonstration field IN which fertil-
fzer experiments and breeding tests with
corn and cotton are being carried on Is
also an educational factor OF great Inn
portance TO the visitor. Ft-lly 1900 persons
visited the farm last summer and Il
Is thought this number 'Niil. Increase each
year.
IN these various ways. therefore. the
college az Athens IS endeavoring 20 serve
the farmers Of the state. and 10 place
before them a part Of the knowledge
which they must possess at the earliest
possible moment in order TO prepare
themselves for. the coming Invasion OF
the boil weevil
But this Is not ell OF its activities since
II has an organized correspondence bu-
reau which furnishes farmers IN any
-nart OF the state with free Information
concerning any problem which affects
farm practice or the care and manage
ssnenk OF I've stock. Some n.0oo letters
were answered last year. showing how
rapidly the farmers are coming TO appre-