The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-24

OH tiiihs has SWclltItu IOT Ine past
three days and Weather Observer Horton
attributes 1t principally to the high hui
nudity. The humidity yesterday regis
tered 9S per cent, which is exceptionally
high and this coupled with a temperature
maximum of so to a maximum of 100
miles. This Is the distance that we ex-
pect 1t to take the weevil two years
to cover naturally. The establishment
of colonies of weevils in the neighbor
hood of such mills may therefore occur
one and possibly two years ahead of
the general weevil advance.
Too Dangerous
"The danger of this occurring, and the
irreparable damage that would result
should it occur at any point, seem to
me TO be too great to allow any plea of
commercial expediency' or of any pos
sible increase in the price of seed to the
farmer by letting a few more mills into
the market. to Justify its adoption. Per-
sonally, the writer has seen far too much
of the dire effects of the weevirs oc-
currence to feel that we can lightly risk
imposing that burden upon any of our
cotton planters even for a single year
before 1t is bound to come to them by
unpreventable means.
II cannot, therefore, as entomologist
to the board of horticulture and entomol-
ogist to the Alabama Experiment sta
ton, or even as a citizen of Alabama,
feel that l can quietly assume the respon-
sibility before the people of this state
of being supposed to have advised and
approved this latest amendment. 1t
should be made perfectly clear that
have most strongly opposed the removal
of all quarantine restrictions upon ship
4..a- .A~1 Ill lie
that may be located anywhere between
so and 100 miles outside of the infested
area of the preceding year. l am per-
fectly willing to assume the responsibility
for having formulated and recommended
such removal of restrictions as applying
TO mills that are practically certain to
be brought within the weevil area by
the general advance of that season. This
was the substance of the original pro-
vision. But the responsibility for DELHI
erately allowing living weevils to be car
ried so miles a year beyond that area
has now been definitely assumed by a
majority of the state board of horticul-
ture All that | desire Is to make 1t clear
" and generally understood that the en-
tomologist of the board is not respon-
sible in the slightest degree for the ac-
ton of the board.
my attitude in this matter is not based
in any degree upon any feeling OF antag-
onism toward. or lack of consideration
for, the oil mill interests of the state,
but rather upon an earnest desire to
postpone Just as long as may be possible
the occurrence here of such conditions
as now prevail in the infested parts of
Mississippi, where throughout large areas
cotton production has been decreased by
fully 90 per cent, and where many oil
mills are now standing without having
turned a wheel during at least three
years
Personal Explanation
Il make this statement to the public
only after much hesitation and with deep
regret, that | may maintain my own self
respect and feel that ! can clearly claim
that of the men before whom l have
spoken and among whom l nave lapored
in the boil weevil campaign in Alabama
during these past five years. l cannot
help having also some regard Tor my pro-
fessiona standing throughout the united
States and know that among my Fellow
entomologists this action of the Alabama
board cannot hope to meet with even Inn
tied approval | trust that 1t may De
possible for me to continue now, without
nandicap. the work of helning to pre-
pare the people of Alabama for the bat
tie with the boil weeyil, SO that our nght
may be more effective and successful mere
than il has ever been in any other sec
ton. We can accomplish this result only
nv earnest persistent and cooperative
action along advanced lines, such as Will
include the banker, tho merchant, the
landowner and the farm laborer.
II wish il most clearly understood that
this statement is purely an explanation OF
my personal views and that 1t does not
either express or imply any charge or
question against the uprightness or sim
cerity of purpose of any member OF the
board, or of any business men of Biz
mingham by whose request the action
has been taken. We simply differ in our
basis of information on boil weevil facts
and as to our conceptions of the rela-
ton of our quarantine regulations to such
! facts and to the results that may follow
to both cotton planters and to oil mil
men, Every man is clearly entitled TO
his own view of these things-as Is also
the man who don't believe that the boil
weevil will ever reach Alabama and
those others who hold that the boil Wee
VII will not and cannot repeat here in
Alabama, the great damage that 1t has
done In Mississippi where all conditions
of climate and of cotton culture are most
nearly like those of our own state.
II shall be as glad as anyone can be
If during these next three years we may
have no single occasion to regret what
| appears to me now to be dangerous ana
unwise action. w. f. KINDS,
| "Entomologist Alabama State Board OF
Horticulture. July %, 1872.
ROND ISSUE