The leader-enterprise. [volume] (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1912-1915, 1913-02-28
GEORGIA DEVELOPS
VALUABLE COTTON
State Entomolosist Ready for Boil
Weevii and Black Root-other
important Work.


mology has produced an entirely new
variety, as yet unnamed, which will
meet boil weevil conditions, by matur-
Ing early, and will at the same time
resist the black root or wilt disease.
This new variety Of cotton, which
has been developed under the direc-
ton of State Entomologist e. Lee
Worsham, Is an intermediate long sta
pie cotton, that will bring price far
In advance of the ordinary upland or
short staple cotton. 1t is of kind
that will bring about twenty cents a
pound on the regular market, under
normal conditions.
After long and careful series Of
experiments, under the direction OF
Mr.. Worsham. this cotton has been
produced with a combination of quail
tiles never before possessed by any
| one variety. 1t has three elements
which are Of hundred-fold value for
the very reason that they are COM
bined; it meets boil weevil conditions,
it resists the wilt disease, and will
grow practically anywhere in the cot
ton belt, whereas Sea Island cotton,
the only other long staple variety In
this country, is confined to a narrow
belt near the sea coast.
This new strain of cotton was
evolved to meet the peculiar situation
which will develop in Georgia when
the boil weevil crosses over from Ala
bama next year All specialists had
agreed that the best way to combat
boil weevil was to use early matur
ing varieties. but in Georgia 1t was
found that the varieties which ma
tured early were peculiarly suscepti-
BILE to black root and would only es
cape one pest to be ruined by another
In the light of this situation, the very
great Importance of the State Boards
contribution. to the situation becomes
at once apparent.
More Seed Later.
For the time being the supply OF
seed for this new strain will be small,
as the State Department has only
about an acre Of it, but this is to be
distributed in small quantities to
farmers who will take careful inter
est in the development of the new
variety and will cultivate it in &C
| cordance with rules furnished by the
department. The seed will naturally
be distributed first in that section
of the state where the boil WeeVll
will first strike, that is to say, in
Southwestern Georgia. In the section
which includes some twenty-five coun-
ties next to the Alabama line, Mr..
Worsham has already organized cot
ton-breeding clubs, composed of plan
ters who will cooperate with the de-
partment in bringing about the fur
Their development of the new cotton.
The department, under Mr.. Wor-
sham's guidance, is engaged in
continual and aggressive warfare
against crop and fruit pests and dis
eases of all kinds. These diseases, 1t
is estimated, would cost Georgia's
crops s25,OO0,O0O or $30,OO0,000 a year
if no efforts were made to control
them.
The Red Spider Scourge. -.
a
her of bulletins, dealing with various
plant diseases and pests, which have
attracted attention all over the coun-
try. His red spider bulletin in colors
is considered an authority on the sub
iect. These bulletins are sent free
to all applicants, whether Georgians
or not. Mr.. Worsham's experiments
have made possible the practical con-
troll of the red spider problem. An
other free bulletin is about to be is
sued, dealing with the mole cricket.
It is the controlling of plant dis
eases and insects that has made pos
sible the growing OF perfect fruit In
Georgia Through their work 1t is
now possible to control at small ex-
pense the San Jose scale, peach cur
culio, coddling moth of the apple,
brown rot, apple scab and other orch
ard diseases. In addition all nurse
ries and growing stocks are Inspected
once a year, and strict eXamlna-
ton is made of all nursery stock I'M
ported from abroad.
Mr.. Worsham is now planning tor
his agricultural Institutes for next
wear. He holds about one hundred
annually in connection with the State
College of Agriculture, and some
twenty-five of his own, dealing solely
with chronological subjects. In FeD-
ruary he will organize cotton CLUBS
in 25 counties Immediately east OF
those already organized against the
boil weevil. Any citizen OF Georgia
is at liberty to call on the depart
ment for special service or assistance
at any time without charge. Inc
appropriations made by the legisla-
ture have been increased from SlO,OOo
600 non annually since he TOOK