The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-04

rainfall during the months of MAY, June
July. and August of over % inches. As
the rainfall decreases, the ability of the
weevils to inflict injury decreases also
In central Alabama the rainfall for this
period is normally from 16 to II inches
and with this rainfall. particularly il
the black belt, heavy weevil injury may
naturally be expected. As a general
thing the weevil has reduced the cotton
crop from 10 per cent to Is per cent dur
ing the first year of real 1nfestat1on, that
Is, the year following the advance of the
Weevil into new territory. The second
year the loss has usually ranged from
70 per cent to 40 per cent, and the third
year from 81 per cent 10 20 per cent From
experience in other sections. we know
that part of this reduction in the cot
ton crop is due directly to the redue-
tion In cotton acreage, while the balance
Is due to the direct injury inflicted by
the Weevl
We in Alabama have no reason to an
uclnate the determination of the Weegil
by any factors either natural or artiti-
cial. The Weevil is already maintainiaa
Itself farther north than is any point IN
Alabama. we may not, therefore, eN-
pect winter cold to do more than -occas-
lonally reduce the number OF weevils IN
the horthern portion of the state Ne
have no record of such extreme drontl
ana heat occurring in Alabama as were
responsible for the extermination of the
weevil in barge area in western Texas
IN May and June. 1911. Through the
principal portion of the cotton area of
IeXas the summer rainfall is not over
two-thirds of that which we expect i'll
Alabama.
This drier climate in Texas together
with more extremely cold winter during
several seasons besides has materially =
reduced boil weevil injury in that state.
Here in Alabama We must count 3u
fighting the battle through less favorable
climate conditions
While the weevil has proved decided
ly important factor throughout nearly all
of its range, it has been definitely set
tied that up TO three-fourths of its direct
damage can be prevented bv the proper
application of methods that have been
found to give the best Yields under con-
ditions of weevil ,nrestation. The
heaviest loss has occurred in sections
where the fight is bound to be diff
cult on account of heavy summer rain
fall. soil type. etc, but to these diff
culties has been added condition that
may be aptly described as boil weevil
panic" This panic leading to the cutting
off of advances to tenants has brought
about the loss of labor which in itself
is a more serious matter than is the en-
trance of the boil weevil.
If we in Alabama are capable of learn
ing from the experience of our sister
states with the weevil we shall immed-
lately set to work to organize a move
ment that may be most fully effective
in holding the labor on our farms, in
reducing the acreage devoted to cotton
and increasing that devoted to other prof
liable crops. particularly those that may
contribute directly to the support of the
farmers family and stock: the applica-
ton of best culture methods for the
production of every farm crop and es-
pecially of cotton, which cannot be pro-
duced successfully in spite of the boil
weevil except by the use of good methods.
Besides these there are many other oh
jectiVes in our boil weevil campaign
which we have not the space to mention.
To make this campaign most effective,
it is essential that we reach the average
cotton planter and this man in central
Alabama at least is usually an iliterate.
unambitious. unprogressive and financial
ly dependant negro. To reach large
class of this type is in itself an enormous
problem. We cannot. however afford
to neglect them or ignore the danger that
exists In their attempting to continue cot
ton production under the old methods.
The farm demonstration work, growing
out OF the cotton Doll WeeVil inVestiga-
tions in Texas and spreading throughout
the cotton belt mas done a wonderful
amount of good. We cannot, however.
ignore the fact that valuable as this
work has been, ii has not started the
evolution of an agricultural system that
shall be more profitable and on as per-
manent basis as is that in many parts
of Europe where land which has been
under continuous cultivation for more
than 1000 Years is now producing from
two to four times the average crop that
we get in the United States. Our agri-
cultural problems. especially in the south,
are complicated and made more difficult
by the fact that the major part of our
farm labor is performed by the colored
race. The fact that our rural life has
during the past generation been drained
of its best white elements hut makes it
more imperative that the white race
should undertake to lead in such a cam
paign as we are considering. We can
not expect from our rural districts either
the organization or administration Of
such plans and methods as are essential
boil weevil. We must look to the more
intelligent. open-minded and progressive
of our business men and large planters
for the leadership, faith, courage and
unsefishness which are essential to sue
cess in this fight.
At the present time there are indica-
tions that the bankers and business mer
of Alabama are going 10 see that an
effective organization is formed by which