Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-10-31
COTTON PROBLEM IN LOUISIANA

lana, in which the problem of growing o
long staple cotton in this State is full,
: discussed.
The following are some of the recon
mendations made in this Circular:
Louisiana must he considered as Stats
adapted to raising long staple cotton
Short staples can also be grown, but there
are special conditions that favor the pro-
dnction Of long staples. The planting Of
early-maturing short-staple cottons in
Louisiana was advised in the first years OF
the boil weevil invasion, as means OF
avoiding complete loss of crops. This was
because of the late-maturing habits of the
long staple varieties, which render them
very susceptible to weevil injury. Earlier
long varieties are now available, and il is
! believed that these offer the best prospect
of maintaining permanent cotton in
dustry in Louisiana.
No other part of the cotton belt has
produced Upland long staple cotton of
such high quality az the lower Mississippi
Valley, in the States of Louisiana and
Mississippi, and Louisiana planters should
be particularly careful to preserve the
uniformity of cotton and prevent mixing
in the bales. Every farmer should make
selections of seed a regular part of his
farm operations.
The rich soil and abundant moisture
of Louisiana, while factors that favor the
production of long staple cotton, also
have the disadvantage of inducing too
great righteousness of vegetative devel-
opment. One result is larte, bushy, slow
fruiting plant. Deep cultivation, which
has had the effect of root pruning and
is used as means OF inducing earlier
fruiting, has been used in louisiana Al,
still more effective means, however, has
been found. This is by leaving the plant
closer together during the earlier stages
of growth before they are thinned, and
then leaving them closer together in the
rows than has been customary. This has |
distinct advantages over root pruning by !
deep cultivation. Severe root pruning, |
if carried into the fruiting period, may
cause a shedding of the Powered buds,
and thus delay the crop. The two methods
of restricting growth, however, can be
readily combined if this should prove
necessary under extreme conditions found
y
in Louisiana. The question of the new
plan of topping the plant cannot yet be
answered for all of Louisiana.
Conditions that induce excessive growth
and late fruiting represent maximum
Of exposure to weevil injury. The early
flower buds enable the weevils to begin
breeding, and the large bushy plants pro-
tect the larvae in the fallen squares from
the heat and dryness that might other
wise destroy many of them. That the
boil weevil would be likely tn drive the
Did late-maturing varieties of long-staple
cotton out of cultivation was foreseen be-
ore Louisiana was invaded. For this
reason the Department of Agriculture,
nearly ten years ago, took up the devel- !
Dpment of earlier long-staple varieties.
The weevil danger appears more seri-
rus in Louisiana, because much of the
country is wooded and thus affords un- (;
lsual chance for the Information of the I
Insects, especially in timber overriding T
With Spanish moss. The long droughts
hat reduce, and sometimes almost exter- 7
innate the weevil population in wide re- {
ions OF Texas, are less likely to give re- G
pites from weevil danger in Louisiana. 4
The conclusion to be drawn from these {
acts is that while good crops are often r
aised in Louisiana in the presence of the Q
oil weevil, all precautions for avoiding
eevil injury will need to be observed 8
ven more carefully and efficiently in
than in other parts of the cot q
IN belt
Several different measures need to be O
to secure the maximum of pro- q
cton from boil weevil injury. Commu- o
tiles should unite upon the same variety a
cotton, plant it at the same time in the o
'ring, use improved cultural methods to Ii
lorten the crop season, and clear the n
lids early in order to deprive the vice.
Is of food and breeding places in the e.
tie fall and early spring months. ID
Where communities agree to begin the o.
anting of their cotton on the same date, E
ny early planting is not necessary, for d
e weevils would have less opportunity a
breed than if some of the cotton were
anted very early. On the other hand, al
ere will be less danger of injury to the D
OPP from periods of cold or wet weather, in
from spring floods. al
One of the chief obstacles in the way 81
proper appreciation and application n,
methods of weevil control is likely to st
me from the fact that there will be oc- OF
sional good seasons, with enough dry pl
ather in the early part of the growing w
son to hold the weevils in check, even
districts where no precautions have la
IN taken. Fortunately, or perhaps un- re
seasons of this kind have a
eady occurred since the weevils reached or
uisiana, and some of the planters have hl
N encouraged to believe that they Its
lid go ahead with cotton raising on pc
same basis as before weevils arrival