Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1913-09-12
OF INTEREST TO PLANTERS.

brought about this gratifying result
We accordingly wrote to Mr.. }.
B. Ardis, of Shreveport, a large
planter and merchant, the subloined
letter, which, together with his re-
ply, we think will prove interesting
to our readers. The letters are as
follows:
st. Joseph, La, August 80, 1913.
Mr.. j. B. Ards,
Shreveport, La.
Dear Sir-Mr. j. +. Byram, manager
of our locM oil MILL has given me your
name as one who would be likely to give
me some information which i desire and
| write to trespass on your valuable time
for that purpose.
The boil weevil is present in this sec
ton in greater numbers than ever before
altho there has been a complete infesta-
ton here since 1909. They have destroyed
every square and. bloom put on by the
plant, since August l., and are now de-
stroying many bolls. The crop OF this
parish (Tensas) will probably be the
smallest ever produced. Under these cir
cumstances, we are naturally looking Tor
some ray of light and hope for the future.
/ beg to enclose an editorial which APP
peared in the Tensas Gazette August 10,
in which we comment on the remarkable
increase In cotton production on Red Riv-
er since 1908, the Census Bulletin OF Cot
ton Production showing an increase in
Caddo parish, in that period, OF some 100
per cent.
Would YOU be so kind as to give me
your views as to the causes which have
produced this result. / would like to
know whether there has been an increase
of acreage sufficient to account for 1t,
also how far you think improved cultural
methods have contributed.
Do your planters, generally speaking,
pick up and burn the infected squares,
as advised by the Department OF Agricul-
ture, and destroy the old stalks as early
in the autumn as practicablef
Is there any reason to believe that some
enemy, parasite or other, is destroying
the weevil in such numbers as to bring
about the increased yields in your section
noted in this editorial?
l am aware that an answer to the
questions allowed submitted may take up
a considerable amount of the time OF a
busy man, but / trust that the gravity OF
the situatian over here, as outlined above,
will be sufficient warrant for my intrusion
on you and that you will favor me with
reply.
Thanking you in advance, | am,
Very truly yours,
JOSIAH p. SCOTT,
Mgr. Tensss Gazette.
| Following is Mr.. Ards reply:
Shreveport, La, Sept. 3, 1913.
Mr.. Josiah p. Scott,
Mgr. Tensas Gazette,
st. Joseph, La.
Dear Strive acknowledge receipt oil
your favor of the 30th and take pleasure
in giving the information desired, and as
Captain 6. Garrett happened to be in o1I
office when your letter came, and he is
one Of the field agents of the government
we gave him your address and list o.
, the questions propounded and asked that
he give you his views. As these are the
result Of several years experience in hii
own and governmental work, it should
be of value.
3 Our own judgment is, after having tried
/ various crops that even with the Dol
weeyil and the minimized production o
; cotton they entail, that cotton is the bes
, thing to depend on for a. money crop. o.
course, il is important to raise feed crops
. at home, as well as fruits ard vegetables
, for home consumption. For two or thre'
years here the boil weevil destroyed thu
crop down to about a quarter of bal'
! on the alluvial lands. Since then we have
been making about half bale, due pref
!, ty largely, We think, TO early cultivation
improved varieties of seed and frequen
7 blowing. We find the Simpkins and Kin,
: seed the quickest maturing and the SAT
q est with the weevil, and after the cotton
!. be. ms to square il is advisable to til
. switches on the ends of the single-tree 81
y as TO brush over the stalks of cotton ant
G knock off the weevis. II is also advis
{ able, up to June, to pick up the infecte'
!, squares and burn them. After that tim
we don't believe much in it, nor do W
: believe in destroying the stalks as pre-
j. tentative. Some of our people talk abou
q the parasite which preys upon the weevi
. but we don't take much stock in this
We have a very large increased acreag
e which accounts for a part of our gain
: also, as stated, above the per acre produc
h ton is improving. 1t is good thin
to cut out the fence rows, clean up tn
bitches and do away with underbrush q
y much as possible.
J. Yours truly,
a ARDS & CO., IT'D,
j. B. ARDS, Pres't.
Il Mr.. Ards letter is disappointin
e inasmuch as he thinks. that as We
no enemy of the weevil has appeare
which had any effect in diminishin
y the pest. In fact, the cultural meth
y DDS employed on Red River, as out
Il lined in the letter, differ in no wa
) from those used here by our bes
i. planters and which here so far hav
not produced the favorable result
on which we congratulate our breth
!, rem on the Red.
II IL -
s Quite a hot contest took place j
S the second ward last Tuesday at tn
i special election to fill the Office c
e member of the School Board, mad
: vacant by the removal of Mr.. r. Y
e Newell from the parish.