Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-09

ed the bottom crop, made the plant TAX
on too much growth, and with enforce,
cessation of the fight against the weeyi
permitted the weevil to take portion O
the crop that otherwise would have beer
saved. In fact, in Tensas there was n,
making Of cotton after July 10. In Mad
lson, to the north, the heavy rains di,
not set in until "a few days later, as
whole, cotton making there until July q
In Tensas the planting of cotton was 4
little earlier, by about ten days than in
Madison and East Carroll, and accord.
ingly the Tensas crops are better than
those of the two neighboring parishes
there was an almost unprecedented
drouth, in all of May and June, making
the crop late in getting off, causes all the
more credit to be given the demonstration
methods of working in view of the crop
turning out as well as it has.
The system so vigorously followed in
combating the weevil in the Delta this
year was to hand-pick the wintered weevil
an average of twice, as soon as coming
out in force; going over second time about
ten days after the first picking. Then as
soon as the punctured squares begin to
show up, hand-pick the fallen squares at
two to three days after puncture; also
picking all flared squares at the same time
To this work return is demanded again
at about ten-day intervals, in all about
SIX to seven hand-pickings being done.
This close-together picking is most es-
sential on account of it being imperative
to keep ahead Of the new brood, for as
as twelve days have the insect been known
to hatch out in hot weather, though six
teen days might be considered as the ay
erage time. The cost of such picking,
where done by wage labor, ranges be-
tween $3.50 and $500 an acre, at the
most hardly exceeding $500 an acre,
even with the extra cultivation added
(going over crop with modern cultivators
20 many as or 10 times), in accordance
with the Government method of weevil
for early pushing of crop to
But as one planter interviewed
expresses it, it has come to be regarded
BY the tenant labor that fighting the
~eevil is as much part of their regular
task as is the keeping of the crop free of
grass. The negro women and children are
weevil gatherers, for about three-fourtlfs
Dr. more OF the men are kept blowing all
Turing the time the weevil battle is be-
ing wagcd.
Among the individual planters of Ten-
'as parish who conducted the best fights
against the weevil in the memorable 1914
and who are seasoned fighters
are to be mentioned, ID. A. O'Kelley, ID.
F. Ashford, F. l.. Guthrie, D. F. Miller,
). r. Kyle, F. II. Curry, G. e. Goldman
w. A. Netterville, H. L. Smitha and J.
H. Rollins. All of the above, with one
cultivated 500 acres or more in
cotton, and their success showed what
AN he done on large plantations with
iiligent weevil fight. And it is significant
If the new tend of things to tell that in
he above are representative planters of
he parish who were among the promi-
,ent cotton producers OF the days when
rensas led all Louisiana in cotton pro.
luction with some 81, 900 bales regarded
,s her normal output.
Here are some expressions taken at
'andom from few of them with regard to
he efficacy Of demonstration methods,
Seevil fighting and crop Investigation,
Is they have found to apply in this and
preceding years.
d. F. Ashford-"After fighting the
Teevil under approved methods ever since
he second year of it's invasion, 1 am more
irmly convinced, as result OF making
he 1914 crop, that it is the proper thing.
rhe past five yeas averaged $50 pounds
int cotton and last year made bale to
he acre on good many acres. This sea-
on / made a test that bears ont Govern
nent teaching. l experimental with not
'icking the first brood of weevils in row
n two Of cotton. The end of June
'icked 100 random squares from the
latch and found SO per cent punctures as
result of the activity of the second
rood; by comparison with similar 100
andom pickings in an adjoining cut
where the first brood were picked /
ound only II per cent punctures.
W. NJ. Davidson-"It has been my
ustom to burn old cotton stalks in the
all and have fought the weevil ever since
he first year it came. As per recommend
d methods, plant early. usually finish
bout April 5, and my rule is to give the
ropa good working once week. never
ave more than $50 acres in cotton and
90 bales is the minimum crop. In going
ver the crop by hand picking every 10
lays the catch last summer was extra
'eavy, the average being mighty near to
200 weevil to the acre up to the time of
altering infected squares. In picking
quares the average was 4 barrels daily
rom $50 acres, this followed from June
o middle Of July when stopped by rains"
II. L. Smitha-"I picked off all win
cred weevil when cotton was about six
inches high, going over the first planted