Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1914-12-16

30,s09 bales. The aggregate produc-
ton OF these counties during the four
years. 1909.l9l2 inclusive. was only
2l9,63i bales, with a value OF approx
mately $4,000. 900, or an average Of
about $3.50, 900 per crop. AZ compared
with a value Of nearly $1,000. 900 for
the crop Of 1907"
In addition 10 this tremendous loss
II Is pointed out that the invasion OF
the pest has had a f~ar-reaching in
fluence on the social and economic life
OF these communities. Farmers have
In some instances abandoned the at
tempt TO produce cotton; others have
reduced their acreage materially. thus
cutting off much farm labor from en-
ployment, and resulting In their emf
grafton TO other places. II is pointed
out that for these reasons even
should the boil weevil suddenly disap-
pear. II would be impossible TO make
a normal crop Of cotton for a number
of years.
Louisiana grew its largest crop Of
cotton In 1904-l,0S9. 526 bales. From
that year the production steadily de-
creased until in 1910 II was only 245.-
GAS bales. This decrease was due pri-
marily to the invasion OF the boil wee
vii. Much land formerly devoted 10
cotton was planted in cane. rice and
other crops. Ten Louisiana parishes
produced more cotton In the year pre-
ceding the boil weevil invasion than
in the four seasons following 1t. The
loss to these ten parishes in four
years was approximately $500 900.
In the same way the weevil has now
~encroached upon more than half OF
Alabama, with corresponding losses,
but the Alabama growers were better
prepared for 1t on account of the ex-
perience that had been gained from
its ravages in the other states TO the
west. Florida. too. has beer attacked
in the northwestern portion OF the
state and much damage has been done
there: but the area Is small as COM
pared with other sections devastated.
and Florida is better prepared to de-
vote its attention to other crops.
The boil weevil. as Entomolosist
Worsham points out. is now right on
the Georgia line at the point where
Georgia. Florida and Alabama Join.
II will undoubtedly come into Geor-
gia In 1915 and begin it's conquest OF
this state. But Georgia Ia better pre-
pared for its coming than any OF the
other states have been on account of
the extensive work which the state
department OF entomology has been
doing. Cotton breeders clubs have
been organized In the counties
throughout the southwestern section
OF the state. and tho farmers have
been taught to plant as early as pos
slble and to grow early maturing va
%rieties. together with strains that are
resistant to other diseases. Further
facts as to what Georgia has done and
is doing. under the direction OF En-
tomologist Worsham, will be given in
another article Of this series.
DR. w. ID. Hunter of the United
States bureau Of entomology. In charge
OF southern field crop insect investi.
cations. who perhaps knows more
abou the history and operations Of
and damage wrought by the boil wee
vii than any other one man. said "A
a recent interview:
Georgia Is better prepared for the
coming OF the boil weevil. through the
work OF It's state board Of entomology.
than any other state which has yet
become infested. When II does reach
that state, as II must do shortly, the
farmers will be In better position
through the knowledge which they
must have acquired. to meet and cope
with It's attacks"
II has also beer pointed out that
the adoption by the farmers Of the
infected states Of the ~expedients
which have been brought forward In
Georgia. will enable the farmers OF
those states TO cope much more sue
cessfully with the pest from year to
year.
With all It's preparedness. neverthe-
less. Georgia will suffer materially
from the Invasion. There IL every as
surance. however. with what has been
done. that the loss OF this state will
be far less proportionately than that
suffered In other states where they
were ~unprepared for II and not aware
OF the extent and seriousness Of the
Injury inflicted.