The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-12-19

3O,SO9 bales. The aggregate ma.
ton of these counties during ,ha =
years, 19O9-1912 inclusive, was :,
219,634 bales, with a value Of ann,.
mately Sl4,GO0,OOO, or an ayerse.
about s3,65O,OOO per crop, as comm,
with a value of nearly $1,000 OOO I
the crop of 1907"
In addition to this tremendous |,
1t is pointed out that the invasion
the pest has had a far-reachiny
fiuence on the social and economic
of these communities. Farmers N
In some instances abandoned the
tempt to produce cotton; others
reduced their acreage materially
cutting off much farm labor fro,
ployment, and resulting in theil
grafton to other places. II is pa
out that for these reasons. /,
should the boil weevil suddenly an
pear. it would be impossible to m,
normal crop of cotton for a NUM-
of years.
Louisiana grew its largest cron
cotton in 1904-1,0S9,526 bales. IN
that year the production steadily
creased until in 1910 it was only d
64S bales. This decrease was due
marily to the invasion of the boil VI
vii. Much land formerly devoted
cotton was planted in cane, rice
other crops. Ten Louisiana paris
produced more cotton In the year 4
ceding the boil weevil invasion d
in the four seasons following II. 1
loss to these ten parishes IN 4
years was approximately s50,0oo,q
In the same way the weevil has d
encroached upon more than hall
Alabama, with corresponding los
but the Alabama growers were bel
prepared for II on account Of the
perience that had been gained n
it's ravages in the other states to |
west. Florida, too, has been alta,
in the northwestern portion q I
state and much damage has be q
there; but the area is small n
pared with other sections dew -
and Florida is better prepared a.
vote its attention to other crops.
The boil weevil, as Entomolo(
Worsham points out, Is now right
the Georgia line at the point WI
Georgia, Florida and Alabama J
1t will undoubtedly come into q
gia in 1915 and begin its conquest
this state. But Georgia is better
pared for its coming than any Of
other states have been on account
the extensive work which the q
department of entomology has
doing. Cotton breeders clubs
been organized in the counY
throughout the southwestern sect
of the state, and the farmers d
been taught to plant as early as
sible and to grow early maturing
rieties, together with strains that
resistant to other diseases. Furf
facts as to what Georgia has done
is doing, under the direction OF
tomologist Worsham, will be given
another article of this series.
DR.. w. d. Hunter of the Uni
States bureau of entomology, In cha
of southern field crop insect inv9
cations, who perhaps kno'
about the history and oper :
and damage wrought by the
vii than any other one max
a recent interview: r ~
Georgia is better prepared for
coming of the boil weevil, through
work of its state board OF entomoiq
than any other state which mas
become infested. When II does n
that state, as 1t must do shortly.
farmers will be in better posiI
through the knowledge which
must have acquired, to meet ana
with its attacks"
It has also been pointed OUT
the adoption by the farmers on
infected states of the expeo'e
which have been brought forwaru
Georgia, will enable the farmers
those states to cope much more
cessfully with the pest from year
year.
With all its preparedness, never
less, Georgia will suffer mater
from the invasion. There is ever!
surance, however, with what mas
done, that the loss OF this staie
be far less proportionately tnan
suffered in other states where
were unprepared for 1t and mol ~
of the extent and seriousness "
; :, i,,rv ;nHiotad