The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1916-11-10

J. P. Wade, commissioner of agri-
culture of the State of Alabama, has
prepared the following statement con-
corning the situation in that State this
year:
Invasion of Alabama.
THE cotton boil weevil entered
ALABAMA on the southwest corner
kaoout five years ago. About half of
the area of the State had become in
tested by the end of the year 1914
during which 100000 bales of cotton
were produced. In 1913 campaign
for diversified farming was carried on
Statewide. This naturally resulted in
the reduction of acreage planted to
cotton Is to 20 per cent, and a de-
crease in the use of commercial ferti-
llzer of so per cent, Notwithstanding
l,04O,OOO bales of cotton were pro-
duced In the State. On August Is,
1918, severe gale played over the
State, blowing from the southwest.
This being the migrating period for
the weevil and the wind being in the
favorable direction, weevils were car
ried to all parts of the State and to
several counties in Georgia.
I'm 1916 the acreage planted to cot
ton was increased over that of 1915
about 10 per cent. The use of COM
merclal fertilizer was further decreas-
ed 15 per cent. A yield of 1,2OO, 900
bales was expected under normal con-
ditions. On July S severe storm of
wind and rain traversed the State
from one end to the other, the trough
OF which was about the centre of the
StateA This was followed by continu-
Gus heavy rains for about three weeks.
This extremely unfavorable weather
occurred just at the vital time of
fruiting and at the time when wet
weather would aid boil weevils most
and render farmers most helpless in
their fight against the weevil. As a
result of the combined disaster, the
State will make about 100000 bales
OF cotton or about Al per cent of a
normal crop. The SO per cent loss
may be consevatively divided as fol-
lows: Twenty-Five per cent due to
boil weevil and 81 per cent due to
unfavorable weevil during the crisis
of production. The boil weevil did
much more than normal damage, as
is always the case during wet sum-
mers.
The boil weevil will surely come
to South Carolina or any other place
where cotton grows. 1t is only a
question of few years. Your farm
er may be like all others and find
many arguments as to why the wee
wills will not come. The Alabama farm
ers put up all these arguments. They
would not take tn efacts from those
who knew, but they have at last taken
it from Mr.. Boil Weevil himself and
1T is found that he devours all excuses
as we'll as cotton.
Can Grow Some Cotton.
1--WE are still optimistic and believe
from experience that by good farm
ing on seasonable years we can con-
tinue to grow cotton profitably and
are offering the following instruc-
tions:
"It will take million bales of cot
ton per year to keep Alabama in nor
NAL financial condition. This amount
can be grown in excess of the diver
sified crops sufficient to produce a
living at home, and in spite of the
boil weevil. Alabama farmers have
seen the worst of it this year. With
boil weevils all over the State as bad
as they will ever be and the worst
July weather ever known, conditions
will improve as favorable seasons re-
turn. Help us to make a million bales
OF cotton next year and help your
selves to enjoy prosperity once more.
How?
Il. Begin at once to destroy the cot
ton stalks by blowing them under
completely, cutting and burning them
0r grazing them closely with cattle
just as soon as you can get the cotton
picged. Flowing them under with
two horse plow is the best, because it
destroys weevils, prevents them from
multiplying until frost, adds the stalks
as a fertilizer to the soil, forces the
weevil to migrate or to survive
longer period of starvation. Flowing
under destroys grass and weeds be-
fore the seed ripens, prepares the soil
In the fall, makes it produce better
and easier to cultivate. It's all gain,
II you do it promptly and well. Will
you do it?
% Reduce your crop to six or
eight acres to the plow and make the
rows one foot wider than you expect
the cotton to grow in height.
3. Prepare a pood we'll nntvar;,od