Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-12-12
OLIVER REPLIES
To MANY PEOPLE.
ABOUT WEEV|LS

AS an indication that farmers are be-
ginning to realize the necessity OF
following closely the instructions of
those who have had experience with
tie boil weevil in growing cotton,
many are writing ]. G. Oliver, field
agent of the extension division of the
State College of Agriculture. asking
his advice for next years cropping ar
rangements for growing cotton. Mr..
Oliver is always ready to give all the
information possible, and he makes IL
as full as possible, as the following
letter he is sending in reply to o. C.
Simmons, of Sparks. will indicate:
Your letter relative to information
FOR growing cotton under boil weevil
conditions received. In reply will say
that the first and main thing is not to
take more acres than you can manage
successfully. / mean, Of course, to
cotton. From five to ten acres to the
plow, depending upon how many hands.
including children, to the plow you will
have to work the crop. Five acres for
one hand, perhaps, seven for one man
and one woman is about all that can
be managed successfully.
THE next thing is to select good
piece of land for the cotton. behind
good crop of velvet beans is, perhaps,
the best place. Third in Importance is
the kind of seed, you want an early
maturing, rapid fruiting variety that
is resistant to wilt, and that will live
through the season that is, one with
strong constitution. Coyington Toole
and Lewis 63 are two such. For Sea
Island it will doubtless be best to get
seed fresh from the island each year
oc the earliest strains.
Everything possible must be done
to push the crop to maturity as soon
as possible, for, in spite of all that
one may do, if he hasn't got his crop
made by the first of August, then he
stands bad chance to make it. as then
the weevils begin to fly everywhere in
search of new food supply. Use some
barnyard manure in the drill and mix
all commercial fertilizers well with the
soil before planting.
After this is done, as soon as the
crop is chopped out to stand begin
to look for the weevil. Do 1t system
aticlaly. He has definite feeding sign
that will aid in locating him. He feeds
on the little top bud of the plant until
the squares begin to form. When the
bud Is punctured, it withers and dies.
This is the sign and is easily seen. The
old weevil is right near by; look for
him and kill him. Do this once a week
until squares begin to form Then To-
cate the spots and pick up all the
squares once a week, until the middle
oil July. This cannot be urged too
strongly, as It is absolutely necessary
If crop is made. Cultivate the crop
every seven to ten days, and as soon
after rains as possible and continue
until the hollis begin to open. This is
necessary to keep the plants green as
long as possible, forming squares for
the weevil to puncture, so the bolls
below will be let alone.
AS soon as the crop is out kill the
Gotten plants by some means, cutting
and turning under three or rour inches
deep Is best. Do this before frost, by
the first of October, If possible. and If
this is done, and done thoroughly. It
means more than all else, as by this
means you force the weevil of your
farm or into winter quarters so early
that but very few can survive the
winter.
II think l have given the main
points. Cotton can be grown. but we
must recognize that the picking OF
weevils and squares as mentioned are
necessary, and for this reason for the
FIRST one or two years, until we get
ourselves and labor trained to do this,
and do 1t thoroughly, it will be best to
take few acres so it can be certain
We will have time to do it.
Then, in addition to cotton. one or
two other cash crops should be planted,
such as peanuts for oil purposes, vel
vet beans with the corn, feed crops for
hogs. Then, with these we must make
sure that the farm is as nearly self,
sustaining as possible. That is, we
must grow our meat, our bread, our
syrup, our feedstuffs for work stock.
The flock of chickens should be in
creased, and by all means. a good gar
den as nearly every week in the year