Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01
Get Ready for TIL. Boil WeevI

The people OF the south are confront
ed by a condition and not a-theory. The
boil weevil has spread over many OF
the states embraced in the cotton re-
giOn. Ii is rapidly infesting those which
have hitherto escaped. Apparently 1t
covers from one-half TO two-thirds OF
the state OF Georgia and is spreading
with amazing rapidity. and that il will
continue 10 spread is a foregone con-
clusiOn: hence the problem OF meeting
its attack most successfully Is the par
amount issue OF the hour. To do this
II Will be necessary TO change our farm
practice materially. This does not mean
the abandonment OF cotton culture, but
on the other hand. IL does mean that tbs
farmer who attempts TO grow cotton ex-
clusively In the presence Of the boil wee
I'll will suffer extreme loss and find
himself greatly impoverished for the
simple reason that his main money crop
has been destroyed. and having no other
resource in the form of diversified
crops or animal industries to fall back
on. he is naturally crippled from a fl
nancial point OF view.
What can and must be done to meet
the weevn situation in a satisfactory
manner? First. there must be a change
in farm practice which means that new
methods OF organizing the work must
De put into effect, a greater variety Of
crops cultivated, more animals main
tanned on the farm. a better system OF
cultivation pursued. and a wise plan OF
fertilizing soils and crops instituted. To
do this will not be simple matter. bu;
viii call for the exercise of ingenuity,
the bringing into play Of new forces,
and in order that success may be at
tanned. the discovery and employment or
much important and essential data NOT
! now in the possession Of the farmer. L
has been thought for many years that
the pursuit OF agriculture only required
the expenditure OF a certain amount Of
brute force. that IL made little difference
how the land was prepared, that the
matter OF seed selection was Of no I'M
portance and that the fertilization and
cultivation OF the crop by any particu-
lar method represented the diseased i'm
agfnatiOn OF some one who was theor-
king about farming but knew nothing
OF il actually.
Il is only very recently that we have
come to understand that there is what
Is known as the science of farm man.
agement on which successful practice
IS based. and which calls for the wisest
and most exact knowledge on the part
OF the land owner about a great variety
OF subjects. We have just begun 10
farm operations are conducted at a loss,
not because the particular crop grown
could not be raised prOfitably, but by
reason OF the methods OF cultivation,
harvesting and marketing employed.
Until very recently there were very few
farmers who thought Of such a thing
as cost accounting or who kept set
of books with sufficient accuracy to
find out what crops paid him the larg-
=
all kinds OF opinions afloat as to the
cost OF producing a pound Of cotton.
IN Investigation OF this problem indi-
Gates that II costs anywhere from II
Is cents, depending on the methods en-
ployed and the degree of skill exercised
IN the management Of the plantation.
II is easy 70 see that on an Scent basis
the plantation might make a fine prof
Il. whereas. on a 15-cent basis, il would
be a dismal failure. Manufacturers who
ATTEMPTED 10 run their business without
= cost accounting system would soon
have 10 close their doors. and il is only
the marvellous generosity OF nature
which has enabled men to operate land
and keep from going to the poor house
in view OF the slovenly methods of man.
agement which have been pursued In
the past.
Now that a new enemy OF a most sert-
Gus and aggressive nature has come into
the arena. IL Is clearly evident that bet
ter methods OF farming must be insti-
tuted and in order TO dn this. all the
information which science and art have
been able 20 gather together for the
benefit OF the land owner must be as
simulated by him and very considerable
part Of IL put into practice Fortunate
". it is possible for the farmer to do
this without any great outlay OF money
or the expenditure of several years OF
effort. for the state and national gov
ernments through their colleges of agri-
culture and experiment stations have