Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-01-26
Sea Island Cotton Growers
Will Stick to Long Staple
And Fight the Boil WeeV9l

Hest fruiting varieties obtainable, and to
plant a large crop of short staple.
on the other hand, it was contended
by Entomologist Worsham and by sew
eral of the leading sea island planters
who have grown the long staple for
many years that short staple cotton can
not be planted in the same vicinity or
sea island cotton without deseneratlng
the long staple and rendering it worth
less for propagation. Therefore they
contended that the sea island planters
had no choice but to continue planting
sea island and let the short staple cot
ton alone. or to abandon sea island en-
tirely and thus extinguish in a very
few years the last sea island cotton
seed in existence. which would result
in the complete extinction of the in
dustry.
SEA ISLAND WINS.
The contention of Entomologist Wor-
sham was presented so ably and convinc-
ingly. and was backed up so strongly
by old sea island planters, who have
found by experience that short staple
cotton cannot be grown adjacent to sea
island without degeneratinS the sea
island through admixture of the two va
rieties, that the convention came over
to their view of the situation and adopt
led the resolution quoted above.
Experiments in raising sea island I'M
Ger boil weevil conditions will be con-
tinued at the Naldosta station on a
larger scale than before. The United
States bureau of Entomology has Joined
with the state board of entomology in
defraying the expenses of the station,
and will assign experts to work with
the experts of the state.
The earliest fruiting varieties of Sea
bot he Nlaf ain will
be grown at the station, seed will be
carefully selected from the finest plants,
and in a few years the station expects
to be able to develop several varieties
in sufficient quantity to supply the
whole Sea Island industry.
Meanwhile, Sea Island growers will re-
duce their acreage, as agreed in the reSo-
luton, to five acres to the pillow, and
will plant the earliest fruiting varie-
ties ,obtainable. They will also make
special selections of seed from the finest
plants and continue this process of Sc
lection until they have bred up new
strains of early fruiting seed.
WORKING TO SOLUTION.
This cooperation between experiment
station and Sea Island planters is ex-
pected within a very few years to place
TIA Raa Island industry on the same
nooetng with the short staple industry,
where breeding of early varieties of
seed has been in process for several
years, with the result that the solution
of the boil weevil problem in short staple
cotton is fairly well worked out.
Early planting of early fruiting varie-
ties. rapid cultivation, early picking
that is the program of fighting the boil
weevil, whether in short staple or on
Sea Island cotton.
In other words, the crop must be
made and picked before the boil weevil
can destroy it. He comes out in the
spring, begins to raise family win
the first warm weather, and by the
tenth of August he has plenished the
earth with about three generations CT
boil weevils, which proceed to feed I'M
mediately upon their chosen diet-the
boil of the cotton plant.
BY planting early, cultivating rapid
ly, picking the crop as early as possible,
the farmer is able to BEAT the boil
weevil to it," That is the science OF
the whole Notwithstanding him to
it"
LARGE ATTENDANCE.
The convention here yesterday was at
tended by representative Sea Island
planters from the whole Sea Island belt,
which embraces -thirty-seven counties ly-
ing alOIlS the COtSt VI 4 iOA ANNA' wv . -
and South Carolina.
Valdosta is the largest Sea Island cot
ton market in the world, getting about
half the production of the entire belt
Hence this city is vitality concerned in
the salvation of the industry. The VAL
dosta chamber of commerce has coop
Grated with the state board of entomol-
ogy in experimental work at the station
near this city, and also in working up
interest in the convention. The visitors
were entertained with true southern nos
pitality and rendered the people OF VAL
dosta an enthusiastic vote of thanks.
Among those present at the conven-
ton were the following:
PROMINENT PLANTERS.
c. W. Webb. Hahira, Ga; A. j. ingram
Valdosta; {. r. Webb, Hahira; John High
Jasper, Fla: 5. r. Walker, Fenholloway, Fla; (;
Israel Folsom. Barry, ia; y ). Boone, Val
dosta; ]. A. Studstll, Ousley, Ga; J. +. Day,
shady Grove, Ca; J. NJ Roberts, W1llscoochee
Georgia.
A. Morrison. Barney. Ga: II. J. jordan. same;
]. G. ScruggS same; J. W. Lott, Hahira; D.
J. Devane, Barney, Ga: G.. c. Hopper, Quit
man, Ca Frank DeTane, Barney; I. NJ. Ray,
Continued on Page 2, Column a.