Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1917-04-11
When the Boil Weevil Comes.

Recent Investigations Of the mos.
badly infested regions in the States
Of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
and Georgia, by the South Carolina
Boil Weevil Commission, confirms
the oft-repeated theory that the boil
weevil will eventually reach the cot
ton fields Of this State; but in addi-
ton, discloses the startling fact that
it's coming will be during the coming
year, If it has not already arrived
This pest entered the State of Texas
from Mexico about Is years ago, and
since that time 1t has spread over
eight States in the cotton belt, and
it has travelled eastward at the rate
Of about so miles each year I'm
favorable and favorable climatic con-
.-itions have, respectively, impeded
and accelerated the weevil's migra-
tion each year. but it has continued
its eastward journey undaunted. The
southern and eastern parts Of Geor-
ria were infested last year, and an
infested area in South Carolina was
reported, but the report has not
been officially recognized as being
authentic. The commission men,
toned above states "that the infesta-
ton Of the State Of South Carolina
by the boil weevil within a year,
and general infestatiou of the State
probably in three years, is certain
ty. No means have yet been discOv-
cred that give promise to check or
prevent the advance Of this insect
pest. When it arrives it must be re-
garded as a permanent factor in our
agriculture to be dealt with accord
ingly." And furthermore, "that
wherever the boil weevil has become
established, the result has been agri-
cultural and economic failure and de-
moralization: That II will be impos-
sible to depend entirely, as hereto
fore, on the cotton crop, although
riety may be successfully grown on
soils especially adapted to quick
growth under frequent and intensive
cultivation. Given ample labor and
fertilizers and favorable climatic
conditions, profitable crop on re.
duced acreage may be made. With
unfavorable seasons, the boil wee
vii may destroy practically the en-
tire CROP" Again, chose who have
prepared for the weevil's coming
have suffered little of Inconvenience
or financial embarrassment. For the
man in debt, the improvident and the
unbeliever, the boil weevil has spell
ed a disaster almost inconceivable in
its completeness"
In view Of these statementssmade
by the most eminent agricultural eX-
perts IN South Carolina, and being
based upon personal first-hand
knowledge of conditions existing in,
and facts relating to, the already
infested regions OF our sister States
before and after the advent Of the
boil weevil, does it not behoove the
farmers Of this State to seriously
consider how they may best be pre-
pared for the practically inevitable
coming of this pest? Are they dis
posed to he among the number of
those who, having been repeatedly
warned Of their impending danger,
will sit idly by and meet financial
destruction and agricultural disas-
ter without even making an honest
effort to avert such a catastrophe?
Or will they thoroughly Investigate
the problem, make the necessary
changes, pursue the most up-to-date
methods of preparedness" and let
the advent Of the boil weevil be but
an agency to cause them to rise to a
higher level Of agricultural efficiency
and financial independence? With
the prevailing price of cotton and its
products making the farmer happy
this fall, and the bright prospects Of
the future enticing him to produce
bumper crop in 1917, the farmers
OF this State are facing one of the
most critical periods they have ever
confronted. With large crop OF
cotton produced under the financial
arrangements prevalent throughout
the State to-day, completely or par
TALLY destroyed by the boil weevil
within the next two years, business
would be paralyzed to an extent
heretofore unbelievable. And espe-
cially would the average ten int suf-
fer under such conditions. Upon the