Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1918-01-15
WOR5HAM QUITS
To RAISE LONG
STAPLE COTTON

ATLANTA, Ga, Jan. 14-(Special to
The Times-Re corder.) In order to de-
vite his entire time to the cultivation
of Sea Island cotton, with a view to
the preservation of the industry in
spite of boil Weeyl conditions, State
EntomoIogist f. Lee Worsham has
rendered his resignation to the Georgia
Board OF Entomology, and on February
1 will take up his residence on Sapelo
Island on the Georgia coast, where his
future work will be conducted. He
will remain here until his successor
is chosen.
Mr. Worsham's decision, reached al
ter careful deliberation, was announc-
ed 70 the chronological board thls
morning, and in accepting his resig-
nation the board expressed its deep
regrel over his leaving the department,
Going to Sapelo Island under a very
advantageous arrangement Mr. Wor-
sham will have entire charge of agri-
cultural production on the island,
which will be chiefly Sea Island cot
ton. The enterprise will be both com
mercial ana experimental; it will be
directed along lines both of building
and preserving the Sea Island cotton
industry, and of making a profit upon
the roduct, which is now used very
extensively in the manufacture Of
aeroplanes, automobile tires, thread
and many other special articles for
which it has heretofore been used. The
industry is therefore a very valuable
one from the standpoint of the prose-
cut:0n Of the war.
There are some $4,000 acres or more
on the island available for growing
Sea Isaln3 2tton, but only small
portion of this will be planted the
first year; and each year the tract
planted will be enlarged. These coast
islands were the original home of Sea
Island cotton, and it is said their soil
and climate produces the very finest
quality of the staple.
Under Mr. Worshams direction there
has been maintained by the state near
Valdosta, Ca, the only experimental
farm in the world devoted solely to
the problem of saving the Sea Island
cotton industry from destruction by
the boil weevil. That problem pre-
scented the difficulty of evolving early
maturing varieties of this class of cot
ton, where none existed. 1t was sue
cessfully solved, several early va
rieties of Sea Island having been de-
yeloTed in time for planting after
the boil weevil had entered the Sea
Island territory 1t is this work which
will save the Sea Island crop; and in
the year just passed in some instances
as much as a bale of seed cotton was
grown on a single acre, under severe
boil weeyil conditions.
Having devoted himself to careful
and thorough study of this crop, Mr..
Worsham is admirably equipped for
continuing the work under conditions
which are at once practical and ideal.
He will bring scientific knowledge
to the work, and every acre will be
carefully watched and the results, I'M
der varying conditions, noted for fu-
ture guidance,
Capitol officials as well as the mem
bers of the chronological board will
regret to learn of Mr.. Worsham's pur-
pose to leave the chronological de-
partment at the head of which he has
been for the last ten years. In that
time he has done some of the most i'm
portant chronological work ever ac-
complished in the South; and millions
of dollars have been saved to agri-
culture and horticulture through the
very practical and we'll applied efforts
of the department
Shortly after taking up his new
work Mr.. Worsham's family will join
him on Sapelo Island, where it is his
purpose to make his future home.