The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-31

srom other market crops. such as pea
nuts. sweet potatoes. tobacco. hogs,
sugar cane. etc. To give You an idea
If the weather as affecting the crop
oit turn. at least 10000 bales We're
cut off by the summer rains OF THIS
year
The advent of the boil wcevil i"
ieorgia was largely coincidcnt with
he breaking out Of the war III Eo'
..opc. War conditions We're rtspoh-
;ible for cut OF some 100000 acres.
crop in 1915. The actual value OF
he damage during that season rs re-
,or1cd by the United States bureau
If crop estimates, was the loss Oh
about % pounds per acre III IN"
southwestern section. meaning the
oss of approximately o5.oon bal%S-
Che next season the boil Weevll eS-
ended his damage across our soulh-
,rn border and increased the damage
n the southwest about 70 pounds per
,cre. The loss due 10 reduction IN
,creaSe and in yield was about 1Oo,-
100 bales during that season. IN Az Z
he weevT extended his scope With
he result in loss Of production o.
about O,6O0 to 140,0 bales. Ii
vas not until the season of 1919. now
,ver that enough territory was under
severe infestation to Very greatly az
'ect the State average. This year
re cut the yield in the southern sec
ion from 20 to 25 per cent and Was
becoming active we'll UP the state.
f1,n do
age from the weevi1 was terrific rum
ling from 100000 to 100000 bales
The State has most decidedly not re-
covered from the weeril. although
acreage reaction has set in and the
arm>rs in the southern section have
earned to make cotton in spite OF
1im and are gradually increasing
heir yield.
Georgia land values have been in-
:reasing steadily for many years. The
,oIl weevil was merely able TO stop the
Increase temporarily in the worst
infested sections. The effect in labor
n the southwest, aggravated b;' war
and other conditions. was very seri-
,us. leading to migration nf thous-
tnds of workers. In the rest OF N
State it has not been Very bad. The
,nly thing which has enabled Us t.
stand up under the onslaughts OF th'
veevil was the exceedingly high pric"
# cotton. coupled with the cxcep-
ional values and other markets for
,arnl produce.
These facts should emphasize the
importance Of our people beginning
once to practice the most severe
economy The question is how best
prepare to meet this menace we
,an only hope to do these things that
he wise men in those unfortunate
sections have done. and they have
oeen pointed out time and again by q
-reat number of our citizens who have
listed those sections of the country
md By State and private agencies.
)ut it is we'll to rciterate the methods
hey pursued. The first thing that
would suggest is that every man IN
.rease his bank account as rapidly
is possible and treat it as q sacred
und. buying only those things ab:;o-
utelv necessary on the farm and the
,ank account to start with and free
iom from any incumbrance IS the
oest preparation for the boil wcevl!.
The watchword should be economy.
Economy in this year Of plenty. a
man in debt with the boil weeTn 10
contend with his very little chance of
holding his own. Our farm practice
must consist OF a diversified aSricul'
.ure, livestock playing a great part.
m order to have livestock We must
aave pastures; in order to have pas
ures we must fence our farms. Let
ne emphasize that it takes years tc
make u good pasture GU, of poor land
Therefore we must be willing 70 utilize
acres of our very best land for this
purpose This is an item Of expense
hat necessarily has TO be met. The
Hairy COW and the hog as I, state
vide proposition hold out the great
,st hope. Experts Ut Clemson are
.eady and willing to give detailed IN
'ornation in tht: building Of pastures
he growing of all kinds Of forage
crops and the building of silos. Fhcre
IRE certain coast counties III which
h., growing Of beef cattle can be sic
:essfully conducted, and that is t.'uc
vi.h certain individual farmers who
have river bottom lands. Peanuts
ma tobacco. where the lands arel
adapted TO growing these crops. should
De produced. Those who have never
mad any experience III growing these
.,cps necessarily should start Oh 4
small scale; again the Extension
Service of Clemson College sand.
cad: to give detailed information.
IF course we are going to continue
grow some cotton, but ii VIII be
wise to reduce our acreage to six OF
>ight acres 10 the plow, planting on
>ur lighter lands. uSing I, high grade
.ertilizcr. selecting an carly maturing
variety of seed and cultivat;n@ rap
dly.
One Of the most difficult prob
ems is the handling Of tenants and
keeping them contented. IT will be
disastrous If an exodus "f our labor
axes plac" The best way to satisfy
l man is 10 keep him well fed. bat