The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-10-22

the pest is not far distant and that
now is the time for all up to date far
mcrs to formulate plans with which
to combat this evil. Since the dis
covery in Clarendon County some few
weeks ago, it has been the principal
topic of conversation heard around the
streets and gathering places which
testities to the fact that some are on
the alert and are preparing to fight
him to the finish. As was stated in
this column some time ago before the
discovery in this immediate territory
his coming is heralded as one of the
most destructive insect pests ever to
invade the cotton growing industry
OF Clarendon county. And now his
coming is no longer mythical with
many but is a certainty with every
one who is in touch with the public
press. The extent of the damage this
year will not be felt in this county
as the weevil was found after the
crop was practically harvested but the
pest has caused no little wonder and
inquiry. The past period Of warm wea-
ther, with conditions ideal as to his
migration is generally believed to be
the cause Of the discovery which I
think is the fastest progress the
wcevil has made since his existence
with the exception of the regions of
lower Texas and the gulf States
where they have little woodsland
where in he may hide through the
winter season and which hnders the
progress of the pest in many ways.
The weevil was present in South
, west Georgia practically two years
before he was discovered across the
river in South Carolina which tends
to prove that the Savannah river was
, barrier to some extent. The fact
f that Clarendon County borders on the
{ Santee River with dense river
t swamp and 'underbrush would make
' one think that it would take at least
| one year longer for him to cross the
n river as was the case of the Savan-
S nah river, however with an excep-
o his progress was aided and as a re-
Il suit we find that we have at last got
ten into the boil wcevil belt. For
i years past we have read and wond-
d cred over his destruction and often
l. wondered if it was not over estimated
It but in the more recent years when his
territory spread within reach Of us
< whence those interested could prob
, ably visit the territory wherein he
! has worked we arrive at the conclu-
y sion that the rumor was not over esti-
B mated but rather under estimated
For instance, l know of q party iv-
8 ing not very far from Statesboro, Ga
R which is in the weevil belt and was
S last year totally infc5-ed with the
3 pest who had in former years raised
= a bale and some years more to every
3 acre of land planted, who used prac-
= tically the same amount Of fertilize,
s per acre this year and besides plant
q cd an early variety of seed who states
B that this year he will not harvest 200
= pounds of lint per acre, however HI
8 has not planted as extensively as he
= did in former years for the fact thai
3 at this rate of production he cannot
q pay expenses of fertilizer and labor
3 and other incidental costs of produc
R ton. This will be the identical wa,
3 things will work in Clarendon Count,
- within the next two or three years
p but we must not be alarmed at tn,
8 conditions and try to meet with then
3 in the best way possible. Those o
B you who read the article in Sunday
= edition of the Charleston Sunda,
= News will get an idea of what can b
Z done towards meeting the wecvi
& This article was written by a citize,
3 Of Orangeburg county which will mex
3 year face the same crisis which w
D will have to face and the theory 0
= the situation was spoken by Nh
= Wheeler, Manager S. C. Landowner
= Association who states that the cotto
IS industry in South Carolina is on" it
s& last legs and those contemplating tn
sH planting and cultivation Of cotto
n must plant such acres of cotton tha
- he can watch over as one does "sic
- child" which is my opinion of the sit
z& uation exactly This will necesstat
ss reduced acreage which can be give
p attention personally. He furthe
a states that in the event a poison
~ found whereby the weevil can b
% fought the cost of this will not on