The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-03-25
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1.-THE northern housewife does not
understand the many appetizing styles
in which the real southern sweets can
be prepared for the table. With proper
effort a propaganda could be inaug-
urated and big business created for
this dependable and servicable pro-
duct. The loss every year from rush
ing crops to market and other causes
runs into large figures. System in
distribution and marketing is a cry
ing need OF the hour Storage houses
and preservation methods at the points
OF production are greatly needed with
out which the loss must continue with
diminished profits. or none at ali.
Weevii Only Drawback.
"The only serious drawback to the
sweet potato crop is the weevil. a COM
paratively recently introduced pest. 1t
has already established itself in var
ious localities of the south, but the
state plant board Of Florida has it's
control well in hand, and it is hoped
and expected that 1t can be soon eradi-
Gated. and the spreading prevented.
Growers in the state should give this
matter careful consideration, and gets
commissioner at Gainesville. whenever
the pest is discovered. The weevil is
so serious that shipments cannot be
made from infested localities.
Nearly all of the damaging insects
and plant diseases in the country, tho
cotton boil weevil, the cattle fever
tick, the San Juan scale, the sweet po-
tato weevil and others are foreign. The
Sxry tot iC nNVic 81 I'M
in many parts of the world, and ex-
portations of sweet potatoes are now
prohibited from some thirty foreign
countries. We cannot afford to al
low it to spread in Florida and the
greatest vigilance is necessary now
that the pest is in our state.
Draw Stocks Safe.
prof wilmon Newell, F1orida's eff
ficient state plant commissioner, and
X. E. Bragdon. one of his quarantine
week in consultation with Leon coun-
tvs sweet potato draw or sprout
growers, and report everything in very
weevils or other pests are concerned
in other words, Leon county was given
clean bill of health in this respect.
There need be no apprehension or
fear that the infection will reach here
or elsewhere il there is cordial CO.
operation on the part of producers and
dealers with the activities of the state
plant board in it's work of suppressing
the pest. the only section in the north
ern part Of the state where it exists
is In the northeastern part of Baker
county. limited to a few townships,
with infection extended to several
townships in the adjoining county of
Charlton III Georgia, over which the
authorities of our neighboring state
have placed a rigid quarantine. as our
board has in our territory.
In the south half or peninsular part
of the state. the infection is confined
weevils finding congenial living ac-
commodations in the seaside morning
glory vines. from which at a few points
they have invaded the sweet potato
fields. and made themselves at home
in some instances in domestically
grown morning glory vines. The weevil
was first known on the west coast,
below Tampa, as far back at 1873. and
is supposed to have been introduced
from infected products of some kind
brought by ships from the West In
dies. 1t has only been within a few
years. however, that the pest by some
chance left it's wildn source of living
and found succalent support in sweet
potatoes. The vines of both the morn
ing glory and the sweet potato being
related plants.
Now, this bug of the wilds has
been making such serious inroads on
the sweet potato and yam fields in
semi-tropical and tropical regions, that
governmental measures have been
taken to suppress it in some thirty diff
ferent countries, and importations from
all of these infected countries have
been prohibited from entering the
United States by the federal autho-i-
ties.
Most important Crop.
There is no doubt about the de-
structive nature OF the pest in it's
new field of endeavor. 1t was a Ionc
time in getting a start. and Is now a.
work in several southern states. and
rigorous efforts are being made to
head it off. In Arkansas and Arizona
the authorities seem so alarmed that
sweet potatoes from infected states
are not allowed to be shipped in. Geor-
gia allows them to be shipped into that
state. when shipments are certified to
by our state board in connection with
from non-infected countries. Ship
ments from Florida to the other
southern states can be arranged for
by our state bord in connection with
a designated agency in each state Il
win be seen that the sweet potato