Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-03
Profit by Experience.

This is the stage of the year when
farmers make their plans for the season S
operations decide what crops shall be grown
and what acreage shall be devoted to each.
1t is matter of the highest Importance in
ordinary times, but this year it becomes a
question of the most vital character. In 1919
farmers in practically every southeastern
state witnessed the ravages Of the boil
weevil. The sweep of this dreaded pest car
ried the infestation completely across the
state of Georgia and into South Carolina
although thus far North Carolina and the
cotton growing sections of Tennessee have
not been seriously affected. The fallacy of
all-cotton farming has been demonstrated be-
yond shadow of doubt to thousands of Geor-
gia farmers who, up until last year, persisted
in the idea that somehow the boil weeviI
would pass them by. Sadly depleted cotton
crops and consequent embarrassment to those
farmers who devoted most of their acreage to
this product, have served to impress upon
the agricultural interests of the southeast
the necessity of using the most careful
judgment in planning this seasons opera
tons.
shouted from the housetops and preached
in the byways ever since the weevil began
his march from the Mexican border to the
Atlantic. 1t has been accepted as the
orthodox doctrine of good farming and
unbelievers and heretics have been con-
trary. Practical demonstration at the ex-
pense of millions upon millions of dollars
have convinced those who ignored the warn
ing of the scientific sharps,' who worked
increasingly to devise some solution of the
problem. Mechanical devices and chemical
formulas for the eradication of the weevil
have failed to achieve the results obtained
by diversifcation of crops. To be sure the
federal and state agricultural experts have
developed chemical treatment to be used
on the cotton plant in defense against the
insect pest, but they do not claim for it the
qualities of a panacea. They plainly state
that it is not cure-all, but can be used to
advantage along with the other methods of
ameliorating the effects of the weevil
With the growing demand for all kinds of
food products, the southern farmer need not
cast about for some crop to take the place of
cotton. Peanuts, corn, potatoes and long
list of food crops available weapons
in the fight against the weevil, not to men
ton animal culture which has increased by
hundreds of thousands the number of hogs
and cattle on the farms of the southeastern
states. 1t is not intended that the farmers
of the south should abandon the production
Of cotton. The growing of cotton as a sur
plus crop is the basic idea Of the new farming
system, however, 70" Ga this basis oG opera
lions the farmer might fail entirely with his
cotton and might fall short of complete sue
cess with one or two other crops and still
wind up the year with a tidy balance on the
right side of the ledger.
After all is said and done, Investigation
of crops is the salvation of the cotton belt.
1t is the sensible program to adopt 1t is
the only sane course to follow under the ex-
listing circumstances. One-crOp farming is
economically unsafe under normal condi-
tons, but in abnormal times such as these,