The log cabin Democrat., 1920-09-24
BIG DETERIORATION
 IN ARKANSASCR0P
WEEYIL DAMAGE HEAVY
Government Agents Advise Rapid Picking and Storing Cotton
 In Seed.


 crop conditions, it has been found affected by the boil weevil the dam that in those sections of the state age is far greater than many anti . cipated, according to M. T. Payne, di- rector of the agricultural extension division who with the assistance of the district farn demon5tra'l Il agents has just plete an jnsuec- . tion of the cotton crop of the state. . Late cotton especial. has been seri- ously affected. It Is believed that farmers themselves do net realize the full extent of the damage to their late crop.
 Cotton in the southwest section of the state will be greatly lowered un- der the estimated yield of August 25, according to H. F. Kapp, district agent. The weevil infestation is per. haps the heaviest known for years. All the late crops will have but lit- tie fruit and there will be no top crop on the earlier planting.
 Dr. S. P. Weigart, district agent for southwest Arkansas, states that the cotton in his district has received it's greatest damage thus far from the boil weevil. He says that while some sections have not suffered as severely as others, yet in general, little fruit has sent on since the middle of Aug ust. When asked whether cotton should frost hold off until late, he would not make an increase in yield stated that frost would make no ma terlal difference if it remained off un- til the usual season of the year, as there would be no more fruit to re- qure late growing season for ma turity.
 Owing to the great amount of late planted cotton followed by ex- cessive wet weather during the sum- mer months boil weevil damage in part of northwest Arkansas is with out doubt the heaviest ever experienc- ed, says JIG. Barnett, agent for the northwest district. 'In several places visited this week young green cotton has lost all the top and middle crop on account of weevils and wet weath- CT, The stalks had few green bolls on the lower limbs but a closer ex- animation showed that more than one half of these were badly weevil pune tured. Rain had penetrated the pune lures and the bolls on the inside were entirely rotten although outside ap- pearance showed them to be green and good.
 The cotton crop in northeast Ar kansas has deteriorated very much within the past few weeks, reports J. E. McKell, farm agent from that dis trict. Some sections are suffering from boil weevil ravages and only the early crop will mature. In many places even the farmers themselves are not aware to the damage. Even in the sections that have no weevil the crop will not come up to the ex- pectation of the growers
 In order that the cotton, which has not been affected so seriously by the weevil and other insects. may not be lowered by mixing with damaged cot ton and allowed to further deterior- ate, farmers are advised by Mir. Payne to pick their good cotton as rapidly as possible and not to gin it until later in the fall, but to store it for the present in a cotton house or oth- CT suitable shelter.
 By storing cotton in the seed the lint is improved, the seed is allowed to dry thoroughly, and does not heat when stored in large quantities as it does if it is ginned green. Anoth- CT important reason for storing cot ton is that it will be held off the market for some time which will have much to do with increasing a demand for good cotton and securing a bet ter price
 1t is too often the case, points out ! Mr. Payne that while the crop is being produced the farmer has had 10 go into debt for food for the fami- ly. feed for livestock and other sup plies. In the early fall these bills must be paid and the farmer is fore ed to sell although his desire may be to hold his cotton. Such sys- tenn should he done away with as rap idly as possible.
 If the boil weeyil continues to in- crease in Arkansas, it is important that farmers devote more of their land and time to raising feed crops and livestock. The extension service recommends the growing of all feed and food on the farm for both man and animals. If this practice is fol- lowed the farmer will be much more independent in the fall and will not be forced to sell his cotton at a low price as is often the case where large ac- counts have been accumulated as un- der the old credit system.
 It is recommended that larger acreapp of small prain he SOwpd i'm