The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-01-21

TIE BOIl ~ EEs-
VII CONFERENCE
Sumter County Farmers Adopt
Clemson College Program
to Meet Conditions

The large attendance of farmers
from all sections Of the county and
bankersSana merchants and business
men of this city at the Soil Weevil
Conference held in the Court House
Thursday was the most convincing
evidence OF the intelligent and ear
nest interest that all classes of busi-
ness men are taking in the boil wee"il
problem and their desire and determ-
NATION to maintain the agricultural
prosperity of this section by the
adoption and practice CT methods that
have been proven in other States
tos render profta BILE farming pos
sibie despite the ravages of the
weeyil
The meeting was conducted by Dis
trict Demonstrate Agent c. A. Nc
Fadden, who briefly stated the pur-
pose aef these and similar meetings
that are being held in all the coun-
ties in which weevils have appeared.
He stated that he had with him sew
enal experts from Clemson College
and they would in turn discuss Va
riolls phases of the problem and point
cut methods that have been found
successful in combating the weevll.
M. s. Mcconnell, boil weevil expert,
was thesfirst speaker on the program,
and close attention was given to his
remarks. Itlwin take three years said
asr. Mcconnell, for the boil weevil to
:reach his maximlm injury. It's first
appearance in this county is recv
:oned from late last fall. severe
winter viii minimize the injury ip
1929 but mild winter will enable
him to. cause serious damage even
this year. AS no one can sarely
gambleion the weather, the only thing
tosdo, said Mr. Mcconnell, is to play
the game safe. The first prerequisite.
lie 50 was to live at home. Anoth-
er suggestion was that cotton stalks
frord this years crop be turned under
before frost in the fall. This, he said,
would kali many Of the weerils and
would destroy his source Of food. Mr..
Mcconnell was very positive in his
warning against the use of poison.
No poison; he stated, has been dis.
covered up to this time that. will do
the work. The subject was being IN
yestieated and due notice would be
given the, farmers by the department
He warned. farmers against buying
any dasting machine until it had been
approved by the department of agri-
culture The speaker said that 1t was
essential to plant an early variety OF
cotton, and one also that would pro-
dlsce auares late IN the fall. The
sisaiare is the fayorite food of the wee
VII she said Cotton should be forced
to AN early- maturity.
u 81. E.sIIall extension division cot
tom Breeder. urged, the use OF pure
bred seed Of an early maturing vari-
efy. 1t had been found from tests
tffafs on wilt free land the Cleveland
BIZ boH would make best, and. that
ffs iufestetl lands the Dixie Irl-
7Yasnphdia well. If long staple cotton
weFe planted. he urged the use Oh
;yTebSer4a or So. This seed, however,
IS scaree. Unless they could be obs
tatned. he advised against plantiHs
long staple. This is no time TO plant
sot4on ON poor land, he said. Seed Is a
,s.osx s1nportants factor in successful
farming under present conditions ana
tod I1Ach care could not be used IN
Their selection. Y.
III reply tosa question he said that
he adNised strongly against the plant
ing of King and Simpkins cotton
these varieties produce full crop prac-
fscaIiysat one time and do not furnish
forms late in the season to supply
food for the sweevils, thus forc1i. t-4s---
be- safe. He advised early planting.
to attack the; bolls and destroy the
part of the crop that would otherwise
but warned against too early plant
ing before danger of frost killing the
crop is. past. He advised planting III
three and a half foot TO four foot
rows aGn then. ten to fourteen lnches
on the row, witt, two stalks to the hill
In regard to fertilization he advised
putting at least three-fourths OF the
FERTILIZER down before planting and
the balance as a top dressing early
in the season-appl$ nitrate OF SODA
about the time the piats begin putaps
on fruit. He does not advise plckins
ups the forms, unless labor IS pientI-
full and cheap.
The subject of sweet potato plant
ing was covered by George E. Prince
extension division horticuiturist, who
declared at the outset that the way
to begin sweet potato planting was by
building adequate storage houses a.ons
the lines suggested by Clemson col