The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-10
How To Fight
Boil Weevils
]. D. Johnson, of Alabama
Addresses Cotton Asso-
ciation

Columbia. Dec. S.-At the an
nual convention Of the South Caro-
lima division Of the American Cot
ton association, held at noon yes
terday at Craven hall, officers for
the ensuing year We're elected. 10
seph O. Thompson Of Alabama de-
livered ar address in which he dis
cussed plans for combating the
boil weevil and resolutions were
adopted calling upon the govern
ment &c make strenuous efforts TO
blot out the pink boil worm, to
make permanent the war finance
corporation and suggesting plan
for the repayment Of the loans
made by the American government
to foreign countries. Other reso-
lutions in regard to the cotton as
sociation and its work were also
adopted.
The officers elected were as fol-
lows: J. B. Johnson, Rock Hill,
president; L. I. Guion, Lugoff, vice
president; H. C. Booker, Columbia,
secretary: John 7. Mackey, Cam
den, treasurer.
Interest in the annual meeting
centered largely in the address Of
Mr.. Thompson and the debates held
with regard to the adoption of
some of the resolutions offered.
Our only hope is self-help.
Don't let us lay down on the JOB
and depend upon the government.
When we go to Washington to beg
from the government, it has been
my observation that we have been
preceded by better beSgars than
we are" said Mr.. Thompson, who
had come from Alabama specially
to tell the farmers how the weevil
had affected farming industries in
his state. He preached the ancient
doctrine of 'The gods help those
who help themselves, and urged
that the farmers stick firmly by
the cooperative selling organization
holding that If it failed "we are up
against it.
I'm Alabama" said Mr.. Thomp-
son I'VE regard the farmers Of
| South Carolina as the most pro-
gressive in the south. We are of
the opinion down there that monu-
ments should be erected to ]. S.
Wannamaker for the work which
he has done for the farmers OF
! the cotton belt
In speaking of some Of the prob
! lens brought by the boil weevll,
Mr.. Thompson said, in part: Your
most serious problem under boil
weevil conditions will be the con-
servation of your labor. I believe
we are on the eve of a great period
Of prosperity and I believe it Will
start in industrial centers. It this
wave of prosperity comes and the
industrial centers flourish first,
then labor if not we'll cared for,
will leave our farms. Keep and
care for your labor.
PLANT your cotton on your
poorest land, one-third Of your cul-
tivated acreage. We fertilize usu-
ally with one-third nitrate Of soda,
one-third phosphate and one-third
kainit. Of course the proportions
may vary with the land. We usu-
ally use about 700 pounds to the
acre.
The cotton is plowed each week
and it is a good plan to set aside
one day of every week on which
all hands will gather boil weevils;
it is we'll to weigh the insects SC
none of the hands will neglect this
work. a definite plan must be laid
down and adlleI / to closely if you
are to succeed
He favored planting one-thlrd OF
the farm in cotton, one-third in
peanuts and one-third in corn and
soy Or velvet beans and told hc:s
ne had fought the weevil.
Mr.. Thompson said he did not
want to see the south get in a Do-
sition where it could Droflteer al
the expense of the rest Of the
world, and said that restricted acre
age and cooperative marketing
would tend to make the iands ct
the south very valuable. Ee urged
that the program Of the Ameri-
can Cotton association be carried
out and that it be supported by the
farmers. Mr.. Thompson was heard
with much interest and made a
helpful and heartening speech.
Numerous resolutions " {