New-York tribune., 1921-10-30
Drastic PIa,, Urged

The most drastic plan yet put for
ward is the one to prohibit the plant
ing OF cotton by Federal statute for a
period of one year. 1t is contended
that the weevils could not survive a
period of two winters, or some twenty
months, without the cotton plant to
feed upon. What effect this drastic
measure would have upon the other
branches of the cotton industry can be
better imagined than described, unless
few. large crops were first grown to
provide enough surplus to keep the
mlils running on some prearranged
shortened time schedule.
Nature has helped to keep the pest
down; heat, drought and forty-five
known species of other parasites prev
on the boil weevil, and as these seem
to be increasing in number and eff
fectlveness against the weevil, they
ally themselves with the farmer for the
protection Of the cotton crop Birds
destruction.
While it has been abundantly shown
that. cotton seed is of Importance as a
medium through which the weevil NAV
be carried, method of fumigation has
been developed for their destruction
whenever it is desirable to transport
seed from an infested area into an area
not yet invaded
There is another phase of the cotton
growing industry brought about by the
weevll which has not received the at
tentlon 1T deserves outside the cotton
belt-it is indeed seldom heard of in the
manufacturing districts. This is the
increased cost of production which in
evitably attends the coming of the in
sect. The cost is increased by the
necessity of picking up the fallen in
tested squares, the blowing under or
burning of the stalks in the fall. the
investment in machinery for the appli-
cation of poison, the depreciation of
the apparatus and the buying of poison
material, the extra cost of picking a
thln crop, the cost of seed and ferti-
| llzer applied to the ruined plants and
many other items of wasted labor. alI
OF which compel reduction of acreage
in cotton and an extension of the area
planted in other crops.
Effect on Loans
There is also to be remembered the
fact that neither banker nor country
merchant can safely advance funds to
the same amount in weevil district
as could be safely loaned when the re-
glon was free from the pest.
One may safely conclude that all
these added expenses plus the necessity
for a constantly increasing use of fer
tllizcrs will tend to force a steady ad-
vance IN the price of the fiber to the
spinner and more expensive cotton
products to the ultimate consumer.
Another effect of the weevil will be
the compulsory abandonment of the
notoriously .slipshod farming methods
which have heretofore prevailed in the
South: Agricultural thrift will be
forced upon a community which has
IN the past been shockingly wasteful in
its practices. This will be national
blessing. There is, however, the out
standing example OF progressive plant
ers, who, farming scientifically, are
getting splendid crops, despite the boil
weevil and other adverse conditions.
So that after all the future is not
as gloomy as would at first blush ap-
pear. 1t has been demonstrated that
with ample fertilization and an acreage
restricted to the capacity of the avail
able labor to handle efficiently, a crop
can be raised that will pay the pro-
ducer. Prospects seem discouraging
to-day until it is recalled that three
warm winters and wet summers, which
are especially favorable to the multi
each other. Though the grower msy
be discouraged, he is long way from
acknowledging defeat in the struggle.
He will not have his one leash crop"
taken from him if applied science can
prevent.
1t ought never to be overlooked that |
the cotton boil weevil is always kept
up the sleeve of the demagogue and |
factional protagonist of the South, to |
be exhibited whenever il will serve RS
means to an end. Unfortunately, not |
so much is heard of the numerous band |
of earnest men, far-seeing cotton plant /
ers, state and national scientific i'm
vestigators, who have been plodding
away for years at working out prac~
tical plan to control the pest. Yet |
these faithful, patient men are doing
more for the world and its cotton in |
dustry than the agitator with public !
office as his goal will ever accomplish.