The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-11-10
sUccEsTEDE PROGRAM FOR
FARMING IN s. c. UNDER
BOIL wEEvIL CONDITIONS

The march of the boil weevil across
the cotton belt has been accompanied
by panic and generalization. Farm.
ers, bankers and merchants brighten.
ed by one or two years of heavy
losses, have in many cases, curtailed
operations and credits to the point
where farming was stifed and labor
was forced to leave the country to
prevent starvation. There are signs
that like panic may occurr in other
parts of S. c., unless means are taken
to reassure the people and point out a
safe course for agricultural opera
tions under boil weevil conditions. To
this end group of practical farmers
ana business men in cooperation
with the Extension Bureau have stud
led the situation in the light of their
own experience and that of other
states and the accumulated experi-
mental results of governmental agen-
ces and beg leave to present the fol-
lowing suggestions and program as
one which will meet the situation,
preventing decentralization and en-
abling our farming and business in
terests to continue profitable opera
tions.
1t is especially important to pre-
vent our people from stampeding into
new and untried fields of agriculture
in which they will fail for lack of in
formation and experience. Promising
new crops should of course be tested
and where proved successful should
be increased as rapidly as the people
gain experience but not faster.
The problem is not so much as to
what to DO as it is how to reassure
the people and get the information of
how to proceed to every farmer, rem
ter, and sharecropper in the state.
Ihis must be done if it is done at all
by larger farmers, merchants, bank
ers and professional men who should
make it their business to reach tho
isolated farmers and tenants and dis
euss with them the program of op-
erations under boil weevil conditions
The greatest responsibility rests up
on the landowners. If they are going
to continue to own their lands thew
will be obliged to see to it that those
who farm them have. correct infor-
nation and closest supervision, for
the average farm tenant must have
sympathetic and correct instruction
and active supervision until he thor
oughly learns the new methods Of op
Grafton.
A few broad principles of opera
tion for the whole state may be sug-
gested:
First, destroy Immediately all cot
ton stalks as soon as the crop is gath
cred. This will prevent the Matching
of millions of new weevils during Oc-
tober. The old weevils do not hiber-
nate until cold weather and the des-
truction of their food supply will
cause them to die before frost. The
carrying out of this suggestion at
once is imperative and every effort
should be made to induce every farm
er in the state to do this work at once,
for, if only few do it, it will have
little effect in reducing next years
weevil supply.
Second, during the fall and winter
destroy all cover in which weevils
may be hiding, burning ditch banks
and margins of woods and cleaning
up around stumps. Fodder and hay
stacks should not be allowed to re-
main near cotton fields.
Third, cotton should be literally
fertilizer with a quick acting ferti-
lizer containing about SO pounds of
available phosphoric acid per acre,
ammonia and potash to he used ac-
cording to the character and relative
fertility of the soil. All applications
of ammonia should be put down be-
fore the middle of June. Over-doses
Of potash have tendency to delay
maturity. Where the weed grows tall
only a small amount of ammonia
should be used as it always delays
maturity and encourages overgrowth
of stalk.
Fourth, early planting of approved
varieties of cotton with. plenty of
seed. The farmer should save at least
three bushels of good seed for each
acre he is going 70 plant. He should
plant at least two bushels before
April in the lower half of the state
and before April 10 in the upper
half of the state reservirg a bushel
per acre. If stand is not secured by
the first planting he should plant ov-
er not later than April 10 in the low
er half or April 20 in the upper half
If large quantities of seed are used
good stands are usually secured from
extra early paintings and the ex-
perience is that under boil weevi'