Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1921-10-20
Progressive Farmer.)

The advent OF the boil weeyil has
been as persistently and consistent
ly preached by the Extension Ser
vice of South Carolina as the coming
of judgment day has been preached
by ministers of the gospel. Notwith-
standing this warning of the past
several years, 80 per cent of the
farmers of South Carolina are I'M
prepared and as consequence are
suffering great financial loss and
many will be n; ned ultimately. In
some localities they y i'll not aver
age over one or two bales to the
plow;- over great areas not over 20
to 30 per cent of u normal crop.
| only wish could burn these
words into the minds of the North
Carolina farmers, who yet have time
to prepare for the advent of this de-
strlctive pest.
Do not understand that | am adj
vocating the entire elimination of
cotton from our agricultural pro-
program. There are some farmers
iii South Carolina who by practicing
intelligent cultural methods are
growing cotton profitbly under wee
vii conditions, notably Mr.. d. r.
Coker of H9rtsville with whom |
recently spent day. On 575 acres
this year, he expects to make $50 to
AS bales of long staple cotton. The
following are his methods and are
generally recommended by men ex-
perienced in handling the boil
weGvil problem
l. Pillow under stalks Immediately
after cotton has been picked, first
using stalk cutter. At this same
time burn off all ditch banks and
every conceivable place where the
Weevil may hibernate.
:. Make early and thorough prep
aration of the soil for early plant
ing, and use early maturing varie-
ties of seed.
J. Apply high grade fertilizer,
using 600 pounds per acre, with a
side dressing of nitrate of soda, 1901
pounds per acre.
I. Provide frequent and rapid
cultivation of the crop.
., Pick up and burn squares at
the very first evidence or indication
of the presence of the weevil.
6. Spray the plants with molasses
miture containing calcium arsenate.
In connection with the fifth sug-
gestion-about picking up and burn
ing the squareS-let me emphasize
that unless this is thoroughly and
frequently done little benefit can
come from it. Unfortunately it is
difficult to make the average color
ed tenant farmer, or white farmers
for that matter, appreciate the ne
cessity of absolute thoroughness in
this matter. Mr.. Coker had men in
the fields to follow up these tenants
and share-croppers in order to see
that the work was thoroughly done.
One more point: owing to the adj
ditional expense in> growing cotton
and the fact that under very unfa-
vorable weather conditions the wee
vii will thrive despite preventive
measures, and owing to the further
fact that the farmer must not de-
pend entirely upon cotton as
money crop, it is not advisable to
have over seven to nine acres of cot
ton to the pillow. To meet boil wee
vii conditions successfully we must
have diversified agriculture with
fool-proof crops because OF inefficient
and ignorant labor. Such crops as
soy beans, peanuts, and tobacco
should be grown, and emphasis
should be placed on the production
OF pork by use-of forage crops; also
dairy cows, which supply cream for
the creameries that should be es-
tablished, thus securing a monthly
check of ready cash.
w. w. LONG.
Director OF Extension.
Clemson College, y. {.
Confined On Page Is
anazzA