The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-10-27
COMBATING WEEWIL INFESTA.
%. TON.

1OMbA 1 lNo WCI Vail AArA A
TON.
Cotton News, published by the
American Cotton Growers Associa-
ton. in its last issue has the fol-
lowing to say editorially:
"The cotton weevil is a universal
scourge and pestilence through out
the length and breadth of the Am eri-
can cotton area. The insects lnfest
the cotton fields on every farm and
multiply as fast or faster than any
other insect known to science. A
few progressive and energetic farm
trs taking advantage of all the Doll
veevil methods Of control cannot
solve the problem of elimination and
crow profitable crops Of cotton. The
enemy must be actively fought by
every nam who plants an acre OF
cotton and who finds weevil infesta-
tion during the period of the crops
growth and fruitage. The supreme
hazard from weevil infestation IS
during the migratory flight Of the in
sects, starting toward the latter part
of July. Fields that have been prac-
tically cleared of the weevils at
that time and showing good pros
,pect of developing fruitage may be
invaded by myriads of insects coming
in from other infested fields and the
crop expectancy destroyed in ten
days.
"A great many reports have come
in from farmers from various Sec
tions who had, by poison control
methods, picking weevils and squar..
es, practically cleared their fields of
the insects only to have their crops
destroyed in early August by swarms
of adult weevils coming on their
crops which had been propagated on
other farms where no control meas
ures were employed.
ut is estimated that not more
than one per cent of the growers
used poisons in the growing season
this year. With such widespread in
difference on the part of the farmers
there can be no wonder at the ter
rifle destruction wrought by the wee
wills this year, amounting to hum
oreds of millions Of dollars. These
frightful losses will continue unless
every farmer who plants cotton in
boil weevil infested territory adopts
sane and practical ball weevil control
methods and makes energetic war
fare against the insects from the
first of May to the middle of August. |
Fighting the boil weevil with calcium
arsenate or other control methods of
value is just as much a part of. the
field work now as chopping or plow-
ing. It is of even greater Importance |
because IL the weevils are not con-
trolled as they appear in early spring.
those wh1 are negligent will not only /
lose theil own crop but are breeding
millions Of the insects to soon leave
their farms and destroy the crops of
others who are trying to whip the
fight.
'There can be no greater service
rendered to the whole cotton belt
than to educate and urge upon every
cotton farmer the vital importance
OF prompt weevil control measures
in the early growth of cotton. If two
million farmers can be induced next 4
year to turn their energies against
the weevil early in the season, espe-
cially those in the heavily infested
regions Of the cotton belt, the dam
age of the insects can and will be
reduced to a minimum. Cotton pro-
duction will continue to be hazard
GUS and disappointing SO long az
great swarms of the migrating wee
wills are allowed to sweep over the
country from farm to farm in Aug
ust and literally eat up the crop and
destroy the capital and labor put in
the industry"
In another way the Press and Ban
ner has been saying the same things
for sometime. The man who has OBJ
served and who thinks must come to
the conclusion:
First. That cotton is and will con-
tinue to be the money crop of this
section. This does not mean that
other crops are not to be planted. AS
has been said so often before we
must produce those things necessary
to make the farm self-supporting.
Here and there crops other than cot
ton will be grown from which money
may be obtained. But after all, as it
is in Southwest Georgia, in Alabama,
in Mississippi and in other states,
cotton will remain king in South
Carolina. 1t must be grown as the
one great money crop of the South.
Second. In order to grow cotton
successfully it is going to be neces-
sary to make a consistent fight a.
gainst the boil weevil. Just now the
only known remedy against the des-
truction he brings is calcium arsen-
,$o Cntfnn rouct ho no;soDod with