The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-06
500 Bales On
8OOAcres Land

The old weevils, that emerge from
winter quarters can be successfully
controlled by the early busting of
cotton with calcium-arsenate, it has
been demonstrated under actual
farm conditions on the plantation
of J. S. Cowart, of Arlington, Ca,
according to Director J. n Harper,
of the soil improvement commit
tee, Director Harper attended the
demonstration held on this farm
the past week and has returned to
Atlanta enthusiastic over the sue
cess which has attended the meth
cd that he has so strongly advo-
Gated and which was presented to the
public through James A. Hollomon's
series Of articles in The Constitution
this spring.
The boil weevil work on the Cow,
art plantation is under the direction
of DR.. J. H. DeLoach, formerly di-
rector of the Georgia experiment
station. DR.. DeLoach was so strong
ly convinced of the success Of his ef-
forts during the past spring that he
held a field demonstration of these
methods last week. Mr.. Harper re-
ports that over $50 leading farmers
and landowners were present, and
that all were favorably impressed
with the results that have been OBJ
tanned to date. Representatives from
southwest Georgia, Alabama and
South Carolina were present to study
the situation and many of them left
enthusiastic over the possibilities
shown as to proper weevil control.
At the time the meeting was held
the cotton was between knee and
waist high, according to Dr.. Harper's
report, and was full of fruit. In fact
he states that he has never seen
better fruited cotton in all his years
of experience. Many of the stalks
had from four to ten half-grown
bolls, from twenty to thirty squares
and were Towering freely.
Used Arsenate Early.
Indications were that the heavy
boil weevil infestation Of the early
season and had been put under COM
plete control. The poisoning opera
tion was under the direction Of DR..
DeLoach. He had an early applica-
ton of calcium-arsenate just made
when the cotton was two to four
inches high. This was applied to
the little plants with homemade
device.
The first few applications cost very
little, as one man could easily go
over five to six acres a day, and only
about one pound of calcium-arsenate
was used per acre.
On the day the demonstration was
held every kind of machine that is
now used for applying calcium-arse-
nate was put into operation. There
were handguns, muleback machines
all going at once. The muleback ma
chine seemed to be the popular one
with the majority Of those present.
DR.. DeLoach has used only. calcium
arsenate in the dust form The ap-
plications were made in the early
morning and late afternoon when
there was dew on the plants.
The Weber variety Of cotton was
planted, the seed having been OBJ
tanned from South Carolina.
With the present condition of the
crop, if the fight can be continued
successfully, at least three-fourths
bale per acre will be made.
Tells Methods Used.
The methods employed by DR.. De-
Loach and Mr.. Cowart have been out
lined by Director Harper as follows:
"The acreage devoted to cotton
was reduced to about ten acres to
the plow. The seed bed was prepar-
ed early in the spring, and the land
plowed deeper than usual. The cot
ton was planted early in April and
was fertilized with 400 pounds per
acre of 9-4-2, this being followed
by a side application Of 25 pounds
of a fertilizer analyzing Z IL per
cent. phosphoric acid, and 10 per
cent. nitrogen. De. DeLoach finds
that the phosphoric acid has hasten
ed the setting of the fruit and the
nitrogen is giving ample stalk
growth.
"Mr. Cowart said that weather
conditions had not been favorable as
for three weeks they had constant
rain. At one time he thought he
would not make any cotton.
The boil weevils came out in
abundance in the early spring, and