Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-18

DeSL WOIh ~ uOIlo ny lIlS uSciNy'
tractor-drawn, disc plows. This is
a very important thing if done thor
oughly, and if communities can Or
ganize to get an the stalks in the
community destroyed three or four
weeks before frost.
Moisture as Effecting WeeviI
49, Damage
There are certain natural climatic
factors that help to decrease the
number. Of weevils and the amount
Of damage done by them. These
are the length and, severity Of win
ter and the amount Of rainfall in
the summer. When killing frost
comes, exceptionally early, the vice.
wills are driven. in early. and have
a longer. period Of Information. I'm
der such conditions a greater per-
centage will perish before cotton is
up in the spring.
Intense Cold. Intense cold will
kill a.. great many weevils that are
not well protected, so that in the
severe winter fewer weevils will sur
vive. In the northern part of the
cotton belt, the length and severity
of winter will cause more weevils
to perish, and the early summer in
festation will be lighter than in more
southern ATTITUDES.
The amount of rainfall during
the summer will have a very i'm
portant bearing upon the amount OF
damage done by the boil weevil. Fe-
male weevils are more active in
moist, hot weather. The immature
stage Of the weeyil develops in a
-, tx ond
more Of the eggs complete develop
mcnt and emerge as adult weevils.
Rainfall. In areas where the rain
fall in July and August Is light the
damage will be less than in other
areas where summer j. rainfall is
heavier. Larger crops will be har-
vested in the years when the sum-
mor rainfall is light. Some figures
may be given to illustrate this
point.
In Early county, Georgia, where
there has been weevil tnfestat1on
since 1915, there has been quite a
variation in production in recent
years. In 1918, the July rainfall
was 3.85 inches, in 1918 it was HOO
inches, and in 1920 it was 3.45
inches. According to the bureau of
crop estimates, the average yield
of lint cotton per acre for this coun-
ty was 1873 pounds in 1918, u in
1911. and it was probably about 1876
pounds in 1920. The total rainfall
for the three months Of June, July
and August in Early county, was
1880 inches in 1918, 25.01 in 1919,
anG 9.22 in 1920. Thus we see that
more cotton is made in the years
of least summer rainfall.
The rainfall for June, July and
August in Sumter county, which was
infested at the same time as Early
county; was 1858 inches in 1918,
249s inches in 1919 and 1922 inches
in 1920. The cotton ginned in the
county was 26,423 bales for the 1918
crop, 1885 bales for the 1919 crop,
and $4,000 for the 1920 crop.
Plan Rotation. 1t has never been
wise policy to grow cotton on the
same land year after year as is
shown by the low yields obtained
on such areas and under weevil con-
dit3ons cotton shou c never follow
cotton. Weevils hibernate in and
near the cotton fields and where cot
ton follows cotton they begin to dam
age it much earlier in the year. The
crops to include in the rotation will
vary in different sections of the
state, but should usually include
corn and small grains as well as cot
ton. A legume crop, such as cow
peas, velvet beans or soy beans,
should by all means be included
in the rotation to supply nitrogen
and organic matter.
Value of Nitrogen Gathered by
&C.,. Various Legumes
J. B. D., Eatonton, Ca, writes:
What will be the value of nitro
gen per acre from peas and vel
vet beans where the land will
produce from 500 to 500 pounds
of lint cotton per acre under
normal conditions, the legumes
to be sown broadcast. What is
the value Of Mung beans? How
late may, peas be sown profit
ably? - r..
There are no statistics available
on which to base a definite reply to
your inquiry.
Ordinarily, legumes gather from
Is to $50 pounds of nitrogen per
acre. 1t is presumed that a good
part of this nitrogen is assimilated
out Of the air. Just how much I
cannot say, definitely, but probably
from thirds to three-fourths of
it. The, yield of leguminous crops
which can be obtained from land
capable of producing from five to
eight hundred pounds of lint cotton
per acre will depend on several
things. First of all, the variety Sc
lected, will exert d great influence.
Seasonal conditions. will affect the
yield materially. There is a differ
ence in the amount Of growth which
various legumes will make under
uniform conditions. For volume,
we would ordinarily place velvet
beans first, soy beans second, GRIM
son clover third and cow peas
fourth. In certain sections Of the
state soy beans would be displaced
entirely by cowpeas. AS a rule,
the total amount Of nitrogen found
in the roots and stubble Of legumin-
Gus crops will vary from Is to 40
pounds. Ordinarily, the roots will
contain say 10 to 20 pounds. In
other words, by far the grain Of
leguminous crops. The value of the
refuse of the crop turned under will
depend on many conditions there
FORE, and will naturally vary to a
considerable degree. If nitrogen is
fifteen cents a pound, We would or
dinarily say the amount left in the
land would be worth from two to
four dollars. If the whole crop were
,plowed under, it certainly in some
instances would be equal to twelve
to fifteen dollars,
The Mung bean may still be re,
garded as being in the experimental
stage. With such experience and
knowledge as we have in hand rela-
tive to it at this time. we would not
be willing to express an opinion as
to the place it will eventually occu-
py among our 1eguminous crops
here in Georgia.
We have sown early maturing va