Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1922-02-02
j. a. H0lloman's Articles On Boil Weevil CONTROL
Reduction OF Acreage Absolutely
Essential In Master of Weevil
(From Atlanta Constitution
(By lanes a. HoIlomanl

HOUSTON, Tcxas,-As the result
OF my inquiries so far on boil weevil
conditions, want now, and just as
cmphatically as | know how, to sound
one keynote to the farmers OF the
southeast as they are pitching their
crops for this year, and that is as to
the absolute necessity OF reducing this
years cotton acreage to the limit.
! have not seen a cotton grower in
Texas but who agrees that this is a
prerequisite to overcoming the on
slaught OF the boil weevil.
1t cannot possibly be done in any
other way, and any effort to plant and
cultivate normal acreage OF cotton
spells ruin before seed is put in the
ground.
Last years cotton acreage was far
| shorter than that of the year before
This years cotton acreage must be
far shorter than that of last year.
Otherwise the boil weevil will go
on with his destructive work.
The man who planted for five bales
last year should plant for only half as
much this year, for by having that
much less to cultivate, and being en-
abled thereby to give better attention
TO his reduced acreage, the probabil-
tiles are two to one that the yield on
this half acreage will be greater than
the yield on double the acreage last
year
have found many things about the
boil we+evil so far, and | am going
to find out many more things before
| quit his track.
But the first and foremost thing that
l have ascertained to be absolutely
necessary in dealing with the vicious
little pest is that it must be fought
in restricted quarters.
The boil weevil asks nothing better
than that he be given opportunity to
light his way over big farm areas that
cannot possibly be cultivated on the
intensive plan. He will whip such
fight every time
Restrict him, however to fields that
can be covered every day by the hui
man hand, and in which every plant
can be under constant surveillance and
the fight against him is made lust
that much the easier.
Later on, am going into full de-,
tails showing just how much land per
pillow has been put into cotton in the
Doll eevil section over here, and | am
going to give instances of the results
accomplished
But it is safe here TO say that six
acres to the plow is enough.
II one man can take care of a GER
tam acreage keeping his eye on every
stalk, ten men can take care of Just
ten times that much.
But if one man plants and tries TO
take care of the acreage that requires
the attention of ten men, then his
crop goes to the pot for his verv be-
ginning and he will have little or
nothing left to stand for his time, en-
ergy, his effort and money-that is
nothing but debt, for as sure as ths
sun shines he will wind up his crob
year in debt.
The man who plants more than he
did last year needs a guardian. He
brings trouble to himself and worse
than that, threatens ruin to his neigh
bors.
This year it will be the man who
plants the short-the very short-ac-
reage to the plow that will stand the
best chance of winning out
There is no other possible way to
do it.
Every cotton grower with whom I
nave talked in Texas says this is true
They have tried every way QUIT here
and this is the only way by which Tex
as has been able to meet the boil weev-
II on the same platform and to fight
1t out with him to a finish.
DO not let anybody mislead Won
tins year into planting of large &C
reage to the plow upon the assumption
that this, that, or the other kind of
treatment can be applied to do awav
with the boil wecvil as the pest devel-
ops.
The only possible specifics that can
be used to advantage are those that
can be applied on the intensive plan
and to give this the required attention
1t IS absolutely essential that there he
short acreage to each plow- the
shorter the better.
want this lesson to take deep root
right now, for only when this is und-
erstood and our farmers are brought
to full realization of its importance
then the way to the solution of the
problem becomes that much easier
| am just in from a long and tire
some trip and this is all that am
sending tonight, but the importance OF
my observations as above set forth is
such that I do not wish a day to inter
vene before sounding this note to those
who are watching for the publication
OF the result of my investigations
HE WANTS CONGRESSMAN
To Paw EOP TuEIp pkTrJc