The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-11-22
Farming Experts,
Discuss Weevil
Agree on Best Formula For
Combating Pests and Sound
Optimistic Note

Optimistic Note
Columbia, Nov. 18.-Plowing
under of stalks and cleaning up Of
land as soon as cotton is picked.
preparing land early, using the best
variety OF quickly maturing seed,
employing sufficient fertilizers sup
plemented by side applications OF
soda early before bloom appears,
practicing community planting as
soon as the ground is warm, adopt
ing a system Of frequent shallow
cultivation and thick spacing and
picking Of bolls as early as cheap
labor win allow, is the formula
prescribed for effectively combating
the spread and propagation of the
cotton boil weevil by conference
Of scientific farmers and agrieui-
tural exports meeting here today
at the call of Governor Harvey.
That cotton can be raised under
boil weevil conditions by the utili-
zation Of intelligent methods Of
cultivation, supplemented with a
system of diversified farming, was
the consensus Of opinion as e1-
pressed by those present.
The great problem to- be con-
fronred, it was argued, is the task
of acquafnting tenant and share
cropper with intelligent meth
DDS of cotton planting, and it was
for this reason the conference was
called. The adoption Of the for
mula and the diffusion of its pre-
cepts concerned those present.
Now, every agency IN the state, the
newspapers, various organizations,
and every medium Of publicity will
be appealed to to aequaint the peo-
pie of South Carolina with its con-
tents and urge upon them the ne
cessity OF closely conforming to it's
tprecepts.
The formula in the shape Of a
resolution, was introduced by Prof.
w. w. Long, of Clemson College.
director Of extension work, and,
with a few notifications, unani-
mousiy was adopted by the confer
ence. It, reads:
~" Whereas, while progress has
been made in the control Of the
boil weevil, especially with more
progressive farmers, we realize that
the greater part Of the cotton crop
is made by the tenant class: who
for obvious reasons, are unable to
understand thoroughly the scien-
tific methods that have been work
ed out by the United States de-
partment of agriculture, the agri-
cultural colleges and the scientific
farmers. We feel that it is very
necessary that every effort be made
by every agency within the state
to take such steps as may bring
all classes to the proper realiza-
ton of the need of beginning at
once 70 carry out boil weevil meth
DDS agreed upon by this conference.
In order that this may be done
expeditiousiy we offer the follow
ing resolution:
Resolved, That the bankers,
merchants and farmers Of the va
rious counties viii interest them
selves in carrying out the recon-
mendations suggested below.
Destroy the weevil's winter
quarters by plowing under cotton
and corn stalks and by cleaning
terraces, ditch banks and other
trash on the farm. Prepare land
early and thoroughly. Plant best
seed Of approved varieties. Among
the best varieties are Lightning
Express, Cleveland Big Boil, Delta
Type and Con wilt infested land9
Dixie Triumph
Use fertilizer sufficient such as
would make a bale of cotton per
acre in an average season without
presence Of the weevil. This will
vary on individual farms. Make
side applications Of soda early be-
fore first blooms appear.
.'Plant as soon as ground is
warm All cotton in given COM
munity should be planted at the
same time (from the first TO the
middle of ApriD.
Practice frequent shallow cul-
tivaticn to Keep up fruiting. Prac-
tice thick spacing.
practice early square picking if
cheap labor is available. This must
be done very thoroughly every five
days if possible in order to be- ef-
fective.
. Definite recommendations on
poisoning are deferred for future
consideration by this conference,
until after the proposed confer
ences at Washington have been
held to determine upon the general
policy to be recommended for
1923.
Develop fertile soil as the best
asset under farming under boil
weevil conditions"
The resolution as introduced sug-
gested that cotton should be spaced
so the rows should be three and
one-aalf feet apart and six to ten
inches in the drill; but on sugges-
ton of certain Of the farmers from
the coastal plain. among them D.
L. Smith, Of Walterboro. specific
distance was eliminated in favor
Of Just thick spacing. leaving it to
the individual farmer to work out
@1ic nrohlam himself.