The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-11-13
THE NEED: A PULL TOGETHER.

OOulG VI SAAS SSoAASJ
South Carolina are urging upon their
cotton-growing readers the necessity
for early action against the boil wee
vii if they expect to make success
full fight. And they are explaining
that the first and most effective
move, offensive and defensive, is the
immediate total destruction (prefer-
ably by deeply plowing under) OF
this years cotton stalks, and other
wise cleaning the fields, so that the
weevil may be deprived of its favor
ite places for Information during cold
weather.
This method demands change in
the procedure on the average South
Carolina farm; it requires that pre-
paration for the crop of one year
shall begin in October-or at the
latest, November-of the preceding
wear. Under the changed conditions
imposed by the advent of the des-
tructive weevil, changed methods and,
greater energy are necessary If the
cotton growers are to make living.
But they can win if they follow the
counsel of the experts.
The Pageland Journal very truly
says:
"It is possible to make cotton in
spite of the weevil but it can only be
done at the price of eternal vigil
ance and constant work. Grass must
not be allowed to grow under ones
feet. It is a fight to finish where
the farmer will win or lose; where
the weevil will triumph or be. des-
troyed." The certain thing is that,
following the rules set down by scien-
tifc experimenters and as promul-
gated time and again by the scien-
lists of Clemson College and of the
National Department of Agriculture,
the cotton-grower CAN win. The way
has been found. But he needs to
have it not only pointed out, but en-
phasized as the right way and the
only way. The big farmer is pulling
out; it is the small farmers-the
tens of thousands of them-who need
information and encouragement.
unfortunately" says The Press
and Banner of Abbeville in empha-
sizing the need of progressive meas
ures, "there are some who will not
believe anything that is told them.
They will not destroy cotton stalks,
neither will they apply poison when
it should be applied. The result is
that their fields furnish means of
living for the weevil in the fall sea-
son and a means of surviving in the
spring. In the summer they allow
weevils to multiply their number so
that when the migration period comes
these weevils 60 on to the lands of
other farmers and there seriously
damage the crops of those who have
done their best" Truly pitiful it is
that so many thousands of hard-work
ing farmers will rally to politician
who promises to support some meas
are that may or may not save them
ten dollars a year in taxes, and yet
will give little or no attention to the
scientific expert without selfish aims,
who is prepared to demonstrate how,
BY little effort, the yield of cotton
may be increased from so to 100 per
cent! And cotton, at this writing, is
worth $3.50 a bale!
In the long run only the followers
Of scientific methods will survive in
the cotton-growing business; the 9TH
ers must inevitably fall by the way
side. But the period of needless loss
and disaster to the cotton-grower and
needless depression in general busi-
ness throughout this section can be
greatly shortened in fact, practically
eliminated, should every alert inter
est concerned in the immediate tri-
umph of progressive measures join
in a campaign to impress upon those
now going their deaf, unreasoning
way to bankruptcy, the folly of not
accepting and following the leader
ship of scientists and other experts
in the cotton-growing industry.