The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-12-27
COTTON PRODUCTION SHIFTING
TO CENTER OF THE BELT

D"hen'ptlVl thc Nl
tiful Food and Feed Crops.
BY w, V. Mcclure, Dempolis, Ala
Texas excluded from the argument,
the production Of cotton is shifting
back to the center Of the belt. where
the damage from boil weevil has been
most severe and where abandonment
has been greatest. Due to the labor
situation, the labor being mostly ne
gro tenants, the storm was not wealth
cred as we'll as in communities OF
small, Industrious white farmers In
deed the extensive negro tenantry sys-
tenn Of Arkansas, Louisiana, Missis-
sippi and West Alabama, was, in many
localities, all but completely disor-
ganized when the weevi came and got
going good in his work Of destruction.
But conditions have changed in this
central territory outlined. That por-
ton Of the cotton growing area east
OF a line running north and south
through Little Rock and west Of Mont
gomery and Birmingham will be seen
within approaching years to be gaining
in cotton production, and Georgia and
the Carolinas will fall off while the
people are becoming adjusted to the
new order Of things, Increasing pro-
duction Of cotton is travelling back
west while the weevil continues his
journey east and northeast
Moreover, it is a question as to
whether Georgia and the Carolnas
can produce cotton as cheaply as in
the central territory. Lands are high
er in price and taxation heavier la
Dor is higher and the necessity for
commercial fertilizer much greater.
In this central region the use of fer
tilizers was meagre before. the weevil
came and its consumption decreased
under weevil infestarion.
Due to disorganized labor condi-
tions and abandonment more cotton
land has been lying fallow for several
years than in any other portion of
the cotton belt Of the South In the
meanwhile nature has restored to the
soil, in the natural process of rest to
the land, much Of the valuable ele-
ments Of humus and organic matter.
The agriculturists OF authority tell us
that where humus and organic matter
is contained in the soil the better re-
suits may be obtained by a judicious
use of artificial plant food and stimu-
lants. The analogy may be mentioned
Of a strong healthy man being able
to digest more food than a weak, fee
bic man can assimilate.
But regardless Of theory or science
we have many facts developing to sus-
tain the view that the increase in cot
ton production will henceforth be
greater In those sections of the belt
where the wcevil wrought the greater
decrease in yields per acre or per man.
wv. +. Bell, Of Boligee, Greene coun-
ty, Ala, has this year proved what
can be and is being done when Geor-
gia and Carolina methods Of ferti-
lizing and cultivation are applied in
extensive large plantation system has
been all the go for the most part. On
little less than 400 acres he has
made this year 225 bales Of cotton.
His average amount Of fertilizer used
per acre was $50 pounds Of the 1922
grade, supplemented with an average
or rs pounds OF nitrate Of soda yer
acre. On his path patch Of 2 1-2 acres
he made bales with 600 pounds Of
fertilizer and 100 pounds OF nitrate
per acre. He plants the Wannamaker-
Cleveland variety OF cotton. His land
Is Of a sandy nature, with clap subsoil
under most Of 1t. His method of cul-
ture is fast and intensive with an in
telligent limit to the acreage per plow.
He Is successful as evidenced by hav-
ing bought a plantation and paid for
1t growing cotton under boil weevil
conditions. He is native of Tusca-
loosa county, where conditions are
somewhat similar to Georgia and
Carolina in hilly lands and where
there are Industrious white farmers
on small farms He is the only white
man on his plantation. He uses no
boil weevil poison, but visit to his
place would convince one that he has
poisoned" his negro renters and share
croppers with knowledge Of how to
grow cotton and make money using
fertilizer and improyed methods