The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-02-02

enOrtS, We go ungrOucnlnSly ABOUT
the task of rebuilding what is torn
down. am talking, though of rails
ing cotton successfully in spite Of the
boil weevil under fairly normal condi-
tions. We must assume they will be
otherwise. We cannot invite disaster
and hope to win.
Matter of Fertilizing Up To Soil Con-
ditions.
eve get the cotton in in March. So
far as the boil weevils are concerned
those who plant in April to the north
are just as well off, or better, because
the weevil's destruction begins when
the cotton is about the same age, de-
spite climatic conditions.
1--WE use a plenty of fertilizer, but
do not try to over-do it. We must
practice economy. It does no good
to grow cotton at loss. Better not
grow it at all. So we use 200 pounds
of nitrate of soda and over 800
pounds of acid phosphate to the acre;
or say we use meal. Fertilizing must
be determined upon by the individual
farmer in keeping with his soil con-
ditions. Soil should be built up or
kept up by crop rotating, and by alter
mating or crop following with velvet
beans, or something equally as profit
able in depositing the nitrates that
growing cotton consumes.
"All right, assuming that every
good, intelligent farmer knows his
own fertilizing problem 1 shall pro-
ceed with my own method
Push Growing Plant By Intensive
Cultivation.
eve push the cotton after the
stand just as fast as possible by in
tensive cultivation. We chop it just
as we always did without any new
tangled ideas as to thin spacing, etc.,
in order to cope with the weevil.
We simply endeavor to make cotton
and just as much as is physically
possible to make by intensive culti-
vation-just as though there wasn't
a boil weevil in a thousand miles of
Ius.
"But we know the weevil is here
and we prepare in advance for dust
ing to control him at the proper
time, if it becomes necessary.
eve know that the cotton, if it is
coming along satisfactorily will
form so to go per cent. more squares
than can be matured. We endeavor
to push maturing bolls to poin.
where the weevil will have plenty of
young surplus squares to feed upon
at the season when we may expect
infestation to become a menace.
Along in early June we begin to
watch for infestation. If it gets at
any time around 100 per cent, or
more, we then go at the dusting pro-
cess in the plat where that infesta-
ton has developed methodically, just
as part of the growing game just
as the tobacco growers know that it
is just as much q part Of the pro-
gramme to fight insects as it is to
plant and cultivate.
1--WE use calcium arsenate, as
agreed upon by the United States
department of agriculture using a
light draught machine, and apply 1t
about pounds to the acre, three
times, perhaps it may require four
applications, about four or five days
apart, weather permitting; and we
find the infestation is always then
sufficiently reduced to admit to a
complete maturity of full cotton
crop. other conditions, of course, be-
ing equal.
Cultivation Always Kept Firmly in
Mind.
Bear in mind we do not forget
that dusting, if infestation starts in
early, will not make cotton of itself.
We just make busting at the proper
time a part OF the regular pro-
gramme for successful cotton grow
ing; and we find we have run away
from the boil weevil and beat him
to it, so much the better. If we do
have to dust it is not permitted t.
interfere with our intensive cultural
methods.
eve coordinate the cultural and
the dusting features into a systema-
tized programme to grow cotton, and
more cotton and less acreage each
year, and to grow it without getting
excited or worried; or without any
undue expense, as the dusting part
of the game, when understood, is
only a negligible expense, and over
come many fold by the excess in
productiOn created by intensive cul-