The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-01-05
ai'Fl|BHTlAG THE BOIL WEEvIl
y Intelligence, Courage, and Optimism
i (, Needed by Farmers. ~

Inv onstSN oseSSoo A~OpoA oA>AASAS VA <A6'
riculture, and in spite Of the various
climatic conditions encountered over
the cotton growing states, the cotton
boil weevil has annually extended it's
operations, the advance line Of this
pest having now moved entirely
iacross South Carolina, leaving the
state infested from the mountains to
the coast Fortunately for the farm.
'ers a South Carolina, says w. W..
Long, Director Of the Extension Serv.
lice, we are able to draw lessons from
1.-THE experience OF other states over
iperiod OF nearly thirty years, the boil
weevil having entered Texas in 1897.
This should enable us to avoid many
,,of the costly mistakes that have been
made over and again by the cotton
growers Of the states further west.
Clemson Agricultural College and
the United States Department OF Ag-
'riculture have made special studies OF
lthe boil weeyil problem, cooperating
with every agency Interested along
this line. At frequent intervals relia.
BILE information has been issued with
the view Of keeping our people thor
oughly informed regarding this pest
land the methods Of fighting It, In
s1916 the College was instrumental in
organizing the South Carolina Boil
Weevil Commission, which went into
the infested states of Louisiana and
mississippi and studied the weevil at
first hand under conditions similar to
those prevailing In this state. The
report Of the Commission issued by
Clemson in November 1916 as Bul-
'letin No. co. contained practically all
the reliable information of importance
that had been developed regarding the
boil weevil problem. This report had |
"a wide circulation and was considered
ITO be so thorough and accurate that
the United States Senate published 1t
IN February, 1917. as Senate DOcu
mont This document Is now avail
able in revised form. Many other
bulletins reports, and special arti-
,cles dealing with specific phases OF
the problem have been issued from
time to time. The Extension Service,
through the county agent system. has
kept this information before the peo-
pie constantly. AS result the aver
Rge farmer OF South Carolina is with
,out doubt better informed in the
practical phases OF this subject than
has been the case in any o'hcr state
at the time OF the arrival OF the boil
weevil.
No Time for Depressed Feciina.
Other states have had this problem
to face, and while they sutfrrad Sc
verely they have dcmun strated that
thore arc ways Of dealing With the
holl weevil problem. Cotton Is being
grown in spite OF the boil woevil
This is not the time, therefore. to per.
init ourselves to become depressed
and pesslmistic. Instead, we must
study the problem thoroughly and
i1earn the methods and practices
which enable other farmers to pro-
duce cotton prohtabiy under boil
%eeyil conditions.
! Before relying upon boil weevil in
Formation, we must be sure that it
comes from source that can and
3does disseminate reliable information.
By studying Information from reliable
sources and adapting 1t to our parii-
cular needs we can adjust ourselves
unuch more quickly and economically
TO the new conditions enforced by the
doll wecvil. We can not rely upon in
formation based upon one years ex-
periencc with the boil weevil. The
Ibest information Is that based on
many years OF experience such as the
states west Of Alabama have had.
Mo ,f,,tn 1,,l
themselves to new conditions and to
adopt new farm practices. whereas
the newly infested sections are still
Honndering around from one thing to
another in an eftsrt to find remedies
for the bell weevil
There Is no single new crop which
promises to take the place Of cotton
our money crop. There is no COM
,tion OF crops which can he rec
,nded az a specific. Experiment
>own that cotton continues to
as the chief money crop In
states already infested by
II. 1t would be we'll, there
us to continue to grew cot
X the hest hon weevi control
nd to undertake the grow.
money crops only on q
scale. Piunging on new
,uoy crops brings on prob
re as hard to solve az is
~ Of growing cotton under
/ conditions. We must
SN ,t ourselves to the changed
sa farning and maet pew con
E3S# 3 suitable gsthods.
Publications to hoIp.
A Bulletin 48, Farming IN
,tSssvA Conaitions.' has been
I'd byRtAe Extension Service to
tho fight against the boil weevil