The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-13
Cotton Production Shifting
To Center of the Belt
How Alabama Planters Have Over
come Boil Weevil Conditions by In.
tensive Cultivation and the Rails
ing Of Plentiful Food and
Feed Crops


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 well as in communities OF
small. industrious white farmers. In
deed, the extensive negro tenantry
system of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and West Alabama, was, in
many localities, all but completely disl
organized when the weevil came and
got going good in his work OF de-
s,ruction. But conditions have chang
ed in this central territory outlined.
That portion Of the cotton growing
area east of line running north and
south through Little Rock and west
of Montgomery 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 adjust
ell to the new order of things. In
creasing production of cotton is trav-
cling back west while the weevil con-
tinues his journey east and northeast.
Moreover, it is a question as to
whether Georgia and the Carolinas
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 regiou the use of fer
tilizers was meagre before the weevil
came and it's consumption decreased
under weevil infestation.
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 h. 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 hunlus and organic matter.
The agriculturists of authority tell
IS that where humus and organic
M: tier is contained in the soil the
better results may be obtained by a
iudicious use of artificial plant food
and stimulants. The analogy may be
mentioned of strong healthy man
being able to digest more food than q
weak, feeble 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 weevil wrought the greater
decrease in yields per acre or pei
man.
w. F. Bell, of Boligee, Greene coun.
ty, Ala, has this year proved wha,
can be and is being done when Geor.
gia and Carolina methods Of ferti-
lizing and cultivation are applied ir
making cotton in localities where the
extensive large plantation system has
been all the go for the most part. On
a little less than 400 acres he has
made this year 225 bales Of cotton
His average amount of fertilizer useC
per acre was $50 pounds of the 1922
grade, supplemented with an average
Of rs pounds Of nitrate of soda pei
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 lane
is f a sandy nature, with clay subsoi
uNder most of it. His method of cul
turc is fast and intensive, with ar
intelligent limit to the acreage pc,
plow. He is successfulas evidenced
ky having bought plantation anc
paid for it growing cotton under boil
weevil conditions. He is a native VI
Tuscaloosa county, where conditions
are somewhat similar to Georgia anC
Carolina in hiily lands and where
there are Industrious white farmers
on small farms. He is the only white
man on his plantation. He uses nc
boil weevil poison, but a visit to his
place would convince one that he has
poisoned" mis- negro renters anG
share troopers with knowledge OF
how to grow cotton and make money
using fertilizer and improved meth.
DDS.
Mr.. Bell was induced to locate neal
Holigec a few years ago by A. B
DeMOville, now retired supply mer.
chant, but man who kept his heat
ard his nerve all through the era OF
devastation and boil weevil demorali.
zation. He stood by his people apG
kept them going. His motto and Or
ders were to make plenty Of feed
ard then all the cotton you can."
Yea, verify, Mr.. DeMoville is man
rot only of nerve and benefaction to
kis vicinity but man of vision. In
1918 he cleared over $1,000 on 85
acres of land, worked by negro ten
ants supervised right and supported
well. He believes in feeding the land
as well as the labor on it and claims
that it pays well to feed the land
where one has to feed the labor. With
commercial fertilizer and nitrate of