The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-02-20
History ofBoN WeeUil and Methods of Control
PREPARED STATES DEPARTMENT AoRIcULTURE


derivative, Simpkins. During recent
years, however, numerous other va
rieties have been developed to the
point where they are sufficiently early
to mature a crop in the presence Of
the weevil and these are being rap
idly adopted. The Triumph variety is
one of the best known for the west
ern portion of the infested territory.
Among the others which have
been cultivated with success in
various localities are Cleveland Big
Boil Cooks Improved, Rowden,
Toole, Brown, Lone Star, Trice and
Columbia
The long-staple cotton situation is
particularly interesting. The upland
long staples, which were cultivated
when the weevil arrived, were slow
maturing, non-prolihc varieties with a
very thin boil wall, and were thus
subject to a maximum amount OF
wcevil damage. The weevil soon elm
mated practically every one OF these
varieties, and for some time 1t appear
ed that the production of long-staple
cotton would be practically prohibit
ed The situation, however, mas been
met by the development OF several
ng-staple varieties which are prolific
and reasonably early. Among the best
known of these are such varieties as
Express and Weber
1t should be thoroughly understood
that the selection of the cotton varie-
| ty is purely local proposition, and
| the farmer is warned against the ex-
tensive planting of new variety
(merely because it has done well else
where) before he has tried it on a
small scale under his own conditions.
Whenever possible seeds should be
obtained from local planters who have
given attention to varietal selection.
Varieties introduced from different
sources require several seasons to ad-
just themselves to new conditions
The use of seed simply because it
comes from a northern locality is a
practice which frequently has done
| great injury The only case in which
| the introduction of northern seed is
| justified is where the seed represents
a variety which has been improved
with reference to early maturity. Even
| this practice is not recommended eX-
cept as an emergency measure when
| locally improved seed is not available
Early Planting.
Another step to be taken III obtain
| ing an early crop and fully as import
ant as those that have been mention
ed is early planting. No set rule can
| be laid down as to the proper date
for planting. There is much variation
in the seasons. Sometimes it IS pos
sible to place the fields in readiness
as early as desirable, and much OF the
effect of early planting is lost unless
the seed bed is in good condition
| Rather than plant abnormally early II
would be better to improve the seed
! bed. 1t is not recommended that plant
/ ing be done at dangerously early
dates. Nevertheless, with proper pre-
| liminary attention to the fields II
would be possible for farmers in mos
| localities to plant from 10 to ~ days
earlier than they were accustomed tc
before the arrival of the weevil. 1t /:
much better to run the risk of replant
| ING. provided the seed bed is in gooc
condition, than to defer planting OF
account Of the danger of cold wealth
er. OF course, it is possible to plan
entirely too early, SO that the plants
| become stunted during the early days
of their growth, and planting shoult
/ not be done so early as to have this
effect upon the plants.
Fertilizers.
An important step in procuring ar
early crop is the use of commercial
| fertilizers. In many large areas in tbs
cotton belt the land is not impover-
ished to the extent that 1t actually
needs fertilizers under normal condi.
lions, but it has been demonstrated
many times by the different expert
nent stations in the south that the
maturity Of cotton frequently can be
FASTENED materially by the use OF Ter
tilizers. On impoverished soils, more
over, fertilizers containing a high per,
centage of nitrogen give increased