The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-10
ALABAMA FARMER
MUST MAKE FIGHT
on WEEv|L--M MOORE
Survey Indicated About 80
Per Cent Of WeeviIs Sur
ViVed Winter
STiTE CAPITAL BUREAU
THE AGE-HERALD
MONTGOMERY, Ala. NAV o

Alabama farmers must make Il
hard fight against the boil weevil
this year. according to reports re-
ceived by J. NJ Moore, state COM
missioner of agriculture. DR.. w q.
Hind. state etomologist has reported
to the department that the March
survey indicates that about so rer
cent Of the weevils which hibernated
lived through the winter and will be-
come active this year. w. r. Dawsey of
Houston county also notified the de-
partment that wsevils have become
active in his section.
ut would be uneconomical and
there is absolutely no need for the
farmers to begin a fight on the wee
wills until about the time the first
squares form" said Commissioner
Moore. AT tho time of the appear
ance of the first squares probably
the most effective work against the
effects OF the boil weevil can be
done. This work should consist of
the hoop and sack outfit. described
by the etomologist of the state ex-
pertinent station, Auburn. Ala, which
costs not more than SO cents and can
be made in 80 minutes. With the
hoop In the end of the sack one per-
son can carry this outfit over ap-
proximate1y three acres per day and
shake all the adult weevilS ON the
cotton plant into the sack Sweet
ened mixtures of boil weevil poison
NAV also be used at this stage. and
at this stage only, be used econom-
ically and effectively in fighting the
weevils. Farmers should consult the
county demonstration agents on when
to begin the busting OF the cotton
with calcium arsenate."
FARMERS BADLY BEHIND
Less planting and blowing has
been done on Alabama farms this
year than had been done at the same
time year ago and smaller pro-
portion Of last years jnay crop re-
mains on the farms now than the
amount which remained a year ago.
report of which was made by F. w.
Gist, agricultural statistician. today.
Mr.. Gist also announced that the
first report ever obtained on the
number of pigs showed that more
than 100000 had been farrowcd this
spring.
Nineteen per cent OF the hay grown
last year remained on the farms May
J.. compared with 30 per cent in 1922,
% per cent in 1921 and per cent in
1919. Referring to the hay crop. Mr..
Gist said: THE hay crop last year
was not so large as in former years
and sales have been heavy; also farm
use has been heavier during the win
ter. The condition OF grass hay at
this time is SO per cent of normal
and the same condition is found for
pastures"
The percentage of blowing COM
pared with normal was 70 May l: in
1922 it was 10; in 1921, so. and 1920,
IS. Planting May 1 was SO per cent
of normal compared with SIS in 1922;
70 in 1921 and So in 1920. Referring
to blowing and planting, Mr.. Gist
said: Conditions with relation to
blowing and planting are shown to
be more backward this spring than
for the two years preceding. but not
so backward as in 1920" Diseases
of horses and mules during the past
year took 20 out of every 1000. COM
pared with 20 in 1922; "a in 1921, and
IS in 1920. THE death rate for cat
tie from disease was found to be 20
per 1000 and from exposure 20 per
1000 for the past year, compared
with a combined loss of 43 per 1000
in 1922; So for 1921, and 60 for 1920.
The death rate for hogs during the
past year has been about one-half of
only the ten year average and fell
considerably below the preceding
year." Losses OF hogs for the past
four years were shown as follows:
1928, SO per 1000; 1922, so per 1000;
1921, 81 per 1000; 1920, 60 per thou