Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-05-16
On the Weevil $ Trail

on the trail OF the boil WeeVi.
Never before in the history or
this country has there been a
more inspiring or thorough fight
made on the weevil than has de-
veloped during the past few
days under the able leadership
of Judge ]. A. Hixon.
Authorities tell us there are
two things necessary to extermi-
nate the weevil - WORK and
POISON. He who believes that
the Sumter farmer ism t working
this year, needs to wake up.
White and black, the farmers
are at it, early and late.
Fortunately, the campaign
was undertaken in time this year
to bring the greatest results. A
week or two later would have
meant an enormous losss
Nor is this county the only
county in Southwest Georgia
that is battling with the little
pest. Down in Daugherty and
other counties they are cam
paigning for a normal crop.
Other counties do not seem
to have gone into the fight as
thoroughly as Sumter, but all
are awake. The fight is on
from one end of the State to the
other.
The gigantic death struggle
between farmer and pest is the
one absorbing topic today in
Georgia. Every banker, mer-
chant and farmer is intensely in
terested, for on the success of
the farmer over his relentless
adversary depends to large ex-
tent the happiness and pros
perity of Georgia.
The Albany Herald says the
boil weevil Is an adversary
which no farmer has met it will
despise; that
1t has been demonstrated that
if proper measures are adopted
early and employed vigorously,
the pest can be conquered, but
there can be no relaxation of
vigilance and activity without
dire consequences.
Calcium arsenate has been
proved to be an effective poison
if intelligently used in weevil-
infested fields, and practically
all cotton fields in the South now
belong in that category. 1t is safe
to say that the farmer who cult
Yates intensively, picks up fallen
squares regularly and uses cal
ciiln. arsenate according to direc-
tons issued by the State and
United States Departments of
Agriculture will be successful in
growing crop of cotton that will
prove profitable.
But the biggest factor in maxi
ing a cotton crop in Georgia
this year will be that ancient and
honorable institution known as
work. A curious person who un-
derstood that arsenic is a poison
asked what other ingredients
are mixed with the arsenic in or
der to make it effective against
the cotton pests?" And a wise
man answered: "Some mixers
use calcium dust, some prefer
molasses, and there are perhops
other formulas; but the principal
and most important ingredient is
hard work"
And it will be found this year
that with anything like normal
growing conditions for cotton,
those farmers who mix intelli-
gently--directed hard work with
their calcium arsenate or their
molasses combination will make
cotton. Others will not fare so
well.
Every authority who has been
heard this season in Sumter
county has eliminated the
weather as a factor. They de-
clare, after successful expert
ments, that early poisoning, rap
id and effective cultural methods
and work will produce normal
crop regardless of the weather.
They have cited instance after
instance to back UP this state
ment.
Follow the rules as laid down
by the committee and quit wor-
rying about the weather" said
one of the experts this week.
That's good advise. Worry
won't kill weevils, but work and
poison willard is.
Speaking of work, at one Of
the meetings the other day, a
farmer asked ]. c. Maness when
a farmer could safely go fishing
during the growing season, and
here's the good doctors reply
my good friend. whenever
you see a boil weevil strolling
Igs A. %naF4 fotWard the