Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-08-28

WeeVll, observing lIldt
Down in South Georgia coun-
ties the farmers are holding cele-
brations over the conquest of the
boil weevil. Better not get too
enthusiastic about that. The
boll weevil hasn't been conquer
ed. The pest is merely suffering
a reverse. Weather conditions
throughout the state have been
against the weevil and there has
been more intelligent war against
the pest this year, but that is no
indication that it won't be back
in destructive numbers again
next year if constant vigilance is
not observed. Better than cele-
brating the conquest of the
boil weevil was the action of the
farmers of an Alabama county
several years ago who. erected a
monument in tribute to the pest
because it had taught them how
to farm.
The Tribune-Herald is right
and it is wrong. South Georgia
is celebrating the conquest of
1924, having in many counties
almost completely routed the
weevil this year. But South
Georgia knows that the same
methods must be used again next
year. The weevil is not routed
for good and all, any more than
the potato bug or various other
destructive forces which attack
vegetation.
The boil weevil must be met
every year, from now until the
end of time, so far as we now
know. 1t may be eliminated
some day, but there is nothing
now to Indicate such a pleasing
prospect.
But the Herald Tribune, along
with many other papers, is wrong
when it takes the weather too
much into consideration. The
farmer must learn that the
weather is no longer a controll-
ing factor in the weevil fight.
Whether the season be dry or
wet, the same poisoning meth
DDS must be followed. There
are those who think that hot, dry
weather eliminates the weevil.
Such is not true. Then there are
others who believe that cotton
can not be produced profitably
under weevil conditions during a
wet season. They are wrong.
Cotton can be produced under
any weather conditions provided
the correct poisoning methods
are followed, and many counties
IN South Georgia have learned
this to be true.
In 1923 Carroll county led
the state in cotton production,
marketing something like 3D.
OOO bales. Sumter county fail
ed, ginning only about one-half
that number, and 1923 was a
wet season, in both Carroll and
Sumter.
The answer to the riddle is in
the method of poisoning used in
the two counties. Sumter wait
ed for 10 or IS per cent infesta-
ton; Carroll began poisoning be-
fore infestation.
This year Sumter will proba-
bly, double her 1923 production.
That the weather has helped to
some extent, there's no. doubt,
but the real reason for the in
crease is in the fact that Sumter
did not wait for the weevil to
get into the press. Recently
poison.
10 conquer the wcevil it is
necessary to poison its food Ee-
fore it begins feeding-nor al
terward. The weevil multiplies
so rapidly that once it gets a
start, it is almost impossible to
again secure control.
The cotton farmer must for
get the weather. Poison before
infestation begins and keep it
up at regular intervals. Never
give the weevil an opportunity
to find Imprisoned food. In this
way, and this way only, will the
pest be conquered.
There is much transformation
regarding the weevil. Many
queer and unreliable statements
gets into the press. Recently
the Atlanta Constitution quoted
the following from the Ohio
State Journal, which shows how
thoroughly misunderstood is the
weevil situation, mot only in
the states far removed from the
cotton beft1 says the Constitu-