Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 1923.
FIGHT OR LOSE
By J. H. DeLOACH, Director
Armours Bureau Agriculture Research.
THE biggest and most vital problem
in the cotton growing sections of
the United States is the control of
the Mexican cotton boll weevil. This
p>st has destroyed billions of wealth
within the past few years, and contin
ues to impose the severest hardships on
cotton farmers, merchants, bankers,
and the people generally. The loss in
Georgia alone in 1922 from this partic
ular pest was at least a million bale's
of cotton: valued at SIOO.OO per bale,
this is a hundred million dollars, not
including the cotton seed. Add to this
the value of the seed, based on current
market quotations, and we have a fur
ther loss of twenty million dollars, or
a total loss of a hundred and twenty
million dollars to the farmers of the
State. This loss is so subtle and of
such a nature that it has baffled the
farmer, caused suffering. Ithnkrupted
merchants, and closed banks. The far
mer is confused and is groping partly
in the dark for a way out. He has
come to the place where he must roll
up his sleeves and enter into a desper
ate grapple with the weevil, and we
have truned our attention to the prob
lem partly in self-defense and partly
to help bring baek courage to the agri
culture of the South.
Xo state can stand indefinitely such
heavv losses. The entire business struc
ture and credit system would be broken
down. In a civilized agricultural coun
try like tne United States it is the pro
ductive wealth that makes agriculture
nnd business possible, and when the
sources of wealth have been crippled
without the development of compensa
ting or new sources, the people suf
fer and are finally reduced to want.
In the fertilizer industry we have
recognized this truth, and for the ben
efit of our own business and agricul
ture at large we have looked in every
direction for relief from the ravages
of this pest. We have visited all parts
of the cotton Melt and- have studied the
methods of farmers in the older infest
ed territory; we have consulted experts
hoth State and Federal: we have watch
ed the control methods in theory and
practice, and have finally found what
has proved to be an effective remedy.
Tlii< consists of the use of calcium a
mite dust applied to the growing cot
ton during the time of weevil infesta
tion. supplemented by better farming,
better fertilization, picking up squares
in the early part of the season, more
frequent and later cultivation, and a
constant search for the weevils in all
parts of the farm.
Picking up Squares.
There is no question of the impor
tance of picking iy> squares. In the
varlv part of the season we picked up
all the squares, and this helped us to
reduce the amount of calcium ai sen.
t!m Hired. Also it kept the weevils un
der better control, because a minimum
numler were left to hatch out.
How We Controlled the Weevil.
The successful control o fthe weeiil
is determined almost by the size ol
the first hatch, and if this is very small
and the dusting is done effectively, the
crop of cotton is a certainty so far as
the weevil is concerned.
The calcium arsenate poisoning
od was worked out hv the Delta lydx -
•itorv of the United States Department
o Agriculture at Tallulah Uouisiana,
and hv the Georgia State Board of En
tomologv and all the states in the cot
on t>elt. Experts have secured scientific
data as to the efficiency of this method.
I, is generally recognized that calcium
arsenate dust will kill the weevil if
applied at the right time and in the
rig The"question that naturally present
ed itself to us when we learned of this
remedy was —can it be applied under
ordinary farm conditions where most
of the iabor is done by common negro
tenants? The life of our business m
in the cotton belt depends on the con
trol of the boll weevil, and it has been
•i part of our work to make a thor
ough test of the possibility of doing
this, before we made any positive state
ment or recommendation.
In 19 99 we tried out the calcium ar
senate remedy under average conditions
nml satisfied ourselves that it will do
the work expected. Asa result of our
own work we are prepared to say with
confidence that the weevil can be kept
in check hv any farmer who will go to
the trouble to inform himself on the
tails of the method (an outline of
’which we give below) and who will
equip his farm in an inexpensive way
for fighting. In order to meet with a
measure of success lie must tie positive
on the whole process —not let something
else do as well, but apply the method
exactly as it is given and know that he
is securing results from day to day
during the fighting season. No guess
work can enter into this game. One
must know what he is doing and what
results he is getting.
How We Started.
Our test was made in the fields on an
ordinary cotton farm located near Ar
lington.'Georgia. in a good cotton grow
ing section The farm is not oue con
tinuous field, but a very large tract of
land broken into many small farm
units, like any settled cotton area of
the State, and with woods, creeks, and
branches, ponds and gullies interven
ing. We knew that if the weevil
could lie controlled on this farm and
with negro tenants, it could be con
trolled on any farm in the State or in
the cotton belt.
Our work the first year was to con
trol the weevil: in this we were suc
cessful. If we could save an ordinary
crop, there would be little doubt that
we could save a Big crop. We have
thought for many years that the key
to success in growing cotton is to grow
more cotton on fewer acres. The com
ing of the weevil has made this im
perative. On many farms the weevils
have not done much damage because
the cotton \Vas too small or too poor to
raise a big crop of weevils. The real
damage has always been done on farms
where the expected yield was high and
afforded a good breeding ground for
the weevil. This is natural, because
where there is a heavy crop there Is
much to lose, and where there is a light
crop there is little to lose.
But the big crop if saved always
pays all expenses, and gives a good
margin of profit besides. It is there
fore important to undertake to pro
duce a Dig enough crop to pay all ex
pense and to make it worth while to
save it, and then turn attention to
methods of weevil control.
Preparation for Fighting
We made no changes in the project
ed plan of operation of the farm. It
was conducted in the same way it had
been for years past, and for actual op
eration of dusting machines we used
the labor already on the farm. We did
employ one extra man for the summer
months to look for the weevils and re
port to us where and when they ap
peared in the various fields. Any far
mer with a large acreage should do the
same thing, unless he can otherwise
provide for this.
Implements and Calcium Arsenate
We provided our fighting implements
btefore the weevils came in the spring
We used only such implements as had
proven successful under trial conditions
and had been approved by the Govern
ment laboratory authorities and the
Georgia State Board of Entomology.
We used the two-horse and one-horse
machines; also mule back machines and
hand guns. How these various kinds
of machines stood the test under our
conditions, we will tell a little later.
We estimated that each two-horse ma
chine would care for a hundred acres
and each one-horse machine for fifty
to seventy-five, and the mule back as
many. We allowed one hand gun for
each ten to fifteen acres. It was very
difficult to get over more than eight
acres with a hand gun.
In the first purchase of poisons we
allowed only about fourteen pounds of
calcium arsenate to the acre, but we
finally had to use an average of nine
teen pounds per acre. Some acres re
quired only a small quantity, while
others required considerably above
twenty pounds. The size of the cotton
and the persistence of the weevil will
always determine the actual amount
-of poison to use. Some acres we went
over more than a half dozen times,
while others we went over only three
times at mast.
When It Pays to Fight.
It pays to fight the weevil wherever
he is and whether he is in small or
large numbers. His work is so elusni
that often there are many when the
farmer thinks there are only tew. it
we were sure there were weevils in any
part of the farm we began fighting
then and there, and did not let up till
the weevils disappeared. .
The First Appearance in Spring
The weevil appeared when the cotton
was small. At this time very little if
any actual damage was 'lone to the
cotton, but the weevil was feeding and
preparing to give us a lot of trouble as
soon as the squares should be formed
so that they could begin la -' J,lss - . *
far as we were able to learn the fust
eggs laid by the weevil in spring were
laid in the young squares first beginning
to form. Later on in the season the>
laid in small Mills, and when these
were gone they deposited eggs m lar
ger and almost grown bolls as the
food supply and breeding places be
came limited. Near the end of the sea
son we found in many places a dozen
zruiis in oik boll. . .
Our First Poisoning :n Spring
The first implements we used were
not bought from the factory, but were
made out on the farm. They consists
of 125 old discarded gallon syrup cans
We put wooden handles on the sides oi
these, after cutting out both ends, and
tied a piece of burlap bag on the bot
tom and filled them with calum
nate dust, and gave this a light shak
o\er each plant or hill. It took only
about a pound of dust to cover an acre
of cotton with these Improvised im
plements. But we killed the weevils
as effectively as if each had cost ten
dollars. It was during these
weeks of the first appearance of the
weevils that we made our best
against them. By fighting at that time
we reduced the number to a
and as a consequence we lost very
tie of the cotton fruit.
Hand Guns
When we used hand guns at all ex
cept in spot infestations, we grouped
several tenants or day laborers ano
covered a good sized area in a '
short while Women often did this
work, and as well as the men did and.
We found it better to use power
machines wherever powtWe. but the
hand guns were very valuable where
we found small patches of weevils. E'-
er rv farmer should have at least one
good hand gun for emergencies and for
dusting his potatoes and the like. He
will save in one season more than th
cost hv using on spot infestations near
the thickest, hedges, and around
stumps, and patches of shrubbery in
the cotton fields. If the cotton patch
is clear of all these things and in the
middle of a large cleared area, a hand
gun would be of very little seriice.
One-Mule Machines
These were the most effective ma
chines we used, because they were am
ple, easy to operate, and any negro
tenant could handle almost as well
an expert. They were almost as handy
and as easy to operate as an ordinary
walking cultivator, and stumps and
other signs of poor farming interferr
ed very little with their use. We be
gan the use of these at the first hatch
of the weevils in the latter part of May
and used them on through the season.
Two-Horse Machines.
Where the land is stumpless and the
fields are of good size, the two horse
dust machine is indispensable. W e
used such machines with much effect
and economy. They are made for dust
ing three or more rows at a time, and
seldom cause any delay on account of
repairs. Keep the dust free from
moisture and lumps and the agitator
properly adjusted, and such a machine
will give satisfaction.
The Calcium Arsenate
The calcium arsenate must have at
least 40 per cent total arsenic pentox
ide and not more than 0.75 per cent
water-soluble. It must also have a
density of from 80 to 100 cubic inches
to the pound.
The Weevil
This whole process of poisoning cen
ters around the weevil and his habits.
Unless we know how he lives, we can
not control him.
One of tile first things we learned
was that the weevil can live a little
while in summer without laying any
eggs. We found that according to the
report of the Government there was
an interval of five or six days between
the time of hatching and the time of
laying. We made every effort to do our
poisoning during such time. We did
not always succeed in this, but when
we did, we lost very few squares. It
is therefore of greatest importance to
know when the weevil begins hatching
out. so that we can strike the death
Plow then and each smeceeding few
days, as long as they continue to
batch.
Weather and Time of Day to Poison
We always found the weevils active
when there was any moisture, and the
more moisture there was the more
work they did. It is a well known fact
that they are not very active in dry
weather, but hardly enough has been
said about the relation of their activi
ty to the amount of moisture. No
doubt the amount of water they get
determines the number of eggs they lay
We applied dust at any hour of the
day whenever there was no breeze, and
during windy days, when it was still
only at night—which happened only
two or three times during the season —
we applied poison at night.
Planting Other Crops Sometimes
Interferes.
We found that if cotton is up and
growing before corn is planted, there
is great difficulty in finding time to
dust the young cotton at the first ap
pearance of the weevil on account of
other work. It would boa go al plan
to plant the com first, as it van be
planted earlier than cotton, and get
all possible of such work out of the
way by the time it is necessary to be
gin the fight on the weevil.
It takes more work and more time to
raise a crop under weevil conditions
than it took before the weevil came,
and cotton farmers know this: this is
one reason why they will find it to
their advantage to plant fewer acres
to the plow and fertilize more heavily
and cultivate oftener, keeping in mind
the fact that it costs no more time or
machinery to dust and save a big crop
than it does to save a little crop. The
only difference in cost would be a few
additional pounds of calcium arsenate
dust.
In our year's experience with the
weevil we learned:
1 That the weevil made his first
appearance in our field about April
29th when the cotton plants were very
small, and by applying calcium arse
nate dust at that time it was easy to
control him.
2. That adult weevils came from
hibernating places from early April till
May lOttt, and that it pays to wage a
continuous fight on the first crop all
this time. Such a fight lightens the
burdens of the campaign later in the
season.
3. That one need not expect to kill
all the weevils at any one time, but
most of them can he killed and control
can be effected if the fight is kept u
contirfuously throughout the entire
growing season.
4. That there were three definite
outbreaks on our farms: one June 3rd,
one June 24th. and one July 15th; also
some infestation as late as the middle
of August. The first infestation was
very light, but each was heavier thru
the entire season, qnd this seems to
be inevitable.
5. That there is very little migra-'
tion of the weevil till mid-summer: that
the weevil is sure to break out in
patches or spots, and it lessens the cost
of control to he on the lookout for
these spots ami poison there, As the
spots grew larger and larger the con
trol proved more difficult.
I 6. That some fields were not infest-
I ed so badly as others, hut did not find
out any special reason for this.
7. That cotton land with stumps was
! more uniformly infested than lands
! cleaned of stumps, and harder to con
trol the weevils in.
8. That the negTo is quick to learn
how to help in this work, and needs
only to be trained.
9. That it pays to have sufficient
calcium arsenate on hand at the be
ginning of the season. A few days’
delay may cost one many times over
the value of this material, in the loss
es from unexpected infestations.
10. That it pays to provide far in
advance of the time of need the dusting
machinery necessary to fight with.
11. That the hand guns are not
very practical except in case of spot
infestation on small areas, or where
the acreage Is very small. To use
them In large fields takes up too much
time from other work. Besides, they
are not very effective when the cotton
grows to be considerable size.
12. That the one-mule two row ma
chines fire the most practical under
a tenant system where the cotton areas
are in medium and small patches.
13. That the weevil always is most
active in wet weather, and least active
in dry weather.
14. That Results can
come only from an increased yield per
acre through improved preparation,
fertilization, cultivation, the use or
better seed and a wilt resistant cotton
Better preparation means plowing
under old cotton plants early in the
fall and deep winter breaking of land
and the use of cover crops.
Belter fertilization will increase the
yield and enable us to make more mon
ey on tlie farm.
Better cultivation will keep the* soil
constantly stirred and the damage of
the weevil will be reduced to the lowest
terms.
In the fall breaking we turn under
the green plants and cut off the food
supply of the weevil; also plow under
the bigfer per cent of the weevils.
With cover crops we hold the land to
gether, avoid seepage during the long
winter rains and afford a limited
THE WINDER NEWS
JiiuiiHiiiiUiiiiniiuitiMiiiiriiiiiiii
111
I cigarettes
<Th t
AMERICAN TOBACCO CQ
iniiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiwiimmniHn
Chamber lain’s Colic and Diarrhoea
Remedy.
Every (family should keep this prep
aration at hand during the hot of the
summer months. It is almost sure to
he needed, and when that time comes, is
worth many ties its cost. Buy it now.
amount of good winter grazing. We
also reduce the feed exists, by growing
winter grain crops in abundance.
This we are doing in order to pro
duce a cotton crop in 1923.
iiiiinunmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimHiiii
4
24
,/o*V I
m
4 ‘ ' V =
iinmiLuiimiiimiiiiirilinuniiiurT
B. E. PATRICK
Watches and Jewelry
Fine Watch Repairing.
WINDER, GA.
SWIMMING POOL
One and one-half miles east of Winder and easily
accessible from all points. Now ready for the public,
and will be open from 7:00 a. m. to 10:00 p. m. every
day except Sunday. A smaller branch of clearer water
has been utilized to supply the pool, of sufficient vol
ume to insure an everchanging water supply.
An expert swimmer has been secured to look after
the ladies and children and to give instructions in swim
ming and diving free of charge to those wanting it.
Nice pine grove surrounding the pool, with tables
and benches for picnic parties.
Ideal place for kodaking.
No drunkenness or disorderly conduct will be allow
ed. Your patronage solicited.
W. T. APPLEBY, Proprietor
1899 1923
The “ear-marks” of
Success
Do you spend every dollar that you earn, or have you
learned to keep part of it?
The answer to that question will tell you whether you
have the “ear-marks” of success.
If you haven’t yet acquired that habit, begin now by
opening a bank account.
Winder National Bank
The Standard of Comparison ***
A Buick is a Happy Gift
Typifying the very spirit of youth in the sparkling
originality of design and in its beauty, this Buick six
cylinder model sport roadster has won the hearts of
young people everywhere.
The completeness and luxury of the appointments of
the Buick Sport Roadster not only assure every
motoring comfort and convenience, but give that
smartness and exclusiveness of appearance in which
youth revels.
The eager and dependable performance typical of all
Buick cars make this sport model ideal for vacation
and summer driving.
Fours
2 Pm. Road. • *865
5 Pass. Tour. • 88S
3 Pass. Coupe - 1175
5 Pass. Sedan - 1395
5 Pass. Tour.
Sedan - • -1325
Sport Road. - 1025
Price* f. o. b. Butch Factorial government taa
to be added. Ail about the G. M. A. C. Pure hate
Plan, tvlo.h provide* for Deferred Payment*.
D-i5--Nr
WINDER MOBILE CO.
When better automobiles are built, Buick will build diem
Y 3 X
Subscription Price: $1.50 Per Year.
Sixes
2 Pass. Road. $1175
5 Paas. Tour. - 119S
5 Paaa. Tour.
Sedan - • >1935
5 Paaa. Sedan - 1985
4 Paaa. Coupe -SIB9S
7 Paaa. Tour. • 1435
7 Paaa. Sedan • 219S
Sport Road. - 1*25
Sport Tourkif • 1675