Newspaper Page Text
Seed Selection Is Vital
In Fighting 801 l Weevil
Georgia Board of Entomology Points Out Im
portant Principles to Be Followed.
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 1916.—1n view
of the presence of the Mexican cot
ton boll weevil In some forty Geor
gia counties, widespread Interest Is
already manifested In the question
©f seed varieties for planting purposes
this spring, particularly in the infest
ed section. Numerous inquiries upon
this line are reaching the office of the
State Board of Entomology dally.
The department has been conduct
ing constant, and careful tests, says
State Entomologist B. Lee Worsham,
and while it cannot yet specify the
most adaptable seed for each partlc
/ MAPSMCMNG
/[lf Thl 6 ° LL QUAR/SNTINEAfttA
>m con it mat amd cwcvui oomtammo WAumn MtoaunoM. mint to ttaTi doadp m nromuVT. atiakta. oa
The tint line on the map thowe the progreu the boll weevil had made in Georgia up to the middle of Decem
ber. 1915. All the area to the waat of thli line Is Infested The second line, 20 miles east of the first, marks the
safety zona, and Is mads tor purposes of quarantine, as wsll as basis to conduct ths fight against the rapid sprsad
of ths Insect.
.
J
*
ular locality, It is able to speak as
to those varieties which it has tested,
and to state in what particular sec
tion they will thrive best.
Already there are 13,400 square
miles of cotton growing area in Geor
gia infested by the weevil. This Is
approximately one-fourth of the cotton
growing area of the state. It iB im
possible for any one to predict at this
time what the weevil is going to do,
or far it is going to spread this
year. The difficulty grows out of the
lateness of the last cotton season and
the unusual abundance of weevils in
most of the infested area.
Weevil Will be Serious.
The chances are that the weevil
will be very serious this year in at
least 30 to 36 counties.
Under these circumstances, it is
highly important that every farmer in
a county where the boll weevil has
been found should proceed upon the
idea that it will be a very serious
problem in 1916, and arrange his farm
ing operations accordingly.
The most advisable plans to follow
include the reaction in cotton acre
age to from eight to twelve acres to
the plow; the land should be prepar
ed early and put in good condition
for planting; it should be fertilized
just as if the boll weevil were not
present, remembering that the use of
acid phosphate has a tendency to
make cotton fruit early.
Seed Selection First.
Most important of nil, says the de
partment of entomology, is selection
of the very best seed that can be
found adapted to the particular sec
tion w here it is to be planted. Fancy
varieties should be generally avoided,
and planters should, as nearly as pos
sible, use the seed grown close to
home. Once- a good variety is found,
improve it by careful selection. The
Department of Entomology will gladly
assist you in ibis work.
One thing to be remembered is that
there is no such thing as a "boll wee
vil proof” cotton. Here are the main
points as to selection:
1 — You MUST have a variety that
will fruit early. It should put on a
large number of bolls very quickly.
2lf your land is subject to wilt or
black root, you should by nil means
get a variety resistant to this disease.
3 The variety chosen should be
prolific and yield a high percentage
of good lint. It should have few un
productive branches and should be-
gin to put out fruit branches close
to the ground.
As To Specific Varieties.
4 —The variety should not only fruit
early, but It should continue to put
on squares throughout the growing
season. It is some times as late as
August 16 before all squares are de
stroyed. The square is the favorite
food of the young weevil, and as long
as they are available they will not
destroy the bolls.
It has been found that such varie
ties as King's, Simpkin’s, Triumph
and some others, often have a ten
dency to discontinue growth early in
the season; and for this reason will
not be as valuable in the infested
territory as varieties that fruit early
and continue their growth. Tests
made by the Georgia Department of
Entomology show that some of the
bedt varieties for South Georgia are
such types as Lewis 63, a variety prop
agated by this department. It is wilt
resistant, early fruiting, prolific and
fairly resistant to drought. The same
qualities, Including a superior staple,
are found in Dix-Aflfl, a hybrid be
tween the Dixie and Egyptian Mit
Afifl. This Is worth several cents a
pound more than ordinary short cot
ton. Covington-Toole, which has been
selected so as to make it wilt resist
ant, Is another good variety. The de
partment has found that such varieties
as Improved Cleveland Big 801 l
Cook’s Improved, Toole and Express,
will be well adapted to most sections
of North Georgia.
Early Planting.
Planting should take place Just
early enough so as to miss the late
frosts and cold nights. Shallow,
but frequent cultivation is important
—once a week, if possible, until the
cotton is ready to pick.
Emerging early in the spring the
weevil will feed on tender cotton buds
until the squares develop. Black leaf
or bud Indicates the weevil's presence;
watch for this and pick the weevils
off. Squares that are attacked turn
yellow and fall to the ground. Yellow
squares and those on the ground
should be picked and burned regular
ly until about July 10.
Finally, and as insuring agricultural
salvation against the weevil, the prac
tice of diversification Is all-important.
Farmers should grow more food crops,
more live stock, and yet be careful not
to undertake any wholly new proposi
tion on a large scale, until sure of a
market. The important thing is to
make the farm self-sustaining.
Can Grow Cotton Profitably.
The statements and suggestions set
forth in this article are specially ap
plicable to conditions of February.
1916. By following these suggestions
and taking advantage of the other
man's experience, you will be able to
grow cotton at a profit, but it is abso
lutely essential that there shall be a
reduction in acreage. It is out of the
question to undertake as much per
plow as you could under ordinary con
ditions. Nobody else has been able to
do this so far. and it has been proven
folly to attempt It. Write the depart
| ment w henever you desire information.
HOG CHOLERA
SERUM IN GEORGIA
Andrew M. Soule, President Georgia
Btate College Of Agriculture.
Judging from reports coming from
various parts of the state, there is still
a misapprehension as to what part the
College of Agriculture has in the man
ufacture and distribution of hog chol
era serum. By law the College is em
powered to manufacture the serum for
the farmers of the state at lowest pos
sible cost, but the law does not per
mit the College to distribute the serum
direct to the farmer, county agents,
veterinarians or other agencies of the
state, but it specifies that the serum
shall be distributed by the vet
erinarian’s office at the State
Capitol. Therefore, all College serum
must be turned over to the state veter
inarian. It Is manufactured and held
in storage subject to the order of the
state veterinarian, and is promptly
turned over to him on his request,
usually in large quantities and in full
for all orders. The responsibility of
the College, therefore, ends, so far as
the distribution of the serum is con
cerned, when it fills the orders of the
state veterinarian.
The law' empowers the state veteri
narian to send out the serum with
such instructions as are necessary to
all persons in the state who make de
mand for state-made serum. The leg
islature has made special appropria
tions to the veterinarian’s office to fa
cilitate and expedite the distribution
of the serum. Until this year the leg
islature had appropriated a like sum
for the manufacture of the serum. The
only appropriation, therefore, now be
ing made for serum by the state of
Georgia, is to the office of the state
veterinarian for the distribution of it.
In view of the failure of the legis
lature to make the appropriation for
the manufacture of serum, it has fall
en upon the College of Agriculture to
assume responsibility for carrying out
the purposes of the law without finan
cial aid, by undertaking to manufac
ture serum at the lowest cost at which
any kind of serum is offered on the
market. The College serum is tested
and guaranteed. Those who want the
College serum should make request for
it, since the state veterinarian also
distributes commercial serum and does
not confine himself to distributing
state serum alone. Do not, however,
make request upon the College. All
requests must go to the state veteri
narian at Atlanta.
In this connection, it is pertinent to
stale that Georgia farmers get from
their state serum plant a serum that
costs them far less than any other
southern state plant provides it. In
such states farmers are taking the
higher priced state-made serum in
preference to commercial serums being
offered.
Farmers Warned—Soda
Lye Is Not Potash
W. A. Worsham, Jr., Professor Agr.
Chemistry Ga. College Of Agri.
Information has come to the Col
lege of Agriculture indicating that in
several sections of Georgia there has
been an effort to sell caustic soda
as a substitute for potash for mixing
fertilizers. Caustic soda preparations
do not contain any potash whatever.
The only effect of an application to
the soil would be to consume the
humus, the one thing in which the
soils of the south are most deficient.
Caustic soda has been mistakenly call
ed "potash.” It has been used for
soap making just as balls of potash
were formerly used for that purpose,
but soda has come to supplant potash,
because it is far cheaper and makes
a firmer soap.
The similarity of the two may fool
the farmer into thinking that the soda
preparation is potash, but the plant
cannot be fooled. It requires potash
as a part of its food, and will not
take up soda as a substitute. The
practice of selling caustic soda as a
substitute for potash cannot be too
strongly condemned, and farmers
should beware of any substitute for
potash until he has received the ad
vice of disinterested experts.
CASTOR IA
For Infants and Children
In Use For Over 30 Years
Always bears
Signature of
LosL
Between Jackson and Pittman's
Ferry, Saturday afternoon, suit
‘•H-f. e ard for return to Miss
Lucy Goodman.
Civilians Military
Training Camp
Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga.,
Near Chattanooga, Tenn.
April, May, June and July, 1916
Reduced Fares Via
Southern Railway
For Complete Information Address
J. S. Bloodworth, T. P: A.
Macon, Georgia
Spring Bardenj’lanting Time
For those who wish to add to their
garden crops and be more able to
“live at home,” the following data
about various crops as to when to
plant and how much to plant may be
of service. Those who want fuller
information should write the College of
Agriculture at Athens for the bulletin
entitled “Vegetable Gardening in the
South.” It is sent free.
Asparagus, December 1 to March 16,
2 ounces to 100-foot row; Bush Bean,
March 1 to March 15, or when danger
of frost is past, 1 to iy a pints to 100-
foot row; Beet, November 1 to March
1, 1 to 1% ounces to a 100-foot row;
Cauliflower, May to September, 50
plants to 100-foot row; Cucumber,
March 1 to 15, 25 hills to 100-foot
row r ; Irish Potatoes, about February
1, 2 to 3 quarts per 100-foot row ;
Radish, Christmas to last of February,
1 ounce to 100-foot row; Squash,
March 1-15, ten hills to 100-foot row;
Watermelons, about March 15, 10 hills
to 100-foot row.
District agents in farm demonstra
tion work are being located at the
various district agricultural schools,
from which places as headquarters
they will prosecute the work and co
operate with the agricultural schools.
CABBAGE PLANTS
Cabbage Plants, select leading
varieties SI.OO per 1000, four Con
cord grape vines free; quick or
ders. W. L. Stewart, Valdosta,
Ga. l-28-4t
Preventing Worms In Fruit
T. H. McHatton, Professor Horticul
ture Georgia College Of Agriculture.
Spraying with arsenate of lead at
the proper time will control the cur
culio which causes worms in peaches,
and the codling moth which produces
worms in apples.
The spray material should be made
by taking from 1 to 2 pounds of pow
dered arsenate of lead, or from 2 to
3 pounds of arsenate lead paste, and
putting it in 60 gallons of water. It is
advisable to slake 2 pounds of stone
lime and also put in the solution. The
arsenate of lead and lime will make
a suspension or settle if not agitated.
The curculio which lays the eggs
that hatch the worms that infest
peaches, attack the little peaches
about the time the shuck be
gins to burst or at the time the peach
is about the size of a pea. It is then
that the arsenate of lead should be
sprayed. Delay spraying a week or
ten days and there will be many
wormy peaches. The spraying should
be repeated in three weeks.
For the codling moth that causes
worms in apples, spray with arsenate
of lead just after the petals fall and
while the tiny apples still stand up
straight. Repeat the spraying in three
weeks.
Elmo Ragsdale, expert horticulturist,
has been added to the extension staff
of the College of Agriculture to do
field work, particularly to help in can
ning dub and home garden work.
Prof. J. W. Firor will confine him
elf more exclusively to commercial
drepositions and experimentations.
Children Cry
FOR FLETCHER’S
CASTOR I A
Start In the Colt
Business This Spring
Milton P. Jarnagin, Professor Animal
Husbandry, Ga. College Of Agri.
Near 600,000 horses have been ex
ported from this country to warring
Europe. In the cotton belt this means
higher priced mules and horses, not
only for this year, but for years to
come. When the war is over Europe
will still be looking to this country
for restocking their farms, and for
ten years or more it will have its ef
fect on prices in this country.
This spring every mare in Georgia
should be bred to a good sire. If this
were done there is a possibility of be
tween 35,000 and 40,000 colts being
born. The last census showed that
there were only 1,488 colts bom in
Georgia during the year the figures
were taken.
The colt crop for next year will
be determined in the next 60 days. It
is, therefore, time for farmers to be
looking about for suitable, sound stal
lions. If there are none or none good
enough, the College will send an ex
pert where there is sufficient interest,
and see if a co-operative arrangement
cannot be made for buying a good stal
lion. Two stud fees per mare for 4d
to 60 mares would meet all the ex
penses necessary to purchase a stal
lion of fine quality, and the expert
would see that such an animal is pur
chased and delivered.
College of Agriculture Experi
ments With Velvet Beans
John R. Fain, Professor Agronomy 7
Ga. State College Of Agriculture.
The College of Agriculture is seek
ing to determine which varieties of
the velvet bean is best adapted to
Georgia conditions. To this end it is
conducting tests in various parts of
the state. At the present time the
results of only one year’s test is avail
able, and these are taken from the
College plats and may be said to indi
cate what varieties are best suited to
the piedmont region, though more than
one year’s results should be looked to
for a determination of the matter.
All of the varieties were planted
May 21. Seventeen were used in the
tests. The pound of seed per acre is
the basis of comparison. Very few of
the varieties proved of any worth on
this basis. Tfie variety known as “Me
dium Early” matured November 5 and
yielded 1,225 pounds of seed per acre.
“Jack Bean” proved the sec
ond best yielder. The seed
are, however, not palatable to
cattle, and are somewhat indigesti
ble. The highest yield was 828 pounds
per acre and from that down to 164
pounds per acre. The ordinary Mexi
can Stock Bean gave 602 pounds per
acre. This bean is palatable, and ma
tured November 1, one of the earliest.
The experiments will be continued
for another year, crops being grown
both in north Georgia and south Geor
gia.
Wanted to Buy
Corn, peas, cotton seed and
scrap cotton. We will save you
money on hulls. See E. 0. Huson,
in rear of the post office.
11-26-tf , ,