Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

PLANT QUARANTINE SAVES MILLIONS 1 ( How Entomological Department Keeps' infested Plants and Trees Out of Georgia. Atlanta, G&. —It Is Impossible to es timate In dollars and cents, says the Georgia State Board of Entomology, ■what this state has saved In the re cent past on account of strict quaran tine laws against plant insects and diseases. Hundreds of thousands of dollars more might have been saved, if the quarantine laws had been en acted in time to keep out such pests as the destructive San Jose scale. Native enemies to vegetation, says the department, in a recent bulletin, have grown steadily worse with im proved agriculture; and it is the duty of_the state, through the department, as well as through laws governing the shipment here of plants and trees, to meet these problems of seriously in jurious insects and diseases, to eradi cate them w r here possible, and in any event to minimize their power to de stroy. If the quarantine laws ware not en acted in time to keep out the San Jose ■scale, they came soon enough, State Entomologist E. Lee Worsham points out, to hold back the Mexican cotton boll weevil, until he gets here by his own unaided efforts. If it had not been for strict observance of the Georgia quarantine laws the cotton boll wee vil and other pests would have been in this state twelve to fifteen years ago. Makes Careful Inspection. Through the State Department of Entomology, Georgia now rpakes an annual inspection of all plants and trees offered for sale in the state, and does not permit the sale or distri bution of a single specimen that is diseased. The department, likewise, maintains, under the Georgia laws, a strict quarantine against infested nursery stock from other states and foreign countries. No nursery stock can be shipped into Georgia from any where unless it has a certificate of inspection from the entomologist in the state or coutnry in which it origi nates, as well as a certificate from the Georgia Department of Entomol ogy. Any shipments, made other wise, are in violation of the Georgia law and subject to prosecution. No person can even give legally to his friend or neighbor trees or plants un less they have been inspected by the State Board of Entomology and found to be healthy. With the exception of the boll wee vil there are no more serious insect pests occurring In this country than brown tail and gypsy moths now pres ent in New England and many parts of Europe. There is a strict quaran tine on all plants from New England and other infested areas of Europe. This is regarded as so important that a careful inspection of all shipments of nursery stock from foreign coun tries is made upon arrival in the state, even though such shipments bear a certificate of inspection from an offi cial inspector. Other Dangerous Pests. Some of the pests which are serious, and do not now occur in Georgia, are the Morellos fruit worm found in Mex ico, the olive fruit worm of the Medi terranean countries, and various scale insects attacking fruit trees in China, Japan and other Oriental countries which are just as serious as San Jose scale. Some of the plant diseases are such diseases as “potato wart” found in Hungary and now occurring in Eng land and other European countries and in New Foundland; and the white pine blister rust of Europe which would probably mean complete de struction of our pines. The Georgia quarantine against Mexican cotton boll weevil consists of a strict prohibition of the shipment of all articles from boll weevil areas that are liable to contain weevils such as seed cotton, cotton fced, cotton seed hulls, cotton seed sacks, pickers’ sacks, corn in shuck, Spanish moss and household goods packed in any materials liable to contain weevils. Until recently there was a strict quar antine against cotton lint in bales or compress, but it is believed by all en tomologists to be entirely safe to per mit such shipments and the quar antine has been lifted by the state on cotton lint. A Unique Plan of Advertising We desire to call special attention to the advertisement of Walker’s Pharmacy in this issue of the Coch ran Journal. From now until Dec 24th, they •will give six months subscription to the Cochran Journal to all who spend $5.00 in cash with them. This is absolutely a voluntary offer that we knew nothing about until we saw it in- the advertise ment. We feel very much gratified that this enterprising and loyal firm thinks enough of their home paper to voluntary offer it as a prize to their customers. We of course wish them much success and will appreciate any aditicnal subscrip tion we may secure in this way, but tar above the additional subscrip tion we appreciate the fact that one of our merchants was loyal to his home paper and valued it high enough to ofler it as aa inducement to early Xmas purchasers. A SERIOUS El IS TIE MDti CRICKET But Department of Entomology Says It Can Be Suppressed by Careful Effort. ' Atlanta, Ga. —The mole cricket, which is causing much trouble to farmers, particularly in southeastern Georgi, is believed to have been brought into Georgia from the West Indie, and for the past fif teen years it has been gradually mak ing its way to the interior wherever it can find sandy loam or peaty soils, which constitute its favorite and al most exclusive abode. The mole cricket is a brownish-col ored bug about one and a quarter inches long with six strong and wdll developed legs. Its fore-front legs are highly specialized and these, together with its head, constitute its burrowing apparatus with which it tunnels through the ground very much like the mole, whence its name. The mole cricket mates in the early spring, and the eggs are deposited from April 15 to June 15, an important fact in connection with the work of their extermination. Only one brood occurs during the year. Each female will deposit from twenty to sixty eggs in an egg chamber or cell leading off from the main tunnel and within about five Inches of the top of the ground. The eggs hatch within twenty-four to twenty-six days. Tke young cricket reaches the adult stage within eight to twelve months. Eats Many Kind of Plants. The mole cricket’s food consists both of plant and animal life. The cricket will eat the eggs of its young or feed upon another of the same species, but Its principal food is com posed of the young and tender roots of growing plants. The cricket does not confine its feeding to one particu lar plant. It will feed on practically all truck crops, such as lettuce, pep per, tomatoes, turnips anfT potatoes, and upon pastures and lawns which suffer severely. Young sugar cane is also a much-de sired article of diet. Both the potato vine and potatoes themselves are eat en. The cricket severs the vines of tomatoes, potatoes and peppers just below the surface of the ground. As mhch as fifty per cent, of a field of potatoes has been destroyed by the crickets eating into the tubers. Probably the most effective method yet presented In controlling the giole cricket is to plow the breeding areas two or three times between Apri? 15 and June 15. This exposes the eggs in large numbers -to the sun whicji kills them, or they may be eaten by insectiverous animals. In the case of young and tender plants, preventive measures have of ten been employed with good effect, such as placing around them tin, wire gauze or paper cylinders. A very good tin cylinder is made by melting the top and bottom off a tin tomato can. The cylinder should extend about two Inches above the ground. All hot beds in an infested area should have solid or gauze wire floors, preferably the latter, and with fine mesh, and they should be screened over during the night, as that is the time when the cricket does most of its feeding. How to Kill Them. For destroying the crickets poison baits have been used with good re sults. Arsenate of lead may be used in proportion of three pounds to fifty gallons of water, or paris green in proportion of one-half ounce to a bucket of water. Mash made of bran, corn meal and cotton seed meal with this poison Incorporated, and placed in the fields where the crickets feed will attract them, and the eating of it kills them. Care must be taken to see that no animals run at large that would be tempted by the bait for a few weeks after it is put out, as -otherwise they would be sure to be poisoned. It is only in the spring that the crickets fly to any great extent. Dur ing April, especially on warm, moist nights, they leave the earth in swarms. A brilliant light placed over a tub partly filled with water covered over with oil, will serve as a death trap to all attracted. Bonfires are equally effective and will attract them from a greater area. Sulphur placed in the drills along with the will act as a repellant, as the crickets do not like it The subterranean habits and insid ious activities of the mole cricket makes it a serious foe, says the de partment of Entomology. However, by intelligent and persistent applica tion of the remedies suggested, it is possible almost to eradicate the pest. The department will be glad to sup ply complete bulletins on this and other subjects to those interested. Public Land Sale There was sold, before the court house door, at public outcry, last Tuesday, Dec. 2, the following property: 506% acres of land be longing to the estate of the late Herbert L. Grice. This land was known as the Washington place and is located at Magnolia, broad side of the Southern railway. It is eight miles from Cochran. It was purchased by Fisher & Willis for the sum of $3,275.00. There was also sold 1046 acres belonging to the estate of the late W. D. Booth. All of this land is in one body and is situated in the twenty-second dis trict of Bleckley County. It is one of the next finest plantations in the Con*-*- M rs. r»n rc hased by 1 ’ 050.00. THE COCHRAN JOURNAL, COCHRAN, GEORGIA. , Christmas, with its good cheer and its joy for the children will never go out of fashion. It is money spending time. But if you have been BANKING your money all year you can spend a few dollars and and not feel it. It will make a lots more Merry Christ mas to have money in the bank. Suppose you give your wife or child a Bank Account for Christmas. MAKE OUR BANK YOUR BANK. FIRST NATIONAL BANK GOMMUNITY CORN STUDY DAY . J FIELD IMPORTANT President Andrew M. Soule, State College of Agriculture. Every community should have a corn study day. The farmers should get together and go through the dif ferent fields examining and judging for themselves of Uie relative merits of the different strains produced, the difference in fertilization and soil be ing taken into consideration. It would be well for the teachers and the boys and girls to meet in such a conference, or possibly the school might be made the center of such an enterprise as this and the farmers Invited to participate. It makes no difference who is responsible for the undertaking; the thing is to have the work done, and a corn study day will shortly become one of the most im portant outings for pleasure and prof it in every community which partici pates in this movement. After having decided on the best va rieties for growth in a given commu nity, the work of selection should then proceed systematically. On most of our soils it will be well to select seed from plants which have two well-developed ears. The medium sized ear sorts will be found more satisfactory for growth on our average Georgia soil than the big-eyed varieites. The growth of big-eared varieties had best be con fined largely to bottom lands. The ears chosen should be from plants SO3L SURVEY WORK. W. A. Worsham, Professor of Agricul tural Chemistry. The College of Agriculture in co-op eration with the Bureau of Soils of the United States, has undertaken the soil survey of Terrell, Clay, Colquitt, Tur ner and Tattnall counties, the counties to be taken in the order mentioned. The physical survey work will be in the hands of David D. Long for the College of Agriculture, who will co-op erate with such persons as are assign ed to. the territory by the Bureau of Soils. A physical survey of Habersham county has been completed recently. Government bulletins have been is sued lately on Ben Hill, Daugherty and Chattooga counties. These re port the physical survey. The Depart ment of Agricultural Chemistry of the College, which is making chemical an alyses of the various types of soil found, to determine plant food con tent, has issued report on Ben Hill county and has data complete on two other counties which will be issued in bulletin form later. Origin of Popular Baylng. The origin of the saying that It takes nine tailors to make a man is thought by some to be a corruption of "nine tellers make a man,” the “tel lers" being another name for “tolls" of a bell. The English custom was to strike three times three tolls or “tel lers" on the passing bell for the death of a man. It was three times two for a woman. which are free from disease in so far as a careful examination reveals. They should be plants which seems to have made a vigorous, consistent growth from germination to maturity. A fair amount of foliage is important for several reasons. First of all, the leaves are valuable for feed, and sec ond, they const tute the lungs of the plant and enuble it to manufacture food more rapidly and completely. The ears should be selected from a stalk which has stood up well throughout the season and Is not so tall or slim that it is likely to be broken over by the wind. The ears should point down ward rather than upward and should be attached to the stalk by stout rela tively short shanks. The ear chosen for seed should be carefully examined. It is important that the rows of grain run straight, that the tip and butt be well covered, that the grain be fairly hard and flinty and free from weevil damage. The rows should be tightly packed together on the cob and the grain of uniform size from tip to butt. All these things have an important bearing on the future crop for if the grain is misshapen it will not seed uniformly through the planter, and be sides that, it is not as likely that the germs or young plants will be as vig orously developed as is well shaped seeds. FOUR-CROP GONTEST. J. Phil Campbell, State Agent Boys’ and Girls’ Club Work. Supplementing the Corn Club work and developing it along natural lines, the State College of Agriculture and the Department of Farm Demonstration Work of the United States in co-operation, have be gun a four-crop contest. Into this con test five boys from each county and five farmers can enter. The crops to be used are oats followed by cowpeas, after the peas corn and after the corn cotton. Three acres are required and three years in which to complete the program of crop rotation. Boys who enter the four-crop con test must be between 10 and 21 years of age. The only difference between the boys’ contest and the farmers’ con test is that the farmer is required to put in a winter cover crop, preferably a clover. These contests will be directed and supervised by the farm demonstration agents wherever these demonstration agents are to be found in a county. Bugar In Diet. Speaking of the importance of sugar in children’s diet, Dr. Woods Hutchinson says: “It is not unlikely that the almost universal and de voutly to be thankful for lack of crav ing for alcohol in children and in women is due largely to the sweet tooth possessed by them and their in dulgence in candy, cakes, fruit, ice creams and sweetmeats generally." HOW FARMER CAN GET GREATEST RETURNS EDOM COTTON SEED Andrew M. Soule, President State College of Agriculturfe. In the handling and management of cotton seed the farmer should natural ly be actuated only by selfish motives. In other words, he should utilize them so as to secure for himself the largest possible return in a financial way. It has been shown that a ton of average meal, say containing 6.18 per cent, of nitrogen, is more effective for fertil izing value it contains in the form of yard manure. By feeding the meal, he can in crease the number of live stock kept on his farm and thus add to his sup ply of yard manure. When doing this he is increasing the vegetable content of his soil, an essential and all-im portant matter. Finally, he is adding a part of the fertilizer to his soil in a form which not only promotes fer HOT BEDS PROFITABLE. T. H. McHatton, Professor of Horti culture. From 20 to 30 cents per square foot can be made from hot beds and cold frames during a year. A hot bed ro tation may be operated as follows: Make the hot bed January 1 and grow tomatoes, egg plants, pepper or other plants. Remove these and bed to sweet potatoes in April. After the potato plants have been removed, raise radishes. ' Follow radishes with cab bage plants, reset cabbage plants to rows in field for planting at pleasure. Follow the cabbage with lettuce, which can be removed by Christmas, in time to make another hot bed by January 1. A hot bed or "frame” is 6 by 12 feet, and costs from sl2 to sls when covered with glass. The hot bed should face southward and be located on a well drained spot. Dig a hole 12 to 18 inches, put in the bottom of it bricks, chunks of wood or other ma terial that will insure drainage. Use horse manure as much of the same age as possible. Cow manure will not do. The manure should be free of straw. Pile up manure under shel ter, and if it is dry, throw on it a couple of buckets of boiling water, putting more manure on top of the wet manure. Fermentation will be gin In 3 or 4 days. Mix manure then with a fork thoroughly. In a week or ten days it should be very hot with temperature around 200. Put four inches of the hot manure In bottom of the hot bed and pack 'down. Continue to put on similar lay ers, packing each down until there are about 12 inches of manure. If when you step on this bed of manure the impression of the foot re WHEN YOU NEED COMMERCIAL PRINTING PHONE @6 and we will take pleasure in submitting prices and samples of our work. No Job Too Large or Too Small We guarantee our work and prices to compete with the city offices. Prompt and careful execution of a!l orders, regardless of size. Cochran Publishing Co. Odd Fellows Elect New Officers At tlie last Communication of I. O. O. F.. Friday night, Dec. sth, the following officers were eleected for the ensuing year: J. R. Taylor, N. G. J. It. Porter, V. P. G. C. Wynne, Secy. W. M. Wynne, Treas. The others officers are appointive and will be selected after the elec tive officers are installed. mentation, but prevents tjie plant food from all becoming available at once, thus affording the crop time to take it up and utilize it as it grows. There is often an undue amount of suspicion in the minds of many per sons with reference to a discussion of 1 a subject of this nature. Sometimes j the farmer thinks that he is not get ting a fair return for his seed, and that by keeping them at home he can ! utilize them to better advantage. All | the invest gations of capable and indc | pendent scientific men, however, are ' opposed to this idea, j Unless the farmer is called on to sell his seed at a price clearly below their market value for manufacturing ! purposes, it is to his interest in 99 [cases out of 100 to do so. mains well defined and the manure appears soggy, it is too wet. If, on the other hand, it is so springy that the im pression of the foot at once disappears, it is too light and has too much litter jQ it. If it is exactly right there will be a springiness, but the impres sion of the foot step will remain. On top of the manure bed put 4 to 6 inches of good garden loam. Place a thermometer in the soil, reaching down and touching the manure bed. When the thermometer shows a con stant temperature of 90 to-95 degrees sow the seed of warmth-loving plants, such as tomatoes. When watering the bed, put on enough to thoroughly moisten the soil, but not to saturate it and thus de stroy the strength of manure. The bed need not be watered every day, but only when the soil has dried out. Water the bed in time for the foliage to dry off before night. Damp foliage at night favors disease. The air should be changed every day, even on coldest days there should be at least a slight opening, taking care always to make the opening away from the wind, so that cold air will not be forced in. As time for planting in the field draws near, the plants must be har dened off, and on warm nights the cover may be left off and if days are favorable the same can be done two or three weeks before planting. It is always better to transplant twice. The first time about two inch es apart when true leaves begin to form and about four inches apart the second time when they can be put in “flats,” that is, large flat boxes, in which they can be carried to the field and planted with the soil of the “flat” still around them. Prune Scuppernongs Before Christmas Scuppernongs should be pruned be fore Christmas. Grapes should be pruned before Christmas, but they may be pruned after. Reduced Rates. “Cornin’ this way ag’in?” asked the justice of the peace after he had flut'd Jlmpson SSO. “I’m afraid I’ll have to, * said Jimpson, ruefully. “Wa-al,” said the Justice, stroking his chin whisker reflectively, “perhaps I’d oughter tell ye that we sell a return fine ticket for $75, entitlin' ye to immunerty from arrest on the way back.”—Judge- Comparative. “I think it must be awful to have a wife that goes through your pockets every time she gets a chance in search of loose change,” said Wil loughby. “Oh, that’s only a minor af fliction,” said Barrows. “It’s the wife that goes through your whole bank ac count that gets on my nerves.” — Har per’s Weekly.