Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOLUME XXXVIII, LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1922. NUMBER 23 WEEVIL POISONII David R. Coker Surveys Ree Cotton. Pest by Various M Concluwins That He Has "To the Editor of The State: Your ditorial of December 4 seems to call for some further information from me as to the success of the cal hvirm arsenate-molasses method of weevik control. lAt me say first, however, a few words as to my whole attitude on the subject of weevil control: For more than a dozen years I have been study ing the subject, have been breeding varieties that might be expected tc successfully meet the weevri and havc been endeavoring to work out methode of farm -practice which might prove .succssful under weevil conditions. I .carefully watched the governmeni nvork on weevil control and when h( arrived in force lat spring put thest methods into operation on the majori ty of our cotton areas. We also it limited way tested the molasses-calci. uum arsenate method, of which we ha heard good reports. Our. experiments with thp dustinc method were comparative failures, at theae fields became heavily Infeste, with a small yellow -plant louse fol lowing the dusting and these lice se verely damaged the cotton. No dam aging infestation followed the molasse method and good results 'were obtain ed where it was used. This season wi again treated one rfield with the dust Ing method and observed the same re action of heavy plant louse infesta tion, which we checked by an applica tion of sulphatie of nicotine. Notwithstanding our unfortunate ex perience with the dusting method an that of several other farmers in thi sectcon, I freely admit that the dust .ng method bas usually proved t be profitable and that'it is apt to say a largo proportion of the cotton cro where properly applied. There are several - very serious ot jections to it, however, and I feel tha some methlo4 of weevil control mile be worke4 out whtch will overcoi those objections Until such a metho s :*ut befpre :the .e~p e <there is U padDN~bak~ay se proportio of tho4gtton crop can be saved. i ofn 4i6 the dus ~eg. hw, r'ecotimended by thot in ciarge of thle wepvil control. vror last spring, e: ., .t doos .not - advocate poisoni of vevile intil they have had a oippozp aty to eifest 'the fields '1 punc4ir14 the first aipeariig aduaxe 2. -t qireqi thatthe.Voison be al pliet'u'id~r certain conditions of. thoi uro and 4bsence of rind, which col dition ar6not usuallygpresant 9xcb; at niht and are not present evei night. S. More or less expensive machi ery is necessary for its application. 4. The government recipe Yequir the application of large quantities calcium arsenate variously estimat at 20 to 40 pounds and under certa conditions much. more, per acre. It estimated that the available aupply calcium arsenate -present and prc pective will treat not more than per cent. of the cotton acreage. G. The expense and difficulty of t government method put it complet out .of reach of the average cott prodiucer. Ilt.seems -perfectly evident that and ,rhea the ~bureau of entomole succeede in convincing any large p1 portidin of the cotton raiders,. ti their thaethod of control is necessi .to successful cotton raining under b weevil,. conditions, an immedit scramnble .for 'the available supply calcium arsenate will occur, the '1r1 will be lifted sky high, not anoti *acre will or can be' treated by thl mothod than, .was treated the p ypar, only a comparatively few of more able .planters can secure th~ sh'are .of the material and the whi cotton industry iwill .be worse off ii it now Is, just to the extent of *advance in price of calcium arseni Calium Arsenate Supply The above will not bp true if an limited supply of ecalcium arseri we,'e 'avnilable, but as the entire av able supply 'was exhatisted this y and as there is no likelihood of a gi increase in production, 'the at * statements are evidently 'true. * It has for some months,' therof seemed to ene absolutely' necesi -that somie chesp and. siinple .metho< weevil control be devised. Some f, qf 'the calcium .arsetate and molas 1 -oelle~ve, offers this rem reid tosinyo editorial g*O so pieces of exp eingental v d i 4 Mr. Smith. is a careful dntorof repute jmld hie has Lo atl~ afsld deMonstrated an .vrlhwill almost certainly be of g be)Olt'o the cottopi producer. I de *tA~ however, that Mr., Smith's~ ehi1mot (or any one else's for l)t') 'are the last twords in w a~itrl. The finally accepted ide - cottol will probably embody sorn th~e features of mlost of the me't now employed. 'xperiments which we have ducted here seem .to show -that Smith 'cpnld probably have gotte 04results with the itso of far singe application 'which he mai~d 1 ROBLEM PERSISTS T ults Obtained in Control of thods, and Submits -Certain Reached. hope that next year he will apply I after square picking ;L mixture of calcium arsenate molasses and water, containing not more than one-half pound of calcium arsenate -per acre. Our results and tloe of many other farmers in the state show that the over wintered weevils can be killed out on the young cotton 'by sutch -an application. Other experiments which we have carried on this year seem to show that very minute amounts of calcium arsenate-as little as one ounce or two oinces por acre In a mixture of molasses and water may affecet a high degree of weevil control. We must do further experimenting, however, before making this assertion. Mr. Smith would, I think, also have gotten better results if he had fol lowed his first application with other applications of calcium arsenate, mo lasses and water after the cotton be gan to show weevil damage. Arsenate With Molasses You say that you have heard little of the results of the calcium arsenate molasses treatment, This is quite natural as there has been no organiz ed .propaganda in its favor while the southern Fertiliser .association, the Southern experiment stations and the ' bureau of entomology have all seen to it that the successes with the dust - ing method have been swidely and con - stantly advertised. - There is a gentleman in Georgia who has for years operated a small - but successful agricultural paper. His i success has been largely due to the 5 fact that he spends a great deal of - his time traveling, observing the D methods of good farmers and report Ing 'their results. He Is open-minded P unprejudiced and has done much good !n disseminating sound agricultural - pract4ce as he hae observed it on the t farm. lie bas recently ,been studying t the sub ject of boll weevil - control in 0 qouth Carolina and Georgia. Allow d e " quote from his editorial in, the 0 t Cultivator of December 1: "Op pur -r#ceqt, trip thiqgh $he nE44 f( ouki Capoa ong.r Anderson county down through to Orangebt$,.tb ghief topid of ihterest - among the f1irtiers'. war,. best V Mnethod of boll weli! contrtl by the k use of caleiu-i arseite We were given many iistances of experiments g madd mith both the duating method n and the application of th .liquid form. 'Y We .talke4.- with sevearl '..ao' have 5 given most of their tifie this;eea- to a.. the subject. We did not. find one who 3- tried the atsenate,' syrup And water i- mixture that was not 'ell pleased at with the 'results obtained.. Mi. Tar -y ner of 1Denmark put 40 4mevlls ol stalks sprayed iw4th this mixture and i- In four hours' time every weevil was dead. Naturally, he will adopt this Ds method exclusively on his farm for of 1923. We were also told of an experi ,d ment made by a farmer in Greenwood in county. iHe took eight acres of land is and divided it into three equal tracts. of On the first he used no poison; on H- No. 2 he applied the dust according 10 to government instructions; on No. 3 he used the arsenate, syrup and water. he On No. 2 he gathered twice the yield liy of cotton as made on No. 1, whilv on Dn No. 3 he gathered twice as much cot ton as was obtained from No. 2. Now, if we have no axe to grind in advocating gy the arsenate and syru'p mixture, o- Neither have we one Iota of hlostility jat to the government dusting method. .ry But we are simply, giving our readerE oil the facts as we find them, from the ito actual tests made by the -practical pr farmers themselves. We -know tlgi~ ice much; many of these tests are mad4 icr by as high class farmers as Georgii ciir and South Carolina contain." rist His statement that 'he "did not .fini the 0one who tried th'd' arsenate, syrup an< edr water mixture that was not iwell pleas ole ed with the results obtained" is comn ian pletely borno out by my own oxperi the mence, for I have yet to ,be told by on te. farmer who gave it, a tair trial the lie does npt 'think he got profitable re uin- sults and at a cost which, was usuall: ate far less than that .ot thie dustin all- -method. ear .3Many different mixtuages of calciui eat arsenate, molasses and water wer ove used all appg~retn'iy .wi similar su( cess. This shows. that tti method he Cre, not, been -perfected an4,iggests th; ary comnprehensive experiwqt ar badl I of needed to reveal - the4 unt effe4 yrm tiveanmounts of oalcitp .rsenate au sde )g asses in the hi ti~dthe co) er amber of a~dtid i is betwee 'No, te applications. "' and 'g W tested here many di son- ferit mixtures of Aiut arsenat rork miol es and wateof~ .thn$ methoi ox- of ~4plicationI. 'AUi t~ues ill got- a geogter or less r~~7~ al idea fti . *of this. sectioz ~ ' ifo~hrtial reat freuent'and abnooI1'I Whea@~ fre not. 'May. 14 to August 20,.; On .our be ox- drained soil we made from 76 p that cent. to 100 'per cent of an avoral sevil crop. On ,lands less well drained1 1, on mpde from 40 per cent to 60 per ee1 1o of Our total average yields were fui beds two-thirds og a normals crop, On mc , -of our crops we used six or nov con- treatments he'gininng June 12' (whl 1rwas'at least one week too -late'for bi iv s results) and 'ending',Migudt 4 4(whi loss we 'n'ow think was tho. early to qui 'the We -treated several Ilolds en Agg a I 9.1 rwith .spray deunp and secured ellent results. I have before me ae eport of the operations on one .14 E ere field treated six times from June N 3 to August 4 at a cost of $2.53 for . aaterial, $1.V1 for labor; total cost 1 4.04 per acre; 8 3-4 pounds of calcium I rsenate and six gallons of molasses ier acre being used. Twelve bales reighing 6,176 pounds were produced. Drwing Conclusions Our experience and that of many ther farmers all over gouth Carolina and Georgia point definitely to the fol owing conclusions: First: A mixture of about one iound of calcium arsenate, one gal on of water and one gallon of mo asses applied at the rate of about one ;allon .per acre to the young cotton unt before the squares begin to form vill destrby practically all of the old veevils on the cotton. Second: Further applications ex dnding to the end of the period of 'mergency nvill destroy nearly all of he later emerging weevils. Third: This will protect the cotton ,rop from 8erious infestation until ,round August 1, and will'allow a fair -rop to be made without further.treat nent. The total cost of the above reatment will not exceed $1.50 for naterials and the labor cost, which Is isually borne by the tenant, will run )otiween 15 cents and 40 cents per acre ;er application. Our own experience- has convinced As that applications ehould 'be begun )gain in late July or early August when further infestation from neigh boring fields begins and should be continued at least until the bolls begin Lo open. The present supply of calciuf ar senate would, I believe, be sufficit to fford excellent weevil contr, on $204 Sale . Folks, who price we sell it how much prof you beyond a d are not going t for same goods it all in one da money withth< ey. It makes/ shake hands w for we want tc All 19o Phone. Charg TAKE m er ye it. ly 'at I. Enterprise Nat t). aet lx very acre of cotton in the United tates if mixed with molasses 'and vater and applied in two to four ap lications the dirst to be made just efore the squares begin to form and he last at about the end of the merging period. The overwheliming problem of weevil ontrol during the coming year ts the alcium arsenate supply. It seems a ,reat pity to me to allow 5 per cent r 10 per cent of tho b,&As fE ianu--d )wners in the South 'a monopolize the mupply while the other 90 per cent or *5 per cent of the acreage is being uined, whereas at least two methods )f control are in existence (the Florida lan and the calcium arsenate-molaes is Dlan), by the use of either of which :he pest can -be controlled on 50 per 'nt or more of the acreage. .1 trust that very many of the in telligent farmera of the South will luring the coming year conduct ac ::urate experiments on the Florida plan and the calcium arsenato-molass es plan varying these experiments as to amounts and times of application. In this way will there be worked out the cheapest and most efficient method f control. I should be glad to have tried any modification of the calcium usonate-molosses method to write me his experience in order that I may act as a clearing house for this informa tion. You do ne too much honor in say ing I "would succeed in the Red Desert." The agricultural practices which we use on our farms are (with the exception of methods of weevil control) mainly those which are rec ommebded by the state and national agricultural authorities. There is nothing mysterious -about our farm methods as twill be realized by any 000 .asts 3 .re can buy high for? Take a look it you have paid th oubt that Batson gi o stop. We mean to What's the use t y? Take your time a one that youkno is smile to show yoi ith the man that sel Sbe a help to you a: Imported Regardle Orders, No Ma es, No Money F THE GOODS .BA T READY innal Bank Bldg. intelligent farmer who will take the trouble to come here and observe them, David R. Coker. Hartsville. WATERLOO PUPILS LEARNI1G BASKET BALL Waterloo, IDec. 18.-With the close of the football season, the principal of the Waterloo high school, Prof. Ralph Shealy, a former basket ball star from Newberry college, has erected a new basket-ball court on the school grounds. Both the boys and girls are learning the game rapidly. Prof. Shealy Is coaching a splendid bunch of young men and be hopes to be able to neet with the (Laurens, Mountville and Cross Hill teams. In training the stu dents along literary lines he realizes .the importance of physical training as an indispensable factor in the develop ment of an active mind in young men and women. Those rho will probably make the team are: Harold Fuller, Lawton Nichols, Rufus 'Womack, William rWharton, Erskine Morrow; Subs: Har old Anderson, Walter Lanford and Ross Cunningham. If your stomach Is continually kick ing up a disturbance; you feel bloated and distressed; If you belch gas and sour food into the mouth, then you need Mi-O-,Na' stomach tablets. Guar anteed by 'Laurens Drug Co. ST( D YS I Days] class Ladies' Ready it our windows and e other fellow. We ves you more for yc show you that you o work hard all the 5 and shop the town v gives you more va LI this one big line, a Is merchandise chef a well as ourselves. Toys Mus ss of Cost ii Orders, No E ~efunded, All Se AT YOUR OV -TO-WEAR * GRAY COURT RELIGIOUS NO11E' * The Woman's Missionary society of Gray Court held its harvest meeting at the home of our president, Mrs. Al vin Curry, on Friday, .te fi-st. The following offcerit weiw elected for the ensuing year: Mr. Alvin cur ry, president; Mrs. 0. E. 0ogem, vice president; Mrs. Clarence Shell, rseord Ing secretary; Mrs, Oknder Willis, corresponding secretary; Attd. Janie Shell, treasurer; Mrs. M. E. Gray, lo cal treasurer; (Mrs. Robert Gray, su perintendent of mission study; Mrs. C. W. Watson, suporintendent of social service; Mrs. John Wells, superntend sent of supplies; Mrs. Adolphtis Ow ings, superinftndent bf Junior and cradle roll; Festus Cutry, super intendent of vung 1eopl. The local W. C. T. U. was hold at the home of Miss Allie Babb, en Tues day, the 19th. The subject for the af tornoon was Social Morality. Mrs. Houston Babb lead the meeting. The relationship of alcoholism and every kind of social misery was point ed out by tracts read and talks. Our union decided to take a stand for also guarding the colored girls of our state. Engraved Invitations and Cards Advertiser Printing Company )CK Longer -to-Wear at the stop and think want to prove to ur money. We do pay too much year and spend and spend your lue for your mon nd would like to per than we do, t Go .xchanges, No lies Final IN PRICE Lauren. S. C.