The Dawson News

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1922.

BOLL WEEVIL FILMS SHOWN IN DAWSON

MANY SAW PICTURES WHICH ILLUSTRATED DAMAGE BY PEST. HOW TO FIGHT IT.

Striking title of a picture brought to the Palace theatre Thursday morning, shown in the hope of aiding the farmers by the City National Bank, of Dawson, of this section in their fight on this pest, which in years past has wrought such havoc. The large attendance was the best expression of the appreciation of those for whom the affair was arranged, the theatre being filled almost to its capacity. The film was secured from the United States department of agriculture and the officers of the bank bore all the expense of presenting the picture.

The series of object lessons given by means of the film were not only interesting but were instructive. The picture illustrated in detail how to determine the damage that the weevil may be doing to the cotton crop, when to start to poison, what machines to use and how to operate them, what a proper dust cloud looks like, and the results that the correct application of calcium arsenate will produce. In this picture the weevils were shown working on the cotton plants and in flight from one field to another. Mr. D. D. Long, of Atlanta, representing the soil improvement committee of the Southern Fertilizer Association, gave a lecture in which he emphasized the contention that calcium arsenate properly applied is absolute insurance against the boll weevil. He advised, however, against the use of poison on cotton that will not produce a half bale to the acre, stating that expense would make it unprofitable where the yield would not be at least that much.

Southern Cotton Oil Company Also Gives Picture.

The Southern Cotton Oil company of Dawson, with characteristic enterprise, also arranged a free picture show with "reel dope" from actual photographs for the benefit of the farmers of this section. And this picture was presented at the Palace theatre Saturday morning. It was seen by a good number of farmers and business men, who availed themselves of this opportunity to learn how to say "goodbye to the boll weevil." Mr. B. Y. Kemzey of the soil improvement service of the Southern Cotton Oil company, was present and gave from practical experience much really worth while information as to how to successfully combat the boll weevil and make an average cotton crop. There is nothing of more vital importance before the farmers than this matter. And they are ready to hear any one who can offer any help against this the greatest foe to the cotton crop.

The City National Bank and the Southern Cotton Oil Co. have rendered the farmers, as well as the business interests of this section, a distinct service in showing these films here, teaching as they do the most approved methods of combatting the most destructive pest that has ever infested the country.

In this connection the following from B. R. Coad, in charge of the Delta laboratory of the government at Tallulah, La., is of timely interest:

We are now receiving numerous inquiries relative to the keeping qualities of calcium arsenate. The fact that almost all calcium arsenate now available for cotton dusting purposes was manufactured one or two years ago is causing many farmers to doubt its present value. And some are claiming that the newly manufactured material is superior to the old because of some deterioration which has taken place in the latter. This is not a fact, however, and the calcium arsenate made two years ago will be found to be just as good today as it was at time of manufacture.