To The FARMERS^
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Martin County
The campaign to control and eradicate the boll weevil depends on yon. No one can do anything along this line except the farmers. Upon
the success or failure of the cotton crop depends in large measure the prosperity of every farmer and merchant in Martin County.
Lust season a fine start was made. Farmers planted good seed, for the most part mopped the crop and had excellent weather. Martin
County's cotton crop brought in an excellent money return for the farmers.
This year the weather has been fine?but fine for the boll weevil and not for the cotton crop. A mild winter, a hot. dry spell and the
inevitable wet spell in mid-summer which is almost certain to come will mean a great emergence of the holl weevil. The farmer can
help himself by mopping his cotton.
Already the boll weevil has begun to emerge. They have been found in scattered sections of the county ? strong ami vigorous and
ready to go to work on the farmers' cotton. The Pee Dee Experimental Station at Florence. S. C.,. reports that weevil emergence from
hibernation this year is 2,500 for every 16 which emerged last year.
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This Means a Fight Must Be Waged Against the Boll Weevil This Year
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Wo urge upon every farmer in this county that he follow the mopping program outlined by the county agent's office as follows . . .
Suggestions for Boll Weevil Control for 1941, Martin County
IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO FIGHT BOLL WEEVIL IN 1M1
THAN IT WAS IN 1M(. We had a large number of weevils raised
late in the summer of 1940. The put winter has been mild, and many
of these weevils will come out this Spring. The price of cotton has
gone up considerably, and we have a larger crop planted in 1941 than
in 1940. There is serious danger of farmers not mopping at all this
year, or waiting too late to start. Unless mopping is done'early (that
is when the squares first begin to form) mopping will not give good
results. We would like to make the following suggestions to our
farmers:
1. For each acre of cotton planted, secure three pounds of cal
cium arsenate and three gallons of -biaefc -strap molasses. This will
usually be sufficient to make three applications per acre.
2. Mopping should be started when the cotton plants are approx
imately five to six Inches high, and should be repeated at rive to
seven day intervals until three applications have been made. If
rain occurs within twenty-four hours after an application, that ap
plication should be repeated as soon as weather permits. Mopping
must be started just as soon as square formation starts.
3. Prepare the poison mixture for mopping by adding 1 pound of
calcium arsenate to 1 gallon of water and stirring, then add 1 gal
lon of black strap molaaaes and stir until the ingredients are thor
oughly mixed. Larger quantities may be prepared aa desired, us
ln( the same proportion as riven above. MIX ONLY THE AMOUNT
TO KK USED EACH DAY. Stir the mixture frequently.
4. Apply the poison mixture with a home made hand mop or
with an approved mopping machine. The home made hand mop
can be made by tying a piece of cloth or sack to one end of a light
board, three to five feet long, and about three inches wide. Six
inches of the mop cut into strips about one inch wide should be
left Hanging over the end of the board handle. Each operator must
have a mop and small bucket In which to carry poison mixture. Dip
the mop into the bucket of poison mixture until thoroughly wet, then
wipe the mop 011 the edge of the bucket to remove surpius mixure
Hold the mop directly forward so that It pushes through the top of
the young cotton plants. Walk at an ordinary pace, stopping each
time It la Decenary to dtp the mop Into the mixture.
5. Mopping is simple, cheap and effective, but like any other
farm operation, it should not br done In a careless manner. It should
be closely supervised.
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6. Pick up and burn all falling squares during the first three
weeks of blooming. Squares should be picked up at least once each
week, and prior to plowing If possible. Where labor Is available,
picking up and burning all squares at the proper time Is Just as Im
portant Jn boll weevil control as mopping or (lusting.
l7 Mopping is not effective and is not recommended after squares
are large enough for weevil to puucture tliem. If you find many
square* ~f ailing when the cotton start* to hloopi, and you are inter
ested in dusting, call the County Agent for help.
8. If weevil damage appears to he spotted at blooming time, "Spot
Dusting" of heavily infested areas such as border of ditch banks,
woods, and farm buildings, is recommended. Dusting of these spots
that are heavily infested can be done with a hand dust gun, using cal
cium arsenate. If a hand gun is notuvailablc. spot dusting; can be
done With the bag, using a mixture of equal parts calcium arsenate
and hydrated lime.
9. Several fanners have stated that they do not expect to start
mopping until they see boll weevil in their cotton. We believe this
will be a serious mistake. We suggest that every farmer apply three
applications of poison. If you won't do this, then apply the first
application at the first sign of squares, then examine your entire
cotton crop thoroughly for signs of weevil feeding in the bud of
the young cotton plants.
(Signed) T. B. BRANDON, County Agent.
(Signed) JOKIN KAOLES, Assistant County Agent.
We are suggesting this course to our farmer friends because we want them to make a good cotton crop this year, and mopping seems
to be the thing to do. We realize our prosperity is closely related to the prosperity of the farmer. The general prosperity level of the
county will be raised if we get hack into the class of a big cotton-producing county.
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The undersigned merchants urge upon the farmers that they follow out the suggestions for mopping the cotton crop
HABGOUS BROTHERS
BELK-TYLEB COMPANY
HARBISON OIL COMPANY
W. G. PEELE
ROANOKE CHEVROLET Co.
MOORE GROCERY CO.
FARMERS SUPPLY CO.
Williamson Hardware Co.
ffOOLABO FURNITURE Co.
WOOLARD HARDWARE CO.
Branch Banking & Trust Co.
Guaranty Bank & Tins! Co.
E. & V. GROCERY CO.
Virginia Electric & Power Co.
DARDEM'S DEPT. STORE
ANN'S VARIETY STORE
J. E. POPE
WILLIAMSTON SUPPLY Co.
CLARK'S PHARMACY, Inc.
G & H BUILDERS SUPPLY CO.
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P. P. PEEL