The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-01-26
THE COTTON PLANT.

The 433 page bulletin on the Cotton
Plant, its History, Botany, Chemistry,
Culture, Enemies, and Uses, justissued
by the Department of Agriculture, is
probably the largest publication de-
voted to a single branch of agricultural
industry ever issued by the Depart
ment. Cotton, as stated by Assistant
Secretary Dab2ey in an Introductory
chapter devoted largely to the econom-
les Of the subject, is the principal prod
uct Of eight great States and the most
valuable money crop of the entire
country. While i furnishes the raw
material for one OF our Rost important
manufacturing industries, it cOnsti
tutes at the same time from one fourth
to one third of our total exports. In
view of such considerations this treatise
has been prepared by the experts of the
Departments, with the collaboration
of various specialists connected with
the agricultural colleges and expert,
ment stations of the South, and of
practical planter (Maj. Harry Ham
mond, of South CaroliEa), whose valu
able contributions to the literature of
cotton production long ago brought
him into prominence. These different
writers discuss the subject, each from
his own scientific or practical stand
point. The purpose Of the bulletin is
stated by Dr. A Q. True, Director Of
the Office of Experiment Stations, up
der whose supervision IL has been com.
piled, to be the presentation Of such
facts as would be useful TO students OF
agriculture, to investigators at the ex
pertinent stations, and 10 that inCreas,
ing body of intelligent agriculturists
who are interested in thoroughly &C
quainting themselves with the past and
present condition Of our agricultural
industries, with view to discovering
means for their Improvement; and the
researches of the chemist, the climat
ologist, the botanist, the entomologist,
and other investigators are all made
contributory to this important end.
The chapter on the botany Of cotton,
by DR.. Walter II. Evans, is concerned
chiefly with the structure and varieties
of the plant. Mr.. J B McBryde, of
Tennessee, and Mr.. W. FL. Beal, OF the
Department, j lint authors of the chap
ter on the chemistry Of cotton, discuss
the composition of the plant and the
demands it makes upon the soil. Prof.
Milton Whitney treats OF climatology
and soils, using weather tables and sell
analyses in explanation Of the condi
tions most favorable to cultivation.
Prof. II. II. @. White, of the Georgia
State College, discusses the manuring
Of cotton, stating the conclusions drawn
from numerous experiments. Pref. S
NJ. Tracy, Of Mississippi, contributes
description of the principal cultivated
varieties of the cotton plant, with their
origin, distribution, and relative values
The diseases of cotton are discussed by
Pfof. g. T. Atkinson, of Cornell, and
the insects which affect the cotton
plant by DR.. L. O. Howard, the Depart
ment entomologist. The feeding value
of cotton seed products forms the sub
isct of an important chapter by Mr..
B W. KIgore, of North Carolina, while
SO pages are devoted to discussion of
the culture, handling, and uses Of cot
ton by Mejor Harry Hammond. Mr..
r. B. Handy furnishes a chapter on