The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-03-01
QUESTIONS FROM FARMERS
The Agricultural Editor Answers Queries on
Subjects Of Interest to Farmers,
Crossing Two kinds of Cotton.

7 W Ptornev Monterey. Ala--Can You
or some Of the writers 81 the farm depart
ment tell how many years 80 takes 10 cross
two widely different varieties of cotton by
mixing the seed equal and dropping tAcm.
or can q Doe done?
What has become of The Cons ttution
prize acres- ] al anxious 90 know. and
more curious 10 learn what has become IF
tn. 500. as have seen nor heard nothing
Of il since last Fan.
ID would require "a long but indefinite pc
rfod 90 produce "a variety Of uniform char
arterist!cs by merely planting the seeds OF
t.-. VERY dissimiIar varieties Indeed. we
fa mot believe il could bee accomplished ~
an In that way. Two varieties OF cotton
growing side boy side very readily cross
fertiizc with each other. that is 10 say.
more or less of the flowers on the plants
If each variety win ne f,rtilized by pollen
from flowers ON the other variety. and thus
produce cross. But "A large majority ~
fh.. flowers viii become self-fertilized. l. e.,
The. sficmas will bee fortified 10y the pollen
from the anth,rs of the same flowers II
fh. seed Doe saved al random and planted
next wear 81 b. manifest that portion of
Tie plants OF the second year viii Toe mar
breeds or Crosses Will" tho greater iof-
ts1u will De- of the same type % the original
two varieties MAeu the crop commences
win cross with one 90 the original varieties.
producing Observation-Disclosures. some viii
b.. s.lf-ferrilized and win remain half
breeds. Next year some tnree-quarter-
breeds will cross with half-brcods. some
with the original and SO ON. ad iuiinitum-
The proper practical way to secure new
types. or varieties. IS los careful selection
AZ the best stalks thar are niike Tae sci-
cutlnc mode-bui not dIMcUlt-is 20 cross
rrsrflN
one variety 81 corn un another. hy
keeping me Young shoot of one stalk COW
..~.I with a paper bag until the silk comes
forth and then shake over the fresh and
uufertiiizcd silk "a fresh. ripe tassle 1roin
The other variety
Tire cotton flower Is different from the
corn flower ,n the fact that ;he male and
female ORIGINS 81 the former are contained
Ga the same flower. Tie male organs. or
nufhsrs which are the little pellets. or
uodul,-s. clustering around the center or
che flower. must b. carefully removed from
% flower the day before 2 Wll Doe lul'N
open. and the whole flower Immediately and
closely covered with paper bag Next
morning about To II o'clock. pluck "a ripe
freshly opened flower from the variety YOU
wish 70 cross from. and gently rub IT'S
male organs over the upper part or the CEN
trial column % the first plant (the female
organ. or sti-mal. Then cover the hover
with tho bag let Ii remain day of two.
ana then remove 81. III the young boli
sticks and tho operation has been care
fully performed that holl will Doe the prod
net OF perfect cross. and its seed should
b. saved and planted the next year.
Iut oven with this plan no very definite
results VIII follow the next year We
have had four or five different types OF
cotton. out OF "a dozen plants all OF ~hlch
came from the seed Of a single boil The
second years planting must be selected
stalk by stalk. several blooms baggcd 10
prevent further crossing from other plants
aud the process repeated year after year
until "a definite uutform type. with desira-
biz qualities. shall he The result. IL IS no
easy matter TO develop or originate by this
method a fixed type that viii always come
true. For ghe average farmer 81 is advisable
To buy or otherwise procure "a good variety
and keep u up to its original standard and
even improve upon IT, by careful annual
selection Of the setzl for the best stalks
as We have more than once advised and
described