The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-20

article by Herbert J. Weber, physiolo-
Rist in charge Of the plant breeding labra-
tory In the department of agriculture, on
Improvement of Cotton by Seed Selec
ton" In the year book Of the department
OF agriculture, published today, contains
suggestions which If generally adopted
would lead to q large increase in the cot
ton production of the United States. The
extent to which it is possible by the
adoption Of scientific methods is shown by
tho fact that, while the average yield of
cotton in the United States is only about
$50 pounds Of lint per acre. yields varying
from 500 to 800 pounds per acre are fire.
ouently obtained on many large carefully
cultivated tracts. Mr.. Weber does not
believe that it Is possible 10 greatiy m
crease the acreage devoted to cotton in
the United States. He says there is lit
tie opportunity for extending the industry
into new regions, and while a much
larger acreage of cotton could be grown IN
the old cotton producing states if neces-
sity demanded it, there is tendency in
those states toward diversified farming
rather than further specialization IN cot
ton production.
Problem for Growers.
He concludes, therefore, that the most
Important problem now before cotton
growers seems to be that of increasing
the production on the same acreage
He thinks that while cotton growing IN
other countries is capable of being con-
riderably extended such extension VIII
doubtless be slow and will only shshtiy
affect the industry in this country anu
that the American planter should stiNe
hv the application of improved methoos
and machinery and the use OF imp oVeO
varieties of cotton, yielding more anu oe',
ter staple, to keep we'll in advance Vi
competitors in foreign couh'iie
cheaper labor is avaliaple-
Mr. Webber recognizes that the charac-
CO.. If the soil is the factor of greatest
,,onortance He believes, however, tlis''
,bere is great opportunity OF lmproViis
the Industry all lands, poth eoou an
Moor. and he estimates that the col'oi
IRONS could be doubled on the same acie-
age now grown by proper at'eh'ioh "
Two factors necessary to success Nancy
the universal use Of good SEED anu ca
o., methods of tillage and fertilizatloh
While both of these factors are coii-
trihrted largely to success, Mr.. Weoue,
Salieves that the Importance OF good SEED
Sc probably more commonly oNeLtoohI ~
.ban the matter of cultivation. his on
saryations show that fully halt the pitt-
80 go seed taken at random from pun
lie eins about which they know nothns
other than that it was prouuSeu s sa,rs.
where in the same vicinity, anu ne Soy 49,
two horses introduce dray animals liilo
his stable. or the breeder OF htelllsen'
hunting dogs introduce oromIaly nv ~
grel ours into his kennels. ne vs. -,
God seed and its production by lesu-
sor svstem of selection Is just as lmpoi
tant n factor in the production OF .ne
crops as that of cultivation. NO lhs 1?
ligent method of farm manasenieee' er n1,
rseards the production and use Oh goou
eood The day when growers can alloiu
70 plant any sort Of cotton seeo mas pas ast-
cd ONLY seed of known Varlety, select,
Cd hecause of its desirable qual1ties ana
d,ntah ilttv to local conditions, should De
planted"
Thu traditional belief that an occasional
change of seed is necessary II good crops
are 10 be regularly secured is attacheu
nv Mr.. webber, who contends that 70
secure the best results plants must De
bred and adapted to soil ana china'io !,
conditions and that cotton planters anu
Growers Of the cereal crop as well. II they
ara 20 obtain the best results, must seiect
tbe,r seed in the locality where 1t used
70 ha regularly grown In order to ADAPT
|. to the particular soil and climatic con-
ditions.
The paper outlines a system or selec-
+ion based on the principle thal' willie
plants reproduced their main characters
unchanged, and the stability of the cui-
tivated plants and natural species de-
pends upon this law of heredlty' SUI
they are not absolutely fixed and staple,
but are very unstaple and highly Varla-
bile in minor characters. The system out
,ired which Ia one that any planter can
carry out on his own plantation. Is paseQ
IN the use Of the seeds of only snch
,Ian+s as show the characteristics which
IT is desirable to reproduce such as quah-
+itv of production, length of hber ana
esrIiness of maturity. 1t is recommended
that after these plants have peeh care
fully selected the seed from the mlouie
pickirgS of each plant be caretully galh-
cred; that from each plant De silheo
separately in a gin that mas peen care
fully cleaned so as to prevent mixture OF
unsolicited seed and that the SEED OIL
each plant be planted separately the Aol-
lowing year SO as to test it's quality Tor
The renroduction of the qualities desired
70 he perpetuated. All plants that 90
not come up to the standard are 70 NC
discarded in the second year ana the
seed of only the very best are 10 pc uSeu
for planting the third year. BY the De
ginning of the fourth year suflclent
supply of highly selected seed Tor SEED
ing a large plantation VIII De secul '
Tho system of selection can be indefinite
" continued however, from year TO year
on a tract of ground set apart 1or lhat
purpose and thus the quality OF the COT
ton can be kept up to a high standard OF
constantly improved.
Fighting the Boil Weev1l'
Mr. NVebber makes an important slg-
gestion as to the possibility of combat
ing the Mexican cotton boil weevil by
seed selection. In examining fields OF
upland cotton in different parts of Iexas
he observed occasional individual plants
in badly infected fields, that had set ana
matured almost all of their bolls, While
adjoining plants were almost denude q,
Whether such plants possess degree OF
resistance or not, and whether this pos
sible resistance will be transmitted e
their progeny, he says remains to be DE,
termined, but he thinks it probable tha'
some plans may be discovered and prop
agated which will be distasteful to the
weevils. He tells ot experiments in TeXaS
In 1901 and 1902 with varieties Of Egyptian
cotton for the purpose Of noting the ef-
feet upon them OF the boil weevll. Thf
weevi was found to be destructive o.
all the varieties observed except the nit
afifi cotton. Three acres Of this variety
were grown on land where the crop hat
been destroyed by weevils the previous