Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-11
COTTON CULTIVATION.
Problems Before the Bureau of
 Plant Industry.

Plant Industry.
 STUDY OF CROP DIVERsIFICATI0N Outline of Plans to Meet the Boil
 Weevil Emergency Breeding New
 Types of CottOn-Cotton Train to Be
 Run Through Certain Parts of Tex
 as, Like the Corn Trains.
 Dr. Beverly T. Galloway, chief of the bureau of plant industry of the de partment of agriculture, after consul tation with a number of special agents engaged in working out the cotton boil weevil problem has authorized the course his bureau will pursue in this work during the coming year, says the Washington correspondent of the New York Post
 At the last session of congress $780, GOO was appropriated for the purpose of meeting the emergency caused by the invasion and spread of the boil weevil in the south. The wording of this appropriation is such that it gives the secretary of agriculture authority not only to investigate the habits of the weevil itself, the work of the ento- mologists, but also to make studies iD the diversifcation of crops, establish demonstration farms and carry on in- vestigations in the breeding of i'm proved varieties of cotton; also tc study and suggest methods of prevent ing several of the most serious cotton diseases
 For the purpose of administration the work is divided in the department between the bureau of entomology and the bureau of plant industry. The work of the bureau of plant industry will be carried on along a number of different lines.
 One of the features which Dr. Gallo way considers of importance is the work that will be done on cooperative farms by inducing farmers to adopt better methods of cultivation. I'm proved cultural methods, the planting of early maturing varieties of cotton, proper fertilization of the soil and sim liar methods of insuring vigorous growth and early maturity of cotton will be special features of this work. Representative of the department vis- 1t farming communities and induce progressive farmers to set aside cer- tain portions of their fields, from five to twenty acres usually, to be planted and cultivated in accordance with plans furnished by the government employees The farmers entering into this arrangement are visited from time to time by agents of the department, who give special instructions as to how the crops should be managed. At the close of the season the yields on these demonstration fields are compared with the yields from fields cultivated in the usual way. Last year more than 5000 farmers co-operated with the ex- perts in this way and this year an equal number will be engaged in the work.
 Another line of investigation is in connection with the breeding of types of cotton which will be earlier and bet ter adapted to meet new conditions presented by the boil weevil. Of the standard varieties of cotton many have succumbed readily to the weevil, and it is important to procure types which will be prolific and at the same time be early maturing. The important breeding work will be conducted main ly in the vicinity of Waco, Tex. Diversification farms are planned to encourage the growing of other crops besides cotton with a view to modify ing the single crop system of the south. The farms will be conducted in such a way as to endeavor to make them a commercial success. The de partment puts very little money into the farms directly. Agents organize the work and develop the plans. and the farmers themselves are encoura ged to do the rest. Twenty-Five or thirty of these farms are already in operation presenting object lessons to the farm CTS throughout the south who care to take advantage of the opportunity.
 Besides the ravages of the boil wee vii there are certain diseases of cotton which cause damage each year. One Of these. the so called root rot, has proved destructive in certain portions of Tex as and other cotton growing states. The bureau of plant industry Is mak- ing an attempt to develop types of cot ton resistant to this disease
 Further investigations are being made of cottons found in Guatemala and other Central and South American countries Some remarkable types of cotton have been found in these re gions. and they are being used for breeding purposes in order to develop types adapted to boil weevil conditions in the United States. In addition to the cottons Q. F. Cook, who is in charge of South American and Central Ameri- can work. has found number of other crops, particularly corn. which give promise of being of considerable value for use in certain portions of the south ern states. For example. In regions