The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-08-31

WeeviI 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,
600 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 in
the Investigation of crops, establish
demonstration farms and carry on in
vestigations in the breeding of i'm
proved varieties of cotton; also to
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 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.
Representatives of the department Wis
1t farming communities and induce
progressive farmers to set aside GER
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
1t 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
~ in the vicinity of Waco, Tex.
Diversiication 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 way as to endeavor to make
them 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 encouraged
to do the rest. Twenty-Five or thirty of
these farms are already in operation
presenting object lessons to the farm
ers 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 max
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 O. 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
where the Indians have cultivated corn
for hundreds Of years types have been
developed which will stand a great
deal of wet weather Other types
which will grow in very dry sections