The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-07-20
QUALITIES IN COTTON PLANT.
Many Varieties OF Upland Cotton
That Are Undesirable.

| Along with the effort to get the
largest possible yield per acre in cot
ton growing, and yield is the first and
most important thing, there are quail
ties in the cotton plant that help a
grower in getting profits from his
crop. These qualities to large ex-
tent are not always fully appreciated,
but their value becomes more appar-
ent with changed conditions. such as
scarcity of labor in picking, insects
and other Influences. In the many
varieties of upland cotton in the
southern states there are some that
have undesirable qualities. A real
variety, of course, has it's origin and
beginning in a single plant that trans
mitted it's distinctive qualities to its
progeny. Other varieties will be orig
mated in the same way and be given
a name, but the process and the name
do not prove the cotton to be worthy
of purchase and growth by cotton
growers. Some of the desirable quail
ties that help to make profits in addi-
ton to high yielding power may be
briefly mentioned.
Early fruiting and rapid fruiting,
which are indicated by short Joint. In
the main stem, primary and fruit
branches, or throughout the plant,
are desirable qualities that are easily
appreciated and valued by growers.
Large bolls as quality are appreci-
ated. There are very few cottons that
have a boil of size that sixty will
make. a pound of seed cotton. Many
varieties are grown that have boils of
a size which require ninety to one
hundred to make pound of seed cot
ton. A picker must do nearly twice
the work or pick about half as much
cotton in day. Where labor is scarce
this quality of large boil is very i'm
portant. And as there is more boil
trash picked in the small boil cotton
the market value is lowered Storm
proof or storm resistance is an impor-
tant quality where high winds blow,
or rains occur. The grower wants the
cotton to remain well in the boil until
the picker comes along. This quality
Is common with large boil cottons as
they have thick hulls and do not fold
backwards in drying and leave the
cotton unprotected and unsupported.
Big bolls are generally drawn down.
ward by their weight before or after
opening.
High per cent of lint to the seed is
valuable quality. The general aver
age is SO 1-3 per cent of lint, but there
are few varities that yield SO per,
cent at gins. The per cent yield of
line varies some seasons. Eventually
by selection cotton will grow 40 per
cent of lint, and as lint is the valuable
product the more we grow on the seed
the greater the profit without extra
cost to produce or pick. There are
many varieties of cotton the fiber of
which is coarse and less than an inch
In length, and are therefore undesir-
able. Length of staple is quality
that is. paid for, and is desirable
quality. Strength and fineness of
staple are valuable qualities that are
paid for, and when they show up uin q
sample an advanced price is paid.
Minimum sized seed is desirable
quality for several reasons. A cotton
with noticeably small seed, or an
extra large seed, is undesirable.
Where, as in our cotton investiga-
tons, all varieties are studied. inter-
esting facts appear besides the i'm
portant one of quantity Of cotton
yielded.