The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-04-13
FARMER AND PLANTER
A DEFINITE OBJECT IN VIEW.
Points to Be Remembered in Selecting
Cotton Coed.


In an effort to secure a more de-
sirable variety of cotton, and to stiii
| further improve the same, farmer
should have a definite object in view,
or an ideal type. There are num-
| Der of points that may be regarded,
such as earliness, percentage yield OF
| lint. size of bolls, size of seeds, etc;
hut productiyeness should be the con-
trolling factor in determining the mer-
its of a variety. All other points
should be subsidiary to that one.
| Yield of Seed cotton.-As a rule,
with few exceptions, a variety that
gives the largest yield of seed-cotton
per acre Wa. give the highest value OF
total products-lint and seed.
PERCENTAGE Yield of Limit is quite
certain that high percentage yield OF
lint is very closely related to high
value of total products-lint and seed
and should be a leading factor when
selecting with view to maintaining
a standard already attained, or in de-
veloping a still greater productiveness.
OF course. this is due to the fact that
the lint is usually worth from ten
to fifteen times as much per pound lin
market) as are the seed. Moreover,
the lint is produced almost without
any tax on the soil, consisting, as 1t
! does, of almost pure cellular tissue;
; while the seed are rich in plant food
, and make a heavy draft on the soil
and fertilizer.
, Size of Bolis.-This point should be
, considered almost, If not entirely, In
relation to cost of picking. OF va
riety of which so tolls would weigh
one pound, laborer might pick from
one-third to one-half more in giveI
!. time than of a variety of which i
would require 80 bolls to weigh {
[ pound. (Seventy to II bolls to tbs
e pound is about the average of al
|. tested varieties.
4 Size of Seeds.-There seems to b.
somewhat significant relation be
:, tween small seed and high productive
8 ness, probably because they are usu
9 ally associated with large percentag
e. of lint.
< EarIiness.-This may be determine
!" by the comparative yield of variet
;" up to a given early date In the fal
say September 10 Tor later in hig
"a latitudes). In the heart Of the cotto
r. belt (and further SOUTH. eariiness
n maturity is not desirable, the early VI
rieties giving the larger yields onl
about one year in three or four. {
course, there are conditions, natur
or artificial, such as high latitude,
high altitude, low lands, fresh land
or whenever for any reason the plan
ing must be late, under which an ear
variety is to be preferred. (Also
boil weevil districts.)
\ Length and Fineness of Staple.
D This point "cuts very little ice'
VI present. 1t is always associated wi
low percentage yield of lint and lo
Y productiveness. AS rule, the upial
- long staple must sell for four cents
y pound in excess of the market
81 short staple, in order to pay out 7"
- AS a rule, it would not be expedite
4 for a farmer to undertake to impro
II a common "gin-house' variety, or o
), that has been planted for years wi
Z out any particular etfor- to improve
N Better buy a few seeds, regardless
\ price. of some variety that has be
IN repeatedly tested at the experim'
stations, and has steadily maintain
high position for several yea
Much time may be saved by adopt
such plan.
c>I>><;nc Is, The Field