The Southern farm gazette. (Starkville, Miss.) 1895-1909, 1909-10-16
Points in Selecting Cotton Seed.

-s IF, AGRICULTURAL. NEWS" published
T. in Barbados, gives the following points to
- oe considered in the selection and improve
1eut % cotton seed.
"t1 To maintain uniformity in the cotton
production.
"te1 To increase yields by producing
heavier bearing plant. and one which natures
all IS boNs.
"ta1 To produce plants with disease
resisting power.
go To produce n plant which yields
minimum quantity Of weak aher. hence. one
Which gives stronger and less wastefu
cotton
go To increase thu quality OF the cotton
As regards Oneness and length.
60 To produce plant adapted FOR the
conditions 81 the district In which II s being
developed ="
suppose that the arst item means the main
aiming ~ a standard cotton for the district in
*htrh ~ ~ grown. and hence would more fairly
n~ lo~'uded IN the sixth Item. for In all OF our
trle~fion % cotton seed ee must have in mind
he necessities Of the climate IN which we ar.
working IN the upper South this means an early
cotton. OF course. and in the demand
brought about FOR ~arly cotton In the weevil-
~ ra'rt sections q becomes OF greater I'm, uort-
'ncs for the upper South 20 produce seed FOR that
section.
n" third item is important in many sections
cher" the cotton wilt has developed There the
gitAl Importance. and K has been shown that this
resistant character can be perpetuated
Then. regards the fourth and atth items 1t
r. certainly desirable 20 produce a strong dber
tat 4 fne and long one. hut then another ques-
lon arises. is Il practicable 10 greatly increase
he '~n~'h and nnenesa Of the aher without sacri-
7rtns earltne~a and productivity" So far has
been shown the shorter abered cotton u.s. "a n rule
he earliest and most short jointed. and hence
roat productive ot bols. and In producing a
plant We must have always In view the demands
= our climate as IL Indicated by the sixth item.
What might be- accom- pilshed in the tropical eli
mate % Barbados would not ar all apply TO the
upland cotton OF the great Cotton Belt. We would
therefore,. make the important points for our
tom N" productiveness and short jointed habit OF
~ plant. and so FAR "a is consistent with this and
.arllness Wa would pay attention to the length
md aaeneas 81 the hb-r. but would rather sacri-
Zee these FOR earliness and productive character
To attain these must have separate seed
,a'ch for seed only from which We can eliminate
~ long lointed and prospectivey inferior plants
~ soon "a they develop and before the blooms
have infected those around, II ia the same prin-
.iple that IL true with any plant wish TO i'm
,rove We must remove unfavorable influences
around t. II will not be sufficient 10 merely
Get seed from the best plants II bad plants
blooming all around them. We must endeavor
TAR IA possible insure the parentage OF the seed
from the best plants only, Starting then with
he best improved seed attalnahle. plant the
seed patch and having In mind the Ideal cotton
Giant for our section. that only those plants
are left 20 bloom and make seed that some
here near that ideal. BY sticking closely TO this
year after year We shall finally get what we are
after w. r. MASSEY