Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-12-06

The selection OF cotton may be prac-
ticed on every farm with advantage
The breeding Of cotton, involving as II
does a knowledge OF the principles OF
heredity and a profound scientific study
of plant variation. cannot well be pur-
sued systematically and successfully eN-
cept b. men who have had thorough
course OF scientific training and devote
their lives TO work OF this character
Every time a freak plant is met with.
therefore. an attempt should not be made
to propagate a new variety from IL ana
10 develop something extraordinary as
TO size and other qualities. The real pa
sis for increasing the yield Of cotton
Der acre Is TO secure Few Weil-estao-
lished types. develop them TO meet the
necessities OF a given environment ana
cultivate them with greater skill and
care than has been considered necessary
in the mast The yield of cotton VIII
not be permanently increased by the de-
veIopmeut Of a type Of cotton OF extra
ordinarily large size or producing a large
number OF unusually big bolls great
increase can be secured. however. oy
selecting with the idea OF maintaining
=. sfanIe and boil above the ordinary
and a rather close compact plant whicn
the soil is capable Of maintaining ana
causing TO fruit abundantly. IL Is pos
sfble 10 produce an upland cotton Stalk
- ten feet high on an unusually rlch price
of ground. and II plants OF this klno,
say yielding % bales could be produced ,,.
on every ace Of land many million
more bales would be grown than the
world could use simultaneously at TINS
time This cannot be accomplished
boUever and il is foolish 10 strive 10
develop such a type Of plant when II
can only be grown upon such hfniteu
areas.
- When the farmer purchases seed or
new strain Of cotton he Is generally IN
du0ad to do so by the fact that the
,-ander Of the seed is exhibiting some
extraordinarily large plants the idea
being that the farmer who purchases this
<aad can hope 70 do the same tnins-
Nature fixss with an exorable hand the
size and quality of plant that man can
produce under a given environment He
can improve the conditions OF this en-
viroument by using a larger supply OF
plant food in a commercial FORM oy
blowing under green crops, by selecting
his seed with greater care. and by cul-
tfvatiug his soil so as 10 insure the
liberation OF a larger amount OF plant
food. all OF which Is very desirabie-
The first thing. therefore. for the cot
ton pIanter TO acquire is correct point
Of view with reference TO the means ny
which he may select and improve his
cotton advantageously and do the worK
in accordance with the dictates OF nature.
leaving the more difficult and compllcat-
ed work OF plant improvement to those
who have made a special STUDY
Of tre subject Let US cease striving
to produce something extraordinary. out
improve the average Of the cotton plants
grown throughout the south This can
he easily done. and when this is ac-
6 compiished the farmer win secure larger
= and more permanent returns. and there
ain be less argument and discussion
over varieties and their relative merits
than is now the case What every com
rnunity should attempt to do is TO de-
veIop a variety especially well adapted
10 the environmental conditions pre-
vaflinz therein. and produce enough oil
rhis particular variety throughout that
whole area to make some town In the
center Of the territory a recognized point
for the purchase OF a fiber possessing
certain characteristics. When this Is
. done the fiber viii be in demand for
certain classes OF goods and buyers
viii come from long distances to secure