Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-22
QUESTION AND ANSWER DEPARTMENT
VARIETIES OF COTTON SUITABLE
FOR BOIL WEEVIL CONDITIONS

Among the big-bolled varieties which
promise wei for boil weevil conditions
are Cooks Improved. Cleveland and Tri-
umph. Other excellent strains are Lay
ton and Poulnot- Cooks Improved has
some Objectionable features in that ii Is
Quie subject to destruction by boil rot or
anthracnose. There is some tendency for
IL 10 drop its lint. but II is very produc-
tive and comparatively early, while the
size OF the boil is quite satisfactory.
Through a systematic series OF hybrid
ration and selection experiments. strain
OF this variety has been evolved at the
Stare College Of Agriculture which is
thought to be quite resistant to anthrae-
nose and to have in a manifest degree
the very desirable qualities In which the
original strain OF Cook Is somewhat defi-
clent II will thus be possible 10 place
within the hands OF thousands Of farm
ers, II the state viii provide the neces-
sary funds, this very desirable strain OF
cotton Other varieties, Of course will be
studied and attempts made TO improve
them. though special emphasis win nat
urally be laid on the continuation of the
liberalization experiments in the hope OF
producing something superior 10 anything
yet on the market
The other early varieties Of cotton may
all be regarded as small boiled Among
these may be enumerated King. Broad
well and Simpkins. Toole Is noted for its
productiveness and Is an early variety.
Hawkins may also be placed in this
class. The principal objection TO the
King variety and It's synonyms is the
small boIls. its habit OF dropping the
seed nom the burrs. and It's short lint.
Toole Is valuable because OF its product
iveneSs. but lacks somewhat In storm re-
sistsnce. though Il Is comparatively free
from disease The bolls are small, but
could probably be enlarged by systema1-
ic breeding TO this end.
There Is good foundation stock, there
fore. on wrich 10 work for securing the
development Of the early rapid fruiting.
productive varieties Of cotton necessary
to meet the onset OF the boil weevil in
the southeastern states. II Is high time.
however. that q very systematic cam
paign looking to the Improvement OF all
these varieties be inaugurated and 20 this
end IL Is essential that the southeastern
states endow their colleges OF agricul-
ture with the necessary funds and re-
quire them 20 devote more energy and ef-
fort TO this important question OF improv-
ing varieties OF cotton for boil weevil
conditions than has been accorded Il IN
the past The average farmer can do
much 70 help the cause by studying this
problem OF selection from all points OF
view.
It has now been quite clearly estab-
hshed that q low, stocky type OF plant
is the most desirable from which 70 Sc
lect- The branches should come out
from very close 10 the ground and
should not spread too much but continue
growth throughout the season There
should be q boil produced from every
leaf axil. and the nodes or joints should
a &c lee rx@
character has been found 20 be asso-
ciated with early and rapid fruiting. II
one goes into a cotton field and exam
ines the plants OF a so-called improved
variety, he will be astonished at the
great variation shown II will not be
so difficult. however, 70 find some de-
sirable plants as may seem apparent at
first. and seed should be carefully Sc
lected from these for future planting.
AS thinness OF foliage is considered to
be q matter OF some importance seed
should be selected from plants that pro-
duce only q moderate number OF leaves.
Just what advantage the okra-leaf cot
ton will have for boil weevl sections
has not been established at this time.
and since the food Of the plant is elab-
GRATED In the leaves. IL viii probably
not be desirable to emphasize this point
too strongly. In Texas much progress
has been made In evolving types OF
plants having the characteristics just
enumerated These strains would not
be we'll adapted in all probability to the
different environmental condisions pre-
vailing IN the southeastern states. II
is all the more essential, therefore. since
some Of the correlations have been
worked out and established that the
colleges lead the vanguard in the pro-
duction OF the desirable new strains.
and that the farmer be Informed by
every means and particularly through
the activities OF extension departments