The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-02-05
The Best Varieties Of Cotton for Boil
WeeyiI Territory.


Now that the boil weevil has
more or less heavily infested all Of
the South Mississippi west of a line
drawn from jackson, Mississippi, to
Mobile, Alabama, the question as
to the best variety Of seed to meet
these new conditions is only one of
the essential points in successfully
combating the weevil. There are
others Of equal or greater impor-
tance but the matter of seed only
will be treated here.
Careful experiments have proven.
that the best varieties of seed have
uniformly shown increased yields
of from 25 to so per cent over the
ordinary varieties commonly plant
ed. This was true before the wee
VII came; and under weevil condi-
tions the comparative value Of a
first class variety Of cotton has been
found even greater. With the boil
weevil, where the margin OF profit
on the cotton crop is often slight
and sometimes absent; it is neces-
sary that every precaution be taken
to make the maximum possible
yield. This can not be done unless
the best seeds are used.
Since the weevil may be counted.
on to get most of the forms that
are put on after August 1st, it will
be seen that an early. rapid fruit
ing cotton is of prime Importance.
Another essential quality is that
the bolls are large, with thick
tough hulls. Experience has prov
en- that the bolls of the thin-hulled,
small boiled varieties are often
punctured and partially or wholly
destroyed, even after they are al
most mature. This very seldom
occurs with the big boil varieties.
As has been the case before the
weevil came, other qualities, such
as torn-out at the gin, resistance to
winds and storms, ease of picking,
etc., must not be overlooked.
In word, we want the cotton
that will give us the highest cash
return per acre. The one variety
of cotton that has uniformly done
this under weevil conditions in
Texas, Louisiana, and this year in
Southwest Mississippi, has been the
Triumph. This cotton was
in Texas, came east
with the weevil. and has always
made good. It is early; has very
large boil, AZ to so making a
pound; the hull is thick and tough
it turns out from 35 to SO per cent
at the gin; and is very storm resis-
tant. This is a cotton that can be
relied on.
Although tried but one year in
weevil territory Cleveland Big Boil
is another promising cotton. For
some time it has led all cotton IN
the experiment. station tests, and
in the year just ended it stood right
at the tor, under weevH condition
in Southwest Mississippi. 1t is not
very dissimilar from the Triumph
in general characteristics, being 1
possibly a trifle earlier certainly
less storm resistant.
Cooks Improved has been an ex-
cellent cotton, but its tendency to
anthranose or pink boil rot makes
it an unsafe cotton to plant.
So far the Triumph and CIeve-
land Big Boil have easily led all
the small boil cotton under weevil
conditions, and there seems no
doubt but that they will continue
to do so. The small boil varieties
are subject to the weevil damage
after the bolls are grown and this
possibly, and other undesirable
qualities have resulted in the big
boil varieties giving higher cash
return per acre. There is no need
to name. these small boil cotton,
but farmers everywhere in weevil
territory are urged not to plant
them.
Get one or both of the varieties
and after this is done plant
your seed patch and select your own
cotton seed each year. Remember
a first-class seed will always con-
tribute materially in besting the
boil weevil.
B. Z. MOSS, Special Agent.
u. S Department Of Agriculture.
Farmers COOPERATIVE Demon
strafion Work.