Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-05
COTTON INVESTIGATION PROBLEM

The question OF cotton growing is OF
paramount importance to all Georgia
Farmers. and some OF the practices which
investigators find II necessary TO en-
ploy are often called in 0uestaton by
the initiated. AS an explanation or IN
serest TO cotton growers generally ana
TO those concerned in plant breeding,
Professor DeLoach has submitted the
following short summary OF his views
relative TO certain matters OF more than
ordinary concern to farmers and espe-
sially TO those engaged IN an attempt
10 improve cotton through hybridization
and seed selection:
One who desires to get at the truth
about any great matter or industry
must have the necessary conditions In
.fdent to such Investigation. and unless
the proper conditions can be secured. ne
sMnnot hope to discover more than hair
the truth. one who Is engaged only IN
the economic production OF q given crop
can. OF course, see q great many things
done by the student that he would not
DO on his own acres. in fact. he sees a
reat many things for the existence or
which he can see no earthly reason But
Ibis Is what differentiates the student
from the average farmer. his search for
truth and his methods OF getting at the
truth.
Many times our cotton on the state
college farm. for an instance is left IN
the field rather late In the season. ana
our friends get a little uneasy for US.
thinking perhaps that we may incur
criticism for such practice This is
primarily one OF the things incident to
complete study Of the cotton We
may be able to get az everything else
connected with q variety OF find oppor-
tunfty TO make q complete study OF II
early In the fall and have IL all IN the
house before November IL II OPENS. but
Ii SO we shall have left cut one Of the
most IMPORTANT lessons to the investi-
gator Three reasons present them
selves why we should as investigators
have our best cottons in the field late;
this Is the only way we can study the
storm resisting qualities; IL is the only
way we can examine the effect or the
weather on the lint; and according to
our experiences Il Is the best way to
Interest students In a systematic study
OF the quality Of lint and the selection
OF plants. They can see the plant bet
ter and estimate Its value far quicker.
and. in fact they can tell on which
plants the best lint grows with far
better accuracy than TO examine the
plants with empty bolls Two plants
may show the same number OF open
bolls at given season and one OF them
be far better than the other. To be
able to size up the two at glance. We
must see them both fully frutted with
the cotton hanging in the hollis
This season we hvae selected from our
special Sunbeam cotton 80 ideal plants
under what we consider TO be ideal field
conditions with all the bolls fully Open
with the exception OF a few small top
bolls Later. we are 70 complete our
selection by testing the qualities OF
lint. the per cent Of lint. and the size.
color. AMI soundness OF seed In the lab
oratory. To make this last test without
having some knowledge OF the value OF
the plant under the above mentioned
three conditions. We would have our
work only half done. II man knows
the methods OF plant selection and the
principles Of plant breeding. he cannot
fail TO realize that we must have all
possible information relative to the
points as outlined. before We can make
the best OF our opportunity.
Sometimes our cotton Is by virtue OF
weather conditions compelled 10 remain
In the field several days after our Sc
lection work and fall study, is complet-
ed. bat this very seldom happens since
the falls are generally dry TIL late In
the season Until we have found OUT
what man is trying TO do in given
field OF activity and have had confer
ence with him. we feel that he must De
better qualified TO know what is best
for his work, and feel q hesitancy in
making sweeping criticism Of his work