Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-11-17
PREPARING FOR NEXT YEARS COTTON CROP

The wonderful amount OF improve
ment which has been effected through
attention to the selection or seed is too
frequently lost sight Of Virtually all
the farm crops cultivated az the pres
ent time were once wild plants Sub
5ected TO cultivation and watched
over and cared for by man their ability
20 yield has been multiplied many
tines while their characteristics have
been changed greatly and their range
OF adaptability enlarged thereby.
The average man who selects seed OF
any farm crop Is often disappointed be-
cause he does not secure an immediate
improvement in one or more characters
(which he Is endeavoring 10 change
Sight should not be lost OF the fact,
however. that IL changes could be sud
: denly and easily made &c result would
be dangerous. for the variation would
then be so great as TO unfix the type.
II is a wise provision OF nature. there
fore. that Improvement by selection Is
slow. On the other hand. those who
are familiar with crop conditions and
yields in Georgia so years ago realizes
that a wonderful Improvement has been
made IN the desirable characters ana
qualities OF the cotton plant, for in
stance The farmer should not be dis
couraged by his failure TO secure great
Improvement as q result Of one ct two
years effort, but should redouble his
energy with respect to seed selection.
feeling certain. as scientific investga-
ton has amply demonstrated that IL he
pursues the proper course In the mat
ter of choosing his seed that grad
nal Improvement win be made from
year TO year.
The yield Of cotton during 1911 has
been unusually good; the Price rela-
lively low. This will tend TO dlscour-
age many farmers and they NAV lose
their interest in seed selection IT Is
possible. though hardly probable. that
next years crop viii be as Jorge or as
easily produced relatively speaking. as
the one OF 1911. Arrangements should
be made 20 meet the exigencies OF an
unfavorabls season which may make
the preparation OF the soil q severe task
and the cultivation OF the crop after
planting difficult There Is an old
saying which runs something like. this:
in time OF peace prepare for war. The
mere fact that conditions have been ia
vorab1e Is no reason for believing that
they will always remain So and the
world needs such an ample supply OF
cotton that II Is not likely that a SUI
perabundant crop will be produced ev-
cry year. even though the best effort OF
our farmers be put into its production
The selection Of seed for the crop
OF 1919 should. therefore. not be neg
lected Just what points should be
considered in selecting seed cotton is
an important matter to consider at the
present time. The average man IL dis
posed 70 select from the big plant de
should remember. however. that exit a.
ordinary sire can only be developed
! and maintained under extraordinarily
favorable conditions. It is not the IN
usually large plant growing on a few
acres OF land which affects the yield
OF cotton materislly. but the modest
Improvement OF the average plant SO
as to raise the yield Of every acre
which Is chiefly desirable
In selecting seed do not take IL from
the largest plants. but rather pick il
from those OF medium size and which the
owner may hope TO grow IN large num-
bers not during one year but through a
series OF years In our experience and
observation extraordinarily large plants
are more subject 20 disease and produce a
larger amount Of wood In proportion to
boIls and lint than those Of medium size
II Is a waste Of energy TO grow, too large
plants unless they give yield much
above the average One is not concerned
In the production OF a larger plant than
Is necessary TO secure a creditable yield
The energy Of the soil and Of the plant
may be taken W In the production OF
long limbs and excessive foliage In pro-
portion to lint and seed Earliness is an
ether point go be carefully observed In
the selection Of seed cotton Much Is
said about the advent Of the boil weevi.
II viii probably reach Georgia before
very long and when IL does come those
who have the earliest maturing cotton
viii be least affected by IL. There Is a
wonderful difference in the relative earli-