The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-11

makes less than l 3-16 inches even
"here crowded too much; and it pro-
duces at least as much as the aver
age short variety. This year it has
peen widely planted in Darlington an1
adjoining counties, and l believe will
make much money for The farmers.
The Weber" variety, introduced
this season for the first time by the
writer, is descended from one re-
mark&bly fine and productive plant of
tAc Columb bia" variety. 1t has aver
aged a greater production of cotton
In our variety tests at Hartsville than
any other of the large number of va
fletles tested; and under good con-
dltions make 1 5-16 inches to 3-S
inch staple.
Ihe writer has produced a strain of
Hartsvil!e cotton which he calls
'Hartsville No. T." which has larger
'lze1 polls and somewhat longer STA
pie than the original strain. Num-.
eEous individual plants Of this va
ilety winch run l 3-S inch and long
er have been selected for breeding
and it is, therefore, not improbab,a
'hat cotton of this strain will short
| iy be produced in quantity which will
| be not less than 3-S inch in
| length. Numerous selections from
"epber of l 1-2 inches and longer
staple have also been found and
the most productive of these are now
being increased
In promoting the planting OF the
three varieties Of staple cotton men
toned above. the writer has tried to
give the farmers all the information
about this industry which he possess
ed. In growing staple cotton, a few
follows:
1st. Do some careful breeding
work each year to keep up the purity
and productiveness Of your strain
This is best accomplished by making
selections each year of a number of
apparently good plants, planting the
seed of each in separate rows the
Following year. and increasing the
seed cf the very best and longest
stapled row.
md Never judge yield where
testing cotton, Cor any other crop
by the eye Always use the scale.
Srd. Give staple cotton plenty of
distance, for it will not develop its
full length where crowded, unless
perfect seasons occur throughout the
period Of development. Besides, good
spacing usually results in better
yields.
ith. As q usual rule the best soils
produce the b,- ana strongest staple
the sare faid frequenu. makes
d.herent lengths at different pick
rss, or on Giffere't characters OF soil
in the same picking.
9TH. Gins should always be clean
cd Of short cotton before ginning sta
pie cotton This is necessary, to
ed, and also to maintain the purity
Of your seed.
9Th. Staple cotton should never be
ginned when damp; and the gin
should be run at moderate speed and
with loose gin roll.
7th. In sampling staple cotton, cut
both sides of every bale. Draw full
sized samples and wrap the two sam
Piles from each bale separately with
representing bale.
Sth. In selling staple cotton it is
best to offer it to two or more buyers,
for buyers Vary very much in their
ideas Of length and value. Many Of
them buy on orders. and one may
have a demand for certain lengths
and grades which another cannot ham
die at anything like the same price.
When the writer undertook to in
cotton to the mills in this section he
met with tremendous difficulties. AL
most all Of the mills using staple
| cotton had previously made tests of
the older staple varieties and were
absolutely convinced that no good
staple cotton could be produced in
| the eastern part of the cotton belt
| After several years of persistent eff
| fort, however, n number Of mills We're
| induced to cry out the new staples;
| and in every instance the report has
been favorable. The managers of
| several of these mills have aided me