The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-31
Directions for Conduct
Breeding Patch.
(Press Bulletin No. SD

VFreSS Bulletln NO. 80
Much money is spent every year in
South Carolina for improved cotton
seed, but little care is given the seed
harvested from these improved va
rieties, and, as rule, the superior
yielding qualities which they possess
are lost. 1t is impossible to keep
cotton seed pure when they are gin
ned at the public ginnery, hence
some method must be adopted where
by the good qualities of any variety
may be kept from deteriorating and.
at the same time, improved.
This can be best done on the aver
age farm by selecting good stalks
Of cotton from the general field. Be-
fore deciding upon any individual
stalk, be sure that it is growing un-
der normal conditions as to space,
and richness Of soil. Having located
a stalk thus situated, see that 1t is well
su phe3 ,>ltc close iointaf fruit Anbs
wi be -- taeal mcs coming out
fro t.e -.a.k r.-a~ tne orcuac. and
cu.Tlng s!isrc.s ward Cor Va
yie !. %. cct,on possessing .lracs o. mis-
general nature will be a heavy yield
er, and at the same time, it can be
plowed later than those varieties hav-
ing limbs which project at right angles
to the stalk. 1t will also he found
that limbs Of this type will not sag
to the ground as badly, consequently
there will be smaller number OF rot
ten bolls upon them. One should also
strive to select stalks which have the
largest bolls-this applies to small
boil cotton as we'll as big boil. While
selecting stalks which possess good
qualities, it is absolutely necessary
that they be free from anthracnose
and wilt for if they are not and the
seed are planted, il will be only a
question of time when the whole
farm will be over run with these two
diseases.
Another important factor 20 bear in
mind is earliness-this does not refer
to the time Of opening of the bolls.
but rather to the setting of the bolls
While the bolls are open one can get
some idea as to the storm resistance
of that particular stalk, and stalk
that drops the seed cotton easily
should not be selected.
Having selected the stalks it is nee
essary TO pick each one separately and
do not allow the seed cotton from any
two stalks to become mixed. Then,
at some leisure time hand pick a suf-
ficient amount from each stalk to
plant short row the next Year. Be-
fore planting time select a small area
of soil, away from any other field of
cotton, which is representative of the
entire farm, prepare and fertilize Il
the same as the general field. and
plant each sample of seed IN a sep
arate row, taking pains to give all the
seed the same distance. This is best
done by dropping them by hand.
From planting until gathering time
treat the same as the general cotton
field, but at harvest time each row
should be gathered separately and
weighed. Those giving the best yield
should be ginned together after salts
flying yourself that the gin is clean
and the rush of the season is over
These seed can he planted together
and the crop the next year planted
from them AS we'll as securing The
best stalks for a row test each year.
This may seem TO be a tedious meth
cd. but it is the one pursued by all
men who breeed good varieties If
cotton. BY J. VI. Napier.
% ACRE F\RM-One-Quarte mile