Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-03

The production of cotton undcr irriga-
~ has been practiccd in the United
States but a few years and there IL still
much Ia DE learned regarding the best
methods Of culture. IL il "A crop the re-
turns from which. both as regards quail
lty and quantity. are very largcls influ-
cnccd hy the method of irrigation and
soil culture prccticod. Cotton. unlike corn
or other feed crops, is grown exclusively
for the market. an exacting market. hence
the three column head.
Ii IL important that the grower sli0ull
know what characteristics and qualities
are demanded that he may produce what
- desired and "a obtain the largest net
return.
To grow a plant that will produce 4
crop possessing certain definite qualities
II is necessary that the seed bc selected
with The charactcsiics in mind and with
mueh care. With no crop is this more inn
portant than with cotton. The safest and
most satisfactory manner to accomplish
this il To study the crop during growth
and the maturing period and mark bv
card or otherwise. the plants that are
most promising. AZ the fruit on these
plants natures i; should he gathered and
pinned separately. To insure impossible
ity of becoming mixcd the gin should he
thoroughly cleaned before the seed cotton
Is passed through.
The distinctive characteristics Of high
grade cotton lint are "A long. fine. silky.
but strong fiber. uniformly pure white. or
acru in color. free from trash or dirt
There are also certain characteristics
which assist in the selection of desirable
plant for seed. \ long. large boil Of near
" uniform diameter throughout Signif
les uniformly long lint. The cotton plant
consists of the varieties of branches the
functions Of which are entirely distinct
i've. The so-callcd vcgetativr branches
are the straight upright stems which
form the framework OF the plant but
bear no fruit. The fruit bearing branches
are the short crooked stems thrown out
horizontally from the vcgetative
branches. upon which the fruit j. borne.
Since the fruit bearing branches are
produced al the joints ~ the vegctativc.
stems the length of the intcrnodcs or
distance bctwecn the joints should he
short. The development Of the plan should
be symmetrical. Fruit bearing branches
should begin development ut the joints
near the ground and continHc in number
uniformly toward the top Of the picnt.
They should begin development early IN
the season and should carry from three
TO six hollis each. After f~ruiting Begin
i'm n sweep Of the eve over the field.
squares and blooms. rather han leaves
should h. largely in evidence. The leaf
growth nj no time become luNuriant nor
appear sappv.
VALUE OF PURE SEED.
The value Of pure seFl il not ~ this
date denied bv any intelligent farmer.
and il cotton differs from other crops in
this regard il is on the side If The great.
or necessity. Ordinary hvb.idS po>SrSa
little value. II were far better II I'll the
cotton growers Of n district would limit
the production To enc or two of the va
%rictics best adapted 10 the locality aud
keep the sed pure. II all the cotton grow
ors in Southwest Texas would select one
or two typos best adapted IL this terri
tory and plant these exclusively. Keeping
the seed pure. much better results would
he obtained Tnlcs. better results would
he obtained. Unless better methods of wee
vii control are practiccd. il j. impracti
cable Ia attempt tn grow Egyptian cot
ton In wccyil Infested districts.
Cotton il Il plant that thrivcS best in
n warn, soil. II * a deeply roofing plant.