Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-03-03
TESTS THAT. ARE MAKING SEED
TO RESIST The BOIL WEEVIL
What The State Department Of Entomology Is Doing To
Improve The Cotton Yield In Georgia.

dividual stalks, which produce the
best results. The department gins
this cotton for them and estimates
the percentage of lint as well as es.
tablishing the grade, so that they
will know whether or not these par
ticular varieties are worth propagat-
ing. The seed from each stalk is
planted in separate row and this is
improved by selection each year.
Right Varieties Found.
"One of the greatest accomplish
ments in connection with this work
has been the development of early
maturing varities which are resist
ant to wilt and other diseases and
will in large measure evade the at.
tacks of the boil weevil.
THE department has on hand 1000
or more bushels of this early matur.
ing wilt resistant seed developed as
the result of its tests, which will be
distributed for this springs planting
to the farmers in the border line
counties of southwest Georgia. This
seed will be distributed as far as 1t
win go in small quantities, and the
department will secure a new and, it
is hoped, larger supply for distri-
button for the spring of 1916.
The department is preparing a
bulletin presenting the principal fea-
lures of the results obtained from
these tests In different sections of
the state. Due notice of its publica-
ton will be given and copies will be
furnished to all who apply for it.
ANY cotton grower in Georgia can
take advantage OF, this work which
the department of entomology is do
ing without cost to himself whatso-
ever. The department will be glad
to cooperate with him in his seed
selection tests made from season to
season.
while it is too late now for seed
selection for 1915 planting, it is we'll
always to bear in mind the important
points in this connection. Every farm
er should select his seed from the
stalks which mature earliest, which
nave bhC AAOOL NOtNOu anu WhASh ho'
a tendency to resist disease, and cot
ton chosen for seed should be ginned
separately and, where possible, by a
hand-gin. In selecting for resistance
to black root or wilt, or for root
knot or anthracnose, choice should be
made from the strongest, hardest
plants, in that part of the field where
the cotton generally suffered most,
but always from plants that fruit well
and upon which the cotton is we'll dis
tributed. The use of the hand gin
does away with danger of adulteration
with weak or diseased seed.
Georgia IN Good Shape
Based upon the work this depart
ment has done for several years past
in preparing for the coming of the
boil weevil, w. D. Hunter, agent of
the United States bureau of entomol-
ogy in charge Of crop insect inves-
tigation in the South, has made the
statement that Georgia is in better
condition today to meet the coming
of the weevil than any cotton state
has been at any time. Notwithstand-
ing this it is the purpose of the de-
partment to push the work with all
possible vigor, and to the full extent
of the limited. resources at its COM
mand, so that when the critical time
arrives, the least possible damage
shall be done
CDR. Hunter has recently given this
department an interesting statement
relative to the present boil weevil sit
iation, showing that the boil weevil
is sure to reach Georgia soon and
further. that there is no possibility
of stopping it even by eliminating
entirely the production of cotton for
a year.
The Upland Long Staple
Another valuable achievement for
the Georgia farmer is the develop
ment of the long staple upland cot
ton known as 'Dixafifi' This cotton
has a staple almost as long as the
famous sea island cotton and will
grow we'll on uplands. 1t brings from
three to five cents a pound more than
the ordinary short staple cotton.
1T will not be long before the Unit
ed States government will be CON-
PEELED to declare quarantine against
the importation of foreign cotton to
prevent the introduction into this
country of the pink boil worm which,
if it once got foothoid here, would
be more destructive than the boil wee
vii. Already plans are being made
in Washington, as is shown from AS
ISOLATED Press dispatches, to restrict
the importation of Egyptian and 9TH
err foreign cottons to the Northern
states. When this is done it is going
to create an extraordinary demand for
the home grown long staple varieties.
The sea island cotton growers of
Southeast Georgia will do we'll to keep
posted on this movement and prepare
to meet the demand for their product.
The situation will also create heavy
demand for the new upland long sta
pie which is being grown more and
more from season to season.
"Tha dapar nant has on hand a