The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-28
GIN MIXED COTTON SEED.
Sspwcr, Unless He and the Ginncr
akc Prccaution. May Get 10 Per
Gent of Ills Neighbours Variety I'm
His Cotton.


COTTON growers realize when the,
take back seed from an ordinary gin
To use In planting the next crop. the
extent to- which their seed may be
mixed with the seed of the cotton
ginned just previous to their lot. Yet
this matter Is OF Vital Importance to
AL cotton raisers who wish TO grow "a
uniform variety of cotton. AS every
stodent OF cotton breeding knows.
even few seeds of another variety in
a,cotton field may through cross-fer-
tiiization cause interbreeding and
dsterioration I'm large number OF
plants. Instead OF getting only
Few seeds from neighbor's
lot OF cotton. however. actual in
vestigations by specialists OF the de-
partment of agriculture show that in
certain cases lot of seed will contain
ss much as Ia to l6 per cent of seed
left In the gin boxes from the cotton
snned just before. In the cases in
Vestisated not only has there been a
large percentage of seed from the va
ricty ginned just previously. but it
Is found that some seeds may remain
from the second bale preceding. 1t
follows therefore, that a grower may
very readily mix one or two other va
rieties with his special kind OF seed
Where n grower Is particular about
his seed. he can greatly minimize the
mixing by quick. simple and inexpen-
sive measures In which the average
sinner will be glad TO cooperate. The
following precautions. which seem to
be entirely practicable and which. in
fact. are now exercised I'm some local
tiles. are strongly recommended In
department bulletin No. 2SS, Custom
Ginning as a Factor I'm Cotton-Seed
Deterioration. soon to be issued.
The patron should accompany to
the gin the lot OF seed cotton from
which he expects to save seed for
planting. and he should aid the gin
ner In seeing that everything possible
is done to prevent mixing.
He should see that the fiues, feed :
ers. and cleaners are cleaned as
thoroughly as their construction will
permit before he allows his seed cot
ton TO enter them.
The roll should be dropped from
tho roll box and the box should be
thoroughly cleaned. The dropping of
the roll Is an operation with which
all ginners are familiar. The con-
struction of the gins is such that the
roll can be dropped and the box
cleaned In very few minutes. Some
improved gins are arranged so that
the roll box may be emptied without
stopping the gin. thereby further
simplifying the operation.
Having cleaned the machinery up
TO and including the roll box, the
next step is TO prevent the seed OF
the variety TO be ginned from falling
Into the conveyor. 1t Is impracticable
40 clean the conveyor satisfactorily.
and therefore II should not be used
when planting seed is to be obtained
by adjusting the position OF the
apron OF each gin the seed can be
made TO fall upon the floor IN front
OF the gin instead of into the convoy
or. From here 1t can be sacked east
~.
The hoors about the gins should be
cleaned to the extent that no seeds
are left lying around to cause mixing.
Canvas spread upon the floor to re-
ceive the seed from the gins is often
used.
such precautions require time i'm
which To carry them out effectively.
and time spent in this manner na.-
urally reduces somewhat the amount
OF ginning that otherwise could be-.
done In day. On this point the GIN
ner may find cause to base objection
TO such procedure. but II should he
possible to meet the objection. by full
~ compensating him for the extra
time consumed. The expense OF ape-
cial ginning In some sections may no
reduced by arranging To have 1t done
on specified days or ut the close OF
the season. when more time is avail
able. In any event. the amount CT
money that may he required to se-
cure the ginners cooperation in the
maintenance OF pure seed is almos,
negligible In view OF the favorable
effect such precautions will have M.
ON the farmers crops in succeeding
years.