The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-10-27
DANGER OF GIN
MIXED COTTON SEED

Washington, D. c., Oct. 23.-Few
cotton growers realize when they 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
gihhed just previous to their lot.
Yet this matter is of vital Importance
to ali cotton raisers who wish to grow
a uniform variety of cotton. AS
every student of cotton breeding
knows, even few seeds of another
variety in cotton field may through
cross-fertilization cause interbreed-
lug and deterioration in large num-
Der of plants Instead of getting on
" few seeds from neighbor's lot
of cotton, however, actual investiga-
tions by specialists of the Department
of Agriculture show that in certain
cases a lot of seed will contain as
much as IA to 16 per cent of seed left
in the gin boxes from the cotton GIN
ned Just before. In the cases in
vestigated not only has there been a
large percentage of seed from the
variety ginned just previously, but
it IS found that some seeds may re-
main from the second bale preceding.
It follows, therefore, that grower
may very readily mix one or two
other varieties with his special kind
of seed.
Where a grower is particular about
his seed, he can greatly minimize the
mixing by quick, simple and inexpen-
sive measures in which the average
ginner will be glad to cooperate. The
following precautions, which seem to
be entirely practicable and which, in
fact, are now exercised in some To-
calities, are strongly recommended in
Department Bulletin No. 2SS, Cdstom
Ginning AS a Factor in 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
mgr in seeing that everything possible
Hdone to prevent mixing.
He should see that the fues, feed
ers, and cleaners are cleaned as thor
oughly as their construction will per-
init before he allows his seed cotton
to enter them.
The roll should be dropped from
the roll box and the box should lie
thoroughly cleaned. The dropping
of the roll is an operailn-r with which
all ginners are familiar. The con-
struction of the gins is such that the
roll can be dropped and the hox
cleaned in a very few minutes. Some
improved gins are ARRANGED SO that
the roll box may be emptieG without
stopping the gin, therep- further
simplifying the operation.
Having cleaned the machinery up
to and including the roll bog, the next
step is to prevent the seed of tine
variety to be ginned from falling in
to the. conveyor. It is iycprac ctic:l-
bic to clean the conveyor SATISFACTORY
'ly and therefore it should not be
used when planting seed is to be Oh
tained. 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
conveyor. From here it can lie
sacked easily.
The floors about the gins should he
cleaned to the extent thai no seeds
are left lying around to cause mix
ing. Canvas spread upon the floor
to receive the seed from the gins is
often used
Such precautions require time in
which to carry them out effectively,
and time spent in this manner natrr.
ally reduces somewhat the amount Of
ginning that otherwise could he done
in day. On this point the giuner
may find cause to base objection to
such procedure, but it should lie. pos
sible to meet the objection by fully
compensating him for the extra time
consumed. The expense of special
ginning in some sections may be re-
duced by arranging to have it done
on specified days or at the c.ose of
the season, when more time is avail
able. In any event, the amount of
money that may be required to Sc
cure the ginner's cooperation in the
maintenance of pure seed is almost
negligible in view of the favorable
effect such precautions will have up
on the farmers crops in succeeding
years.