The log cabin Democrat., 1916-12-11

further reduced when the weevils
came, and most of the ng-staple
planters turned to short staples, or
abandoned cotton altogether
The new long-staple varieties have
no relation to the old ones. They
were developed from different stocks
and have distinctive botanical char
acters and habits of growth. In their
general appearance, size Of bolls and
ability to mature in short seasons
they are much more like the short
staple varieties. None of the agricul-
tural draw backs of the old long
staple varieties applies to these new
sorts, which are now being planted to
advantage In many parts of the cot
ton belt. The best prospects of utili-
zation lie with organized communi-
ties devoted to the production of a
single variety, because it is only in
such communities that stocks of pure
seed are likely to be maintained. This
precaution is especially necessary
with long-staple cotton, in order to
plNSNlNS tiuS ScCuIt
the highest prices for both the lint
and the seed.
Four early maturing long staple
varieties bred by the department of
agriculture are now grown on a
commercial scale. Three of these,
Columbia, Foster and Durango, have
been sent out through the congress
sional seed distribution, while a fourth
variety, called Express, is being
planted under special conditions in
the bottom-lands of Mississippi.
The Columbia variety, also known
as Weber, has proved to be well
adapted to South Carolina and ada
cent states. 1t was developed by Sc
lection from an eastern short staple
variety, and is as early and prolific
as most of the eastern short staple
sorts. The staple has a length of
l 3-16 to ! 5-16 inches, uniform, and
of good quality. The center of pro-
duction is in the region of Huntsville,
in Darlington county, South Carolina,
where the variety was bred. Column
Dld Ids dlSO GOIlc well III NCSICiil
Tennessee, but is not advised for the
drier conditions often encountered
farther west, though often giving
good results in favorable seasons.
The tendency under the western con-
ditions is to produce very dense
foliage and mature only small crop.
Foster is a medium long staple
variety producing fiber of from l is
to l 3-8 inches, early enough to give
profitable yields under boil weevil
conditions. 1t has been grown very
successfully in Mississippi and Loui-
siana and appears to be the best sub
stitute for the old late maturing
"Peeler" varieties in the region where
these were grown.
Express was developed in northern
Texas and is an extra-early variety,
but no general distribution was made
on account of features that seemed
likely to attract unfavorable atten-
ton, such as small bolls, low per-
centage of lint and lack of uniform
ity. Nevertheless, good results have
been reported in Mississippi, and the
variety may have value for rich bot
tom lands where cotton usually grows
rank and ripens late, but it is not
recommended for other parts of the
country.
Durango is a newly acclimatized
Mexican variety, bred at first in Tex
as, but now proving to be adapted to
a wide range of conditions in other
states. Durango is distinctly earlier
than Columbia and has given better
results than other long-staple varie-
ties in the irrigated sections of the
southwest, and in the upland districts
of the southeast. Even as far north
as Norfolk, Virginia, it has been
grown on a commercial scale for the
last five years, about 1000 acres be-
ing planted in the season of 1916.
Durango is very prolific, frequently
outyields short-staple varieties, and
often shows higher out-turn at the
gin, the percentage being usually
above 80, often 80 to "a. The lint at
tains a length of l 1-3 inches, under
favorable conditions, has a distinctive
quality, and has found ready mar
ket, with substantial premiums above
the regular prices for short cottons.
Some 10000 bales have been grown in
the Imperial Valley of California this
season, and are now being sold at
prices around 80 cents a pound.