The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-06
BEST VARITIES OF COTTON
FOR BOIL WEEVlL
CONDITIONS.

Clemson College.-The boil weevil
has made its appearance in ten
counties of South Carolina. In several
of these counties the weevil IS nu-
merous enough to damage the cotton
crop to a consider able extent in 1919.
Consequently. some changes in the
method of producing cotton must be
made to combat this pest.
Among these changes will be the
planting of better seed of earlier
fruiting varieties than are now gen
orally used. A variety must be used
that will begin to fruit early and set
a good crop of bolls by the first OF
August, for after this time the weevils
are usually abundant enough to de-
stroy all squares that appear. 1t
should be a good yiefder with a high
percentage Of lint. A medium size
plant is desirable. 1t should have but
3 or 4 vegetative branches, but fruit
ing branches should be numerous,
both sets of branches coming out near
the ground.
The cost Of growing an acre OF cot
ton from the best seed is no greater
than the cost of growing the same
acre from inferior seed, but the differ
ence in yield will often be from 300
to 500 pounds of seed cotton per acre
in favor Of the good seed. At the pres.
ent price of cotton this would be at
least $4,000 per acre, not counting the
seed. The above figures are c%onservar
tive, for in variety tests consisting
only Of varieties considered. standard
for the State, results have been obtain.
ed showing a greater difference than
above between the highest and lowest
yielding varieties, though in many
cases the yield of the lowest yielding
variety in these tests would be greater
than from "gin mixed seed of inferior
varieties commonly used by many
growers. Consequently, those who
use low grade seed in the weevil In
tested area will suffer a double loss,
while those who use the vest varieties
adapted to their sections will lose only
to the extent Of damage due to the
weevils. That many farmers are be-
ginning to realize this fact is indicat-
ed by the many inquiries for better
varieties and sources OF seed.
There is no such thing as a boil
weevil proof" cotton. Select a variety
that has been tried and has proved Il.
self adapted to the section in which 1t
is to be grown. Then purchase seed
rom a good reliable breeder as near
home as possible; for results show
that seed ordered from a distant state,
where conditions are entirely different,
do not produce as well as native grown
seed.
EARLY fruiting and late fruiting va
rieties should not be planted in the
same community, as the weevils will
have had time to multiply in the fruit
formed on the early cotton and be-
come numerous enough to destroy
practically all fruit as fast as formed
on the late variety.
During the last two years more than
twenty OF the best varieties have been
tested in Edgefed, Aiken, Barnwel,
Hampton, Beaufort, Charleston, and
Dorchester Counties. From the re-
suits so far obtained and from obser-
walton as to fruiting and growth, there
are several that seem to be we'll adapt
ed to these sections.
OF the short staple varieties that
can be commended for South Carolina
conditions, Cleveland Big Boil, Cook,
Dixie Triumph, and Dixie are the pr1n-
| cipal ones. The first two are well
! ADAPTED for all sections Of the State,
| except where the land is wilt-infected.
| Cleveland is now more generally
grown in the State than any other va
rietJ. Several thousand bushels grown
and bred in the State are sold every
veal = in the weevil district further
South and it is giving good results.
| Seed If this variety can be obtained
| from reliable breeders in the State,
who have for several years been Sc
lecting and breeding for earliness.
This is considered one of the best var1-
cites yet developed for South Carolina
conditions.
Cook ranks among the highest Yield
ing varieties in the State, but is net
as generally grown, as ~anthrocoose or
boil rot seems to be worse in this
variety than any other. But several
breeders have strains that are now
practically free from this disease.
On w~ilt-infected land nothing but
wilt-resistant varieties should be plant
ed. Of these Dixie Triumph and Dixie
have given best results. Dixie TIL
umph is a new variety developed by a
prominent breeder of the State. 1t is
! early. with medium size plants, large
hollis, and is a good yielder. Seed OF
this variety cannot be obtained for
planting the coming season.
Mexican Big Boil and Sawyer are
short staple varieties that are early
and have welded we'll in the lower