The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-11
Meade Staple Cotton
New Variety Replacing Sea
. Island

Reports that several hundred acres
Of Meade cotton are being grown in
Arkansas and Texas and more than
1000 acres in Hayti this year have
caused cotton specialists of the bureau
of plant industry, United States de-
partment of agriculture. to express
some concern over the effect this may
have upon their efforts to bring Meade
cotton to the front in Georgia as an
upland long-staple variety. There is
no reason to expect that q variety of
the special character of the Meade
cotton can be grown to advantage in
all parts of the cotton belt.
Meade cotton, developed by the bu-
reau of plant industry, is. now .replac-
| ing the Sea Island cotton in Georgia
and South Carolina. 1t is earlier and
more productive than the Sea Island
| cotton in the presence Of the boil
| weevil and produces fiber of the
length and quality Of Sea Island, so
| that the advantage TO the farmer is
great. The attention that Meade cot
| ton has attracted in Georgia has led,
however, TO efforts being made to in
| trOduce this variety into many other
districts in advance of any recon-
mendation by the department.
| An essential requirement for the
production of good long staple fiber is
that the plants shall not be check ed
by drought, which makes the fiber
weak and Irregular and renders the
crop, difficult TO pick, because the
bons are withered and split prema-
| ,1x q,
tent of those that are normally de-
lVeloped
An important advantage of Meade
cotton in the Sea Island districts, but
l disadvantage in other parts of the
cotton belt. is that this variety is bet
eer adapted to roller ginning, on ac-
count of the seeds being only slightly
fuzzy, like the Sea Island cotton
Though good prices have been secured
in some cases for saw-ginned Meade
fiber, there have also been complaints
that such fiber is badly gin-cut, which
lis likely to injure the commercial
standing of the variety unless the need
lOf roller ginning is clearly understood
by farmers, the buyers, and the man.
ufacturers.
1t has been the aim Of the friends
tof Meade cotton to Keep the product
on as high grade as, possible, and II
has been selling on the market fol
prices equal to those paid for Sea Is
land OF the same grade. 1t is ALREADY
being produced in considerable quan.
titles and is the nearest approach t.
Sea Island--now practically eliminat
ed by the boil weevirs invasion-ir
length and fineness OF fiber. Tests o.
Ithe strength and spinning qualities o
the fiber have given favorable results
so that the possibility Of substituting
this type Of cotton for corresponding
lengths OF. Sea Island is definitely in,
dicated. =
Meade produces earlier than Sca
Island and develops bolls nearly twic,
as large. A heavier crop can be SCI
ina short period of time, and the fiber
natures in advance of Sea Island
i All tending to avoid damage by Dol
Wecvil. Even when a large proporti0,
or the buds or young bolls are shed
as a result of severe weevil injury ol
other unfavorable conditions, the
Meade rows often yield two or thres
times as much as the Sea Island Buy,
ers accept Meade fiber as practicaHy
equivalent to the Sea island At pres.
ent there are about 5000 acres plant.
ed in Meade in Georgia and Soutl,
Carolina, about 1000 acres being es-
pecially guarded as The basis of a
supply Of pure seed.
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