Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-23
RAILROAD FINDS
MEADE COTTON IS
IDEAL FOR STATE

Will Meade cotton and the good
work done in Georgia to find some
thing that will kill the boil weevil
turn the trick? 1t looks very much
that way, according to agricultural
leaders in the state, especially touch.
ing upon the general use of Meade
cotton.
The agricultural development serv-
ice of the Atlanta, Birmingham and
Atlantic railway has been conducting
experiments in the growing of
Meade cotton on st. Simon's Island
for the last four years, and accord
ing to the officials Of the railway,
has made a big success. Meade cot
ton, it is shown, natures very early,
is a heavy producer and the staple
averages 1 SIS inches in length. 1t
is claimed to be as good as any sea
island cotton now being grown.
Meade cotton, it is pointed out
here, is a remarkable new variety of
cotton, of the upland type, that is
being substituted in Georgia and
other southern states for the long
sea-island type, the latter being prac-
tically abandoned on account of the
ravages of the boil weevil.
Big Yields Reported
Although the Meade plants have
the general appearance and behavior
of the ordinary short-staple, upland
cotton, the fiber has the length and
quality of sea-island cotton, with a
staple of one and five-eights inches
under favorable conditions.
Having the cultural advantages of
the upland type, large bolls, prompt
setting of the crop and early ma
turity, the Meade variety usually
yields as much as short-staple varie-
ties and two or three times as much
as the sea-island cotton in the pres
ence of the boil weevil.
This advantage has been shown in
several different experiments, with
the two types side by side for pur-
poses of comparison. The need of
a special variety in the southeastern
states and the opportunities Of a
special market are as great or great
err than with the Pima cotton in
Arizon, but community conditions
are less advanced, and less progress
has been made in the utilization Of
the eMade cotton.
Aid Given Growers
In addition to assistance that has
been given to growers of Meade cot
ton in connection with the expert
mental work of the national depart
ment of agriculture, in the breeding
and local adjustment of the Varle'
ty, organization of Meade cotton
communities is now being actively
encouraged by the agricultural de-
velopment service of the Atlanta,
Birmingham and Atlantic railway.
If Meade cotton is grown under
isolated conditions, the variety will
remain pure and continue to yield
staple that will average an inch and
five-eights. There are some inter
ests which have made a speciality of
growing Meade cotton on the Islands
of Georgia for the purpose of pro-
ducing absolutely pure seed and for
anv who are interested in growing
this long staple-which is by all
means the most profitable variety
to grow under boil weevil conditions.
because of the premium for which
it sells-seed should be secured from
some thoroughly reliable person,
known to have pure seed, or only
from persons who might be recon-
mended by the State College of Agri-
culture, at Athens.
Brought Csc Pound
w. w. Croxton, passenger traffic
manager, Atlanta, birmingham and
Atlantic railway, is authority
for the statement that Meade cotton
grown on st. Simon's island last
year sold at Savannah, through the
Savannah Cotton Factorage COM
pany for 35 cents per pound, when
short staple cotton was selling for
around % cents.
At this time it looks as though
the Meade is the thing to plant In
+ha soI1theaS stern states.