48 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



with the varieties they already grow. This will enable them to make 

 comparisons and select varieties best suited to their climatic and soil 

 conditions. Information regarding the success of varieties in different 

 sections is as } T et too meager to enable a judgment to be formed as to 

 which will succeed best in a certain locality. In the distribution of 

 cotton seed it is proposed to select, so far as possible, new and little- 

 known varieties which have proved valuable in certain localities, and 

 distribute the seed in such a way as to insure their being generally 

 tested throug-hout the cotton States. It is intended at the end of the 

 season to follow up each package with a circular in order to obtain 

 information in regard to the success in various sections of the varieties 

 distributed. Growers receiving the seed are urged to cooperate with 

 the Department of Agriculture by making a careful test of the seed 

 which is sent with this circular. In another part of the circular will 

 be found descriptions of the varieties distributed and a statement of 

 the points on which information is desired. 



In the distribution the present season several special features have 

 been introduced. The studies of the cotton industry which the Depart- 

 ment has been prosecuting strongly indicate that the growing of long- 

 staple cottons is destined to become much more general in the near 

 future and should be encouraged. Seeds of Griffin and Allen Improved, 

 two of the best long-staple Upland cottons, have thus been procured 

 for distribution. A second special feature of the distribution the 

 present season is the Rivers Sea Island cotton, a variety resistant to 

 the serious malad} T known as wilt or black-root. This cotton has been 

 produced as a result of breeding experiments conducted in conjunction 

 with the Department of Agriculture. A special circular is sent out 

 with the seed of this variety, and it is therefore not described herein. 

 This seed will be distributed in the Sea Island sections of Georgia and 

 Florida. Seabrook Sea Island cotton will also lie sent to the same 



region. 



The varieties of ordinary short-staple Upland cotton selected for 

 distribution this year are Parker. Jones Improved, Excelsior, and 

 King. The last-named variety has been procured particularly for 

 distribution in the boll-weevil districts of Texas, because it is probably 

 the earliest of all known varieties, and early ripening sorts have been 

 found to escape damage by boll weevil to a large extent. 



The varieties are to be distributed to the different Congressional 

 districts as follows: 



Alabama : 



First, Third, Fifth, and Eighth districts: Jones and Allen. 



Second, Sixth, Seventh, and Ninth districts: Excelsior and Griffin. 



Fourth district: Parker and Excelsior. 

 Arkansas: 



First, Second, Third, and Sixth districts: Parker and Allen. 



Fourth and Fifth districts: Jones and Griffin. 

 Florida, First and Second districts: Seahrook and Rivers. 



