SEED AND PLANT DISTRIBUTION. 55 



The seed distributed by the Department of Agriculture was grown 

 }>v the originator of the variety, Mr. John Griffin, at Greenville, 



Miss., in the season of 1902. 



Ska Island Varieties. 



SEABR< ><>k. 



This variety (PL 1) was originated ten or twelve years ago by E. L. 

 Rivers, James Island, S. C. Its selection and improvement have been 

 carried on since that time by the present owner. Mr. V. P. Seabrook, 

 of James Island, who has given the most careful attention to the fixing 

 of the desired qualities, the aim being the production of a prolific 

 bearer of medium quality, with a large proportion of lint to seed. 

 The method of selection employed by Mr. Seabrook, which is similar 

 to that of most of the Sea Island planters, is as follows: Several of the 

 best plants in his field are selected and marked. Each of these is 

 .picked by itself, the seed cotton weighed, and the lint weighed after 

 ginning to determine the ginning average. The -tuple is examined 

 critically as to length, fineness, strength, uniformity, and softness. 

 Finally the best plant is selected and the others discarded. The seed 

 from this single stalk is planted by itself, one seed in a hill, and 

 usually produces about 500 plants. The seed from these plants is used 

 to sow a field of about :> acres, from which the general crop is planted 

 the fourth year. A new plant is chosen from the select field each 

 year, so that the process of improvement is continuous. 



riant of compact habit, prolific, and resistant to disease. Bolls of good size, long 

 and pointed, .".docked, opening well for Sea Island. Lint 2 inches Ion--. Per cent of 

 lint about 28 to 29. 



The seed of this variety distributed was grown by Mr. F. P. Sea- 

 brook, James Island, S. C, in the season of 1901. 



RIVERS. 



The Rivers Sea Island cotton, which is immune to the serious malady 

 known as wilt or " black-root," was produced as a result of special 

 breeding- experiments conducted by Mr. E. L. Rivers, of James Island, 

 S. C. , in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture. It is highly 

 recommended for cultivation in the Sea Island districts of Georgia 

 and Florida on all soils infected with wilt. A special circular is dis- 

 tributed with the Rivers cotton, and this variety is referred to here 

 simply to show the general plan of the entire cotton distribution for 

 the season. A careful description of the variety and of the experir 

 ments leading to its production appears in Bulletin No. 27, Division 

 of Vegetable Physiology and Pathology of the U. S. Department of 

 Agriculture, by Mr. W. A. Orton. 



