62 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



neighboring fields of short staple cotton. Since only a small quantity 

 of seed can be had. unusual care ought to be taken in planting to make 

 the seed go as far as possible. The land should be well fertilized and 

 cared for in order to produce a large crop of seed. The Rivers cotton 

 is resistant to wilt, but not necessarily so to rust and other troubles 

 due to poor soil. To secure the best results, therefore, plant the seed 

 on good soil and US3 from -100 to 600 pounds per acre of commercial 

 fertilizer or its equivalent in stable manure or compost. 



In land of ordinary fertility plant in rows 4 feet apart, with the 

 plants 18 inches apart in the row. In rich soil make the rows ."> feet 

 apart, with 20 to 22 inches between the plants. The Rivers cotton is 

 a low, compact variety, and can be planted closer than the average 

 Georgia Sea Island cotton. To economize seed in planting, drop by 

 hand 3 to 5 seeds in a hill, cover lightly, and thin out to one in a place. 



In order to give an exact report at the end of the season, the field 

 where this seed is planted should be measured and the yield deter- 

 mined by actual weighing when the crop is picked. 



PICKING. 



In picking Sea Island cotton much more care should be taken than 

 is necessary with the Upland cotton. Pick often to avoid injury by 

 the weather. Sun the cotton on a low arbor after picking to dry it, 

 and sort out all trash, yellow, and immature cotton, etc., before gin- 

 ning, as all these impurities injure the sale of the lint. The high prices 

 obtained for the best grades of Sea Island cotton are due in part to the 

 extreme care taken to remove all trash before marketing. 



If your trial of this variety results satisfactorily, save all the seed 

 carefully, as it will be difficult to get more from any source. Gin the 

 cotton separately and clean the gins to avoid mixture with inferior 

 varieties. 



CHARACTERS OF THE RIVERS COTTON. 



Plant resistant to wilt, vigorous, compact, pyramidal, branching near 

 the base; linibs small, close-jointed, bearing heavily; bolls medium 

 size, 3 to 4 lobed; seed small, black, well covered; lint 28 per cent; 

 staple 2 inches long, cream-white, fully to extra fine. Time of matur- 

 ing, early. 



CONTINUAL SELECTION NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN QUALITY. 



The qualities of resistance, bearing, etc., characteristic of this cotton, 

 will be found to be thoroughly fixed in the seed distributed. It can 

 not be expected that they will be maintained indefinitely, however, 

 unless careful annual selection of seed is practiced. Though the 

 variety is highly resistant to wilt, there will be occasional individuals 

 reverting to the original type and becoming attacked by the disease. 

 All such should be weeded out and destroved. 



