BUREAU OF PLAjSTT INDUSTRY. 163 



is not only as earl}" as most of the sliort-staple varieties, but yields 

 Aveil and produces a fiber that is received on the markets on a par with 

 Sea Island cotton; in fact, many bales of Meade have commanded 

 a premium over Sea Island. The supply of pure seed for planting 

 purposes is being rapidly increased, due to the cooperation of many 

 growers vrho have appreciated the necessit}^ for isolation and clean 

 ginning. It has been found, however, that many growers and gin- 

 ners do not appreciate the necessity for pure seed, and cpantities of 

 mixed seed have been sold and planted. Should this process con- 

 tinue, the reputation of the Meade variety for uniformity may 

 sulTer on accomit of the distribution of these mixed stocks. An 

 organization of Meade growers in cooperation with the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry is endeavoring to have all mixed stocks replaced with 

 pu.re seed, and with a definite recognition of the need of continued 

 selection and isolation to maintain the purity and uniformit}' of the 

 stock it is hoped that the necessary precautions ma}^ be taken. 



The most striking example of introducing a new type of cotton, 

 establishing a new industry, and maintaining an adequate supply of 

 good seed is in comiection with the Pima variety of Egyptian cotton 

 in the Salt River Valley of Arizona. Nearly 100.000 acres of pure 

 Pima cotton were planted in the sjiring of 1919 in tlie irrigated dis- 

 tricts of the Southwestern States. This scale of production of su- 

 perior fiber has become possible through the establishment of a cen- 

 tral suppl}' of pure seed, 1,250 tons being furnished for ]:)lanting in 

 1019 from a single community center around Tempe, Ariz., where no 

 other variety is grown. 



Cooperation Avith the Pima cotton growers in maintaining the 

 purity of their planting seed was continued by roguing the seed- 

 increase fields and removing the off-type plants. This Avork gives 

 an exceptional opportunity for thorough study of the commercial 

 seed stock of this variety and- for -detecting the first indication of de- 

 terioration, if this should occur. Xo evidence has yet been obtained 

 of any loss of unifonnity in this variety. The measures taken by 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry, ably seconded by a growers' associa- 

 tion in the Salt Eiver Valley, have successfully protected this ex- 

 ceptionally uniform cotton from mixing or crossing with any other 

 A-ariety. 



Pima cotton is noAv the only very long staple varietv (with fiber 

 1-8 to If inches long) grov^-n in tlie United States of Avhich u large 

 supply of even-running fiber is o])tainable. Approximately 35,000 

 bales Avere produced in xVrizona and California in the calendar year 

 1918. The demand for this variety since Sea Island cotton production 

 has been curtailed by the boll Aveevil has exceeded the supply. This 

 cotton is most extensively used in high-grade automobile-tire fabrics 

 and appears to be a satisfactory substitute for Sea Island in most 

 goods for which that cotton is used. 



A serious problem of cotton farming in dry regions or Avhcrc dry 

 weather occurs at the planting season is to obtain regular germina- 

 tion of seed and a full stand of plants in the roAVs. Germina- 

 tion may be proA'ented by dry soil or by planting too deep. Experi- 

 ments condu.cted in Aiizona and Texas have shown that much better 

 stands can be secured by a lister attached to the shoe of the planter, 

 Avhich makes it possible to place the seed in moist soil at a uniform 

 depth. 



