33 



most successful plantations on the sea-board of South Carolina. On 

 this plantation the proprietor has for several years carried on experi- 

 ments with the United States Department of Agriculture in raising 

 disease-resistant varieties as described in the West Indian Bulletin 

 (Volume lY., pp. 201-214). The lint is of fine quality and has uni- 

 formly obtained the highest prices. The seed will be carefully cleaned 

 and sorted, and will be delivered with a guarantee that it is the pro- 

 duct of this plantation and no other. It is estimated, as already an- 

 nounced on p. 379 of the Agricultural News ' that this seed will cost 

 delivered to the planters in the West Indies, about 7 cents per lb. (or 

 at the rate of 1/9 per acre), and as it will have to be paid for when 

 ordered, those requiring it should note that it must be paid for in 

 advance.' The date for closing or.iers for this seed has now been ex- 

 tended until January 4th 1904 After that date the Department will be 

 unable to procure any further supplies of this selected Sea Island cotton 

 seed. It will, however, continue to assist in obtaining other seed ; bat 

 the latter may not be of so good a quality and it may cost more. The 

 importance of selecting good cotton seed is very emphatically dealt 

 with by Mr. Herbert J. Webber, Physiologist-in-charge of the plant- 

 breeding laboratory connected with the United States Department of 

 Agriculture : — " As well might the breeder of fast trotting horses 

 introduce dray animals in 10 his stabL s, or the breeder of intelligent 

 hunting dogs introduce ordinary mongrel curs into his kennels. The 

 use of good seed and its production by a regular system of selection 

 is just as important a factor in the production of the crops as that of 

 cultivation. 



No intelligent method of farm management disregards the production 

 and use of guod seed The day when growers can afford to plant any 

 sort of cotton seed has passed. Only seed of a known variety selected 

 because of its desir J ble qualities and adaptability to local conditions 

 should be planted. " 



In answer to questions put to him Sir Daniel Morris said he would 

 not advise any one to ratoon cotton this year owing to the presence of 

 of disease. Where the worms destroyed the middle part of the plant, 

 and it was the wish of the grower to obtain a crop, he should cut off 

 the top below the diseased portions in order that the shoots might 

 come up. The present crop would not have been so advanced had it 

 not been for the dry weather which prevailed in November. What 

 they wanted was for the crop to be in such a state that it could be 

 reaped during January, February and March. He did not think Peru- 

 vian cotton was likely to .suit us, because it was a perennial plant. 

 What was required in this island was a short season cotton, one of five or 

 six feet in height with large branches. With regard to wild cotton, he 

 did not think it was likely to be dangerous to Sea Island cotton unless 

 it were allowed to grow to windward of such cotton, when its pollen 

 would be easily carried into the field. He thought growers were de- 

 laying too long the picking of cotton that, was fit to be picked. The 

 best thing would be lo pick it every two or three days — at least twice 

 a week. The capsules of the Sea Island cotton did not open so much 

 as the Peruvian cotton, and that wa-t one difficulty in picking it. Di- 

 rectly the capsules were open to such an extent that one's fingers 

 could get inside, the cotton should be removed He believed that one 



