192 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



as possible throughout the growing season, to prevent sudden changes 

 and consequent loss of cotton. 



The earlier cotton can be planted, the better. This is especially true 

 of Egyptian cotton, which tends to go too much to vegetative growth 

 if planted late when the weather is warm enough to induce rapid 

 growth. 



The most important point in growing any cotton, but especially a 

 long staple, is careful selection of the seed. Cotton hybridizes very 

 readily, and deterioration soon follows. Uniformity in any long staple 

 cotton is about as essential as length as the short and long staple mixed 

 is of course a serious drawback. For this reason, any section going 

 into cotton production should first select the type and variety of cotton 

 by local experimentation and by correspondence with the government 

 and state specialists to learn the result of breeding and selection car- 

 ried on in other parts. Once the variety is determined upon, care 

 should be taken that no other type or variety is introduced unless for 

 strictly experimental work. If it seems best to change to any other 

 variety, the change should be made suddenly and completely. By so 

 doing, any section may develop a reputation for a certain class and 

 grade of cotton and soon have the buyers depending on it for the 

 product. Careful seed selection is of course necessary each year, as 

 cotton will run out the same as any other crop. Selection by the vege- 

 tative characters of the plants, as recommended by Professor Cook, of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture, has proved to be one of 

 the best and easiest ways of keeping a variety pure. The size and shape 

 of the leaves, or boll, the character of the involucre bracts, or the general 

 character of growth, mark each distinct variety and make selection 

 possible before the flowers open and the hybridization takes place. 



Cotton has already become a fixed product in one part of the State, 

 producing at the present time between one and two million dollars' 

 M'Orth of cotton a year. Conditions, especially in the San Joaquin and 

 parts of the Sacramento Valley, are favorable for the production of 

 this staple, and I believe that the production of a superior long staple 

 cotton, perhaps a selection of the Durango or an improved Egyptian 

 cotton, will find a place in California agriculture and become an 

 important industry outside of the Colorado River region. 



