13 



plants under investigation were cultivated far removed from 

 inferior grades of cotton. 



SOME OP THE PROBLEMS TO BE SOL\TID. 



1. Are all the so-called " varieties " of cotton grown in 

 the South entitled to separate names ? 



2. How many species of the Gossypium are cultivated in 

 the cotton-belt? Are the upland forms — so-called "Upland 

 Cotton" — true species or are tlie}^ hybrids, the product ol 

 blending two or more distinct species during the long period 

 of years in which the cotton has been cultivated in the 

 South? 



3. In "improving" the cotton plant is the fiber strength- 

 ened and developed, or is there simply an increase in the 

 size of the plant to the detriment of the fiber? Is it not 

 often the case that the fiber is weakened and damaged by 

 forcing the plant, as we sometimes notice is the case when 

 certain forms of fruits are forced to ripen earlier than the 

 usual period, causing the outside coating to mature before 

 the inferior is thoroughly developed? 



4. At what stage of growth of the boll does the fiber at- 

 tain its full development ? 



5. What are the properties of a well formed cotton fiber ? 

 Some of these problems are not yet fully answered by the 



results so far secured, but valuable information has been 

 obtained on all the questions propounded, and, in some in- 

 stances, decided answers will be rendered. 



1. Are all the "so-called" varieties entitled to separate 

 names? 



This question seems to be answered in the following 

 classification of these "varieties." 



(1) Short staple forms, under 1.2 inches : 



Bailey, Barnett, Cherry's cluster, J, C. Cook, Dixon, Gold 

 dust, Hawkins' improved, Herlong, Hunnicutt, Jones' im- 

 proved, Keith, King, Okra leaf. Peeler, Peerless, Peterkin, 

 Petit gulf, Bust proof, Rameses, Southern hope, Storm 

 proof, Truitt, Welborn's pet, Zellner. 



