FIELD CROPS. 837 



It is pointed out tliat Inrge bolls fat'ilitiite iiidviug, reduce the amount of 

 trash gathered with the cotton, and are also storm resistant. It is stated that 

 about 38 per cent of lint was the general jueld of a few varieties that gave 

 the highest percentage. It is believed that by selecting for lint as much as 

 40 per cent may bo made to grow regularly and on a seed of good size and in 

 a large boll. 



The yield of progeny rows of cotton plants in selection tests varied from 

 243 to 4.5 lbs., and averaged at the rate of 1.S54 lbs. per acre, while the yield 

 of counnon seed was 1,G.'>0 lbs., or a diflerence of 224 lbs. per acre in favor of 

 seed from selected plants. The seed of the best yielding progeny rows planted 

 in 1907 produced plants true to the type and characters of the parent progeny 

 rows and to the original parent plant of each. It was observed that in breeding 

 early cottons some strains matured their plants extremely early and shed their 

 foliage a considerable time before frost. The advantage of early defoliation 

 is that the weevils are deprived of food and places for propagation. 



In another experiment selections were made of King and Jones cotton and 

 of an unknown variety. These cottons were grown on very rich river bottom 

 land and the stalks were from 7 to 9 ft. tall. Plants of tlie King and .lones 

 varieties from 2J to 3 ft. in height and very full of open bolls were also found. 

 The seeds of these two selections were planted the next year and the crops 

 compared. The progeny of tlie small King plants grew 2 ft. high and that 

 of the large King plants 3J ft. high, while the progeny of the Jones variety 

 from the small plants reached a height of 2i ft., and that from the large 

 plants 3i ft. The small progeny plants were more fruitful than the large ones. 

 It is concluded that by selecting from very small and fruitful plants the size 

 of plants on either bottom land or upland may be limited and thi' productive- 

 ness increased. A brief note is given on the crossing or hybridizing of cotton. 



Experiments and obser\ations on the planting of cotton are reported. On 

 March 20, 1900, 20 acres were planted, the seed being covered with about 2 in. 

 of soil. A moderately heavy rainfall followed by a few days of cold weather 

 destroyed all the seed and the field was replanted on April 10, the seed being 

 covered from 1 to J in. At the same time 6 acres were planted and the seed 

 covered about 2 in. The best stand was obtained where the seed was lightly 

 covered. Although April, 1907, was colder than March, seed planted at the rate 

 of 4 lbs. per acre and covered not over 5 in. in de]rth made a perfect stand and 

 lived. In 1900 it was observed that on a loose soil many young cotton plants 

 died, while on a tirm seed bed all tlie plants lived. In 1907 selected seeds, hand- 

 dropped and scarcely covered, made a good and satisfactory stand on 3 acres 

 of land, although this planting, made on April 12, was followed by 2 weeks of 

 cold and rain. It is suggested that in order to succeed in shallow covering and 

 keeping a stand in early i)lanting, the seed bed should be fii*m and clean, the 

 soil of the beds harrowed before planting and cultivated shallow, while the 

 seeds are coining up, if necessary, and as often thereafter as moisture permits, 

 and that a planter with a gage wheel in the i-ear to regulate the depth of 

 Itlanting and press the seed into the soil be used. 



Raising Eg'y-ptian cotton, L. M. Iddings (Daily Consular and Trade Rpts. 

 lU. ii.] l'J07, Xo. JO'iS, 1)1). 6, 7). — The cost of growing cotton in the Delta in the 

 .Santa district, Scharbieh province, on a farm of 20r feddans (about 215 acres), 

 was $40.35 per acre. The cost of production per pound of cotton was 7J cts., 

 and the value of the crop per acre .$113.27. The itemized cost is shown in 

 tables. 



[Variety tests of cotton and of corn], M, V. Calvin (Georgia Sta. Circ. 65, 

 pp. //). — Tables are given showing the results of these tests, together with lists 

 of persons from whom cotton seed and seed corn may be purchased. 



