FIELD CROPS. 867 



The average data for the last 11 years indicate that, in general, large bolls, medium 

 maturity, and a high percentage of lint are closely related to the value of lint and 

 seed produced, while the size <»f the seed has no significance in this connection. 

 Brief notes on the leading varieties under test this season are given and the relative 

 standing of 50 of the 130 varieties, nearly all of which have been tested 3 or more 

 times at the station during the past 15 years, is presented in a table. Notes are also 

 given on selecting a variety and selecting seed in the field. 



Moss Improved, a medium-maturing variety, yielded 1,682 lbs. of seed cotton per 

 acre as compared with 1,524 ll>s. for Greer Improved, an early variety, and 1,594 ll>s. 

 for a mixture of the 2 sorts. The average yield of seed cotton for 7 years for the 

 medium and early varieties and the mixture of the 2 was 1, 117, 1,324, ami L,408 lbs. 

 per acre, respectively. In another test Moss Improved and Greer Improved were 

 grown in alternate rows and the yields of the several pickings compared. In the 

 first 2 pickings the early variety yielded 684 11 is. of seed cotton per acre and the late 

 variety only 264 lbs. and in the first 3 pickings the yields were 1,400 and 1,122 lbs., 

 respectively, hut in total yield the late variety exceeded the early variety by 378 

 lbs. per acre. 



The average results for the last 10 years show that the best variety in each year 

 yielded 576 lbs. of lint and 974 lbs. of seed, and the poorest 386 lbs. of lint and 836 lbs. 

 of seed per acre. 



The nitrogen test was conducted as in previous years. All plats received .'572.7 

 lbs. of acid phosphate and 32.3 lbs. of muriate of potash, while cotton-seed meal was 

 applied in different quantities. The differences in yield were not very marked 

 throughout, hut a reduction as the quantity of cotton-seed meal applied became 

 smaller and the nitrogen content of the fertilizer application was reduced from 2.94 

 to 0.89 per cent was apparent. As the percentage of phosphoric acid and potash 

 increased in the fertilizer application the percentage of total crop obtained in t lu- 

 first and second pickings increased. The results of another fertilizer experiment 

 indicated that liberal applications when bedded on in advance of planting are more 

 effective than when applied with the seed, and also apparently promote earliness. 



Growing corn and cotton together in the same rows reduced the yield of seed cot- 

 ton by 95 lhs. per acre as against a yield of 4.46 bu. of corn. Notes on cotton culture 

 and fertilizer treatment are given in an appendix to the bulletin. 



Early cottons, It. L. Bennett f Texas Sin. Bui. 75, i>i>. 20, figs. 7). — The plan and 

 purpose of cotton investigations carried on by the station in cooperation with the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry of this Department are described, and the results obtained 

 in 1904, which was the first season of the work, are reported. 



A study of early and late varieties was inconclusive because the seed could not be 

 obtained at the right time. Cotton planted April 9 was attacked by the boll weevil 

 and all fruiting stopped after July 20. This planting yielded about three-fourths of 

 a bale per acre, while a planting made June 8 produced stalks from 4 to 5 ft. high 

 but practically no fiber. 



The structure of the cotton plant was studied as the plants developed. It. was 

 found that early and late varieties differed in length of joint and in the fruiting 

 capacity of the limbs at the first joints on the main stem. The early varieties had 

 short joints and produced fruit limbs at the first joints on the main stem near the 

 ground, while the late cottons had lon^ joints and were without fruit limbs at the 

 lower joints. 



The time elapsing from the appearance of square in leaf axil to bloom and full- 

 grown boll was about the same in late and early and in large and small boll cottons. 

 The large boll varieties required a few days longer for the bolls to dry out and open. 

 There was no apparent difference in the rate of growth of the several cottons, hut 

 as the rati- differs in individual plants it is stated that rapidity in growth may be 



