99 Farmers’ Bulletin 1262. 
were slow-maturing, nonprolific varieties with a very thin boll wall, 
and were thus subject to a maximum amount of weevil damage. The 
weevil soon eliminated practically every one of these varieties, and 
for some time it appeared that the production of long-staple cotton 
would be practically prohibited, This situation, however, has been 
met by the development of several long-staple varieties which are 
prolific and reasonably early. Among the best known of these are 
such varieties as Express and Webber. 
It should be thoroughly understood that the selection of the cotton 
variety is purely a local proposition, and the farmer is warned against 
the extensive planting of a new variety (merely because it has done 
well elsewhere) before he has tried it on a small scale under his own 
conditions. Whenever possible, seeds should be obtained from local 
planters who have given attention to varietal selection. Varieties 
introduced from different sources require several seasons to adjust 
themselves to new conditions. The use of seed simply because it 
comes from a northern locality is a practice which frequently has 
done great injury. The only case in which the introduction of north- 
ern seed is justified is where the seed represents a variety which has 
been improved with reference to early maturity. Even this practice 
is not to be recommended except as an emergency measure when 
locally improved seed is not available. 
EARLY PLANTING. 
Another step to be taken in obtaining an early crop, and fully as 
important as those that have been mentioned, is early planting. No 
set rule can be laid down as to the proper date for planting. There 
is much variation in the seasons. Sometimes it is impossible to 
place the fields in readiness as early as is desirable, and much of the 
effect of early planting is lost unless the seed bed is in good condi- 
tion. Rather than plant abnormally early it would be better to 
improve the seed bed. It is not recommended that planting be done 
at dangerously early dates. Nevertheless, with proper preliminary 
attention to the fields it would be possible for farmers in most lo- 
calities to plant from 10 to 20 days earlier than they were accus- 
tomed to before the arrival of the weevil. It is much better to run 
the risk of replanting, provided the seed bed is in good condition, 
than to defer planting on account of the danger of cold weather. 
Of course, it is possible to plant entirely too early, so that the plants 
become stunted during the early days of their growth, and planting 
should: not be done so early as to have this effect upon the plants. 
FERTILIZERS. 
An important step in procuring an early crop is the use of com- 
mercial fertilizers. In many large areas in the cotton belt the land 
