CHAPTER XI. 



BREEDING UP THE COTTON PLANT 



The average yield of cotton in the United States 

 is about 190 pounds of lint, to the acre. At ten 

 cents per pound the gross income from a cotton 

 crop then, is only $19.00 per acre plus the value 

 of seed. This is certainly none too much when you 

 consider the cost of necessary fertilizing materials 

 and the labor involved in all operations from 

 planting to marketing. Now to increase the gross 

 income, but two ways are. open to us: either (1) 

 increase the market price for raw cotton or (2) 

 increase the number of pounds of lint and seed per 

 acre. 



The latter seems to be most reasonable from an 

 economic standpoint. Ten cent cotton, under 

 good labor and crop conditions, is an equitable 

 price to both producer and consumer. A price 

 less than ten cents is unwise because it means 

 hard living for growers and laborers. 



HOW IMPROVEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT ABOUT 



The problem before us then is to increase the 

 production of cotton per acre. How shall this be 

 done? 



The following five reforms will help : 



J(l) Improve the soil. 



(2) Get a variety suitable to your environments. 



(93) 



