FARM CROPS. 107 



near the ground, have the joints close together, both 

 in main stem and side branches, and with fruit 

 branches at the greatest number of joints. As the 

 seed of a single stalk reproduces fairly true to parent 

 stock, the seed of an improved strain can be multiplied 

 rather rapidly. The flower bud with adherent leaf 

 bracts is called a " square." The flowers are white 

 or cream-colored when they first open, but gradually 

 turn pink and close at night. The second day they are 

 deep pink, almost red, and at the close of the second 

 day they wither and in a day or two drop off. Sea 

 Island cotton has yellow blooms. 



Rains falling in the early part of the day when cot- 

 ton is blooming rapidly cause considerable damage by 

 preventing fertilization of the flower, preventing the 

 formation of a boll. 



Selecting and Breeding. The stigma of the flower 

 stands above the stamens, and cross breeding may be 

 accomplished without great difficulty. About three 

 weeks are required for development from a small 

 flower bud to a splendid bloom. It will be from 

 forty to fifty days from the time the bloom opens un- 

 til the boll is mature. A period of seventy to ninety 

 days after planting, with gradually increasing tem- 

 perature, warm nights and well-distributed rainfall, 

 produces the best stalk; and if this kind of season is 

 followed by hot, moderately dry weather until late 

 in the season, a maximum crop will be produced. 



The division of the stigma indicates the number of 

 cells the boll will have at maturity. Five cells are 

 generally preferred, not only on account of conven- 

 ience in picking the mature crop, but because the best 

 returns are generally secured. The mature seed with 

 the adhering lint in one cell of the boll is called a 

 " lock." A lock generally contains six to eight seeds. 

 The mature bolls burst open through the middle of 

 the cells, and the locks are exposed. When the divi- 

 sions of the boll separate widely the cotton is most 

 easily picked, but is liable to be blown to the ground 



