COTTON 



203 



often occurs, the breeding of cotton is more difficult. 

 Because of the fact that the cotton stalks are a 

 burden to the soil, exhausting its moisture and plant- 

 food, and a bother to the farmer when it becomes neces- 

 sary to get the land in 

 condition for the suc- 

 ceeding crop, it is desir- 

 able to produce the 

 maximum number o f 

 bolls per acre on the 

 least possible amount of 

 stalk. Some types of 

 cotton have the fruit 

 branches set close to- 

 gether and the bolls 

 close to each other on 

 the branch. Fig. 103 

 shows cotton of this 

 kind and represents a 

 very desirable type. 

 There are four primary 

 limbs set close to the 

 ground and the inter- 

 nodes are short. It has been determined 1 that cotton 

 of this type will blossom earlier than cotton in which the 

 internodes are long. Early blossoming, with consequent 

 ear'y fruiting, is especially desirable in localities where the 

 boll weevil attacks the cotton. A late-maturing undesir- 

 able type is shown in Fig. 104. The size of the bolls is an 

 important factor in determining the yield of cotton. In 



iTexas Experiment Station Bulletin No. 74. 



Fio. 104. A late, slow fruiting, unproduc- 

 tive type of cotton plant, with high fruit 

 limbs and long joints. Leaves removed. 

 (After Bennett.) 



