304 



SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



is the possibility of bringing the average much nearer to 



the standard of the best plants. 



It is highly desirable that any pure variety of cotton 



should possess 

 the maximum de- 

 gree of uniform- 

 ity among the in- 

 dividual plants. 

 This uniformity 

 is much more 

 quickly and com- 

 pletely secured 

 by beginning 

 with a variety 

 already consid- 

 ered as pure. 

 Hence any per- 

 son desiring to 

 improve cotton 

 should first of all 

 become familiar 

 with the best 

 varieties, and 

 among these he 

 should choose 

 for improvement 

 that one which 

 possesses the 

 greatest number 



of qualities desired and on which the fewest new qualities 



need to be engrafted. 



FIG. 143. AN UNPRODUCTIVE COTTON PLANT. 



