Department of Agriculture 29 



maining months, viz., November, December, January, Febru- 

 ary, March, April and May, the northern group received 10.40 

 inches more rainfall than the southern group. 



Obviously, when the boll weevil becomes established in the 

 southern part of the Florida Sea Island Belt, it will be just 

 as necessary to secure early maturity of the crop as it is in 

 the northern part of the Belt, if not more so, as the summer 

 rainfall is more intense there. The solution, of course, is early 

 planting, in conjunction with other cultural practices which 

 promote early maturity of the crop. 



CULTURAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GROWING 

 SEA ISLAND COTTON 



In addition to controlling the weevil by the use of poison 

 there are other practices which aid in reducing weevil dam- 

 age and must be put in use by Florida growers. Sea Island 

 cotton cannot be grown successfully unless the grower under- 

 stands from the beginning that he is producing the world's 

 finest staple and as such must give it extra care and atten- 

 tion. If proper cultural practices are not followed, in addi- 

 tion to the poisoning program, disappointment is almost sure 

 to result. 



Seed Strains 



The origin and history of Sea Island cotton is interesting, 

 as showing how the cultivation of choice crops in suitable 

 areas may yield rich returns. Concerning the distribution of 

 Sea Island cotton we quote Dr. Walter H. Evans as follows :. 



"Long fibered Sea Island cotton is indigenous to the Lesser 

 Antilles, and probably to San Salvador, the Bahamas, Bar- 

 bados, Guadaloupe, and other islands between 12 and 26 

 degrees north latitude. By cultivation it has been extended 

 throughout the West Indies, the maritime coast of the South- 

 ern States, Central America, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, etc., 

 southern Spain, Algieria, the islands and coast of western 

 tropical Africa, Egypt, Island of Bourbon, East Indies, 

 Queensland, New South Wales, etc. It may be cultivated 

 in any region adapted to the olive and near the sea, the 

 principal requisite being a hot and humid atmosphere is not 

 entirely necessary if irrigation be employed, as this species 

 is undoubtedly grown extensively in Egypt." 



