62 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



a field sufficiently large to furnish select seed for the gen- 

 eral crop. This is known as the multiplication plot. This 

 multiplication plot should be planted each year from the 

 second-choice seed of the preceding test-plot, the first- 

 choice seed being used each time, of course, to plant the 

 test-plot of the next year. 



71. Influence of environment. It must be remem- 

 bered that such environmental factors as soil and seasonal 

 conditions will greatly modify the character of a cotton 

 plant. For this reason it is especially important that the 

 breeding work be conducted under as nearly as possible 

 the same conditions of soil and climate as prevail where 

 the general crop is to be grown. It has long been known 

 that river bottom soils produce somewhat longer jointed 

 plants than do upland soils of a droughty character. Also 

 transferring cotton from the northern part of the cotton- 

 belt where the growing season is short to more southern 

 sections will, to an extent, produce the same effect. Cot- 

 ton that has been highly improved under the conditions 

 existing in one locality, may show very little of the 

 improvement when grown under conditions decidedly 

 different. 



THE USE OF HYBRIDIZATION IN COTTON BREEDING 



Much difference of opinion exists among experts as 

 to the value of hybridization in the improvement of cot- 

 ton. However, there is little doubt that this field offers 

 great possibilities to the trained breeder of plants. Re- 

 sults of value can be obtained only when this phase of 

 cotton improvement is made the subject of extended 

 study and where good judgment is used in the selection 

 of the individuals, varieties, or species that are to be 

 crossed. 



