12 BULLETIN 146, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



but it would not be advisable to increase the production of these 

 extra staples under the present conditions. If all the farmers of any 

 island would organize for the purpose of growing one variety on a 

 cooperative community basis 1 and then keep their planting seed 

 pure and the variety true to type, they would produce a product 

 much better suited to the needs of a mill. Manufacturers could then 

 rely on a supply of uniform quality and length and in sufficient 

 quantities to make it worth while to turn their attention to it. To 

 make such a scheme feasible it is necessary that the farmer having 

 the most desirable cotton sell his seed to his neighbors until everyone 

 is supplied. 



Perhaps the most desirable length for Carolina growers to select is 

 about If inches, as such a length would remove the islands from 

 direct competition with If-inch Georgias and Floridas. However, 

 no exact information along this line has been obtainable, as the Caro- 

 lina Sea Island is practically all exported, and this investigation has 

 not extended to foreign mills and their requirements in cotton. 



PROSPECTS AND ALTERNATIVE CROPS. 



There are still good varieties of planting seed among the islands, 

 there are expert cotton breeders, there are good judges of the length 

 and fineness of lint, and there are many good farmers who, after a 

 selection has been made, can grow successfully the selected variety. 

 It seems that a trial along the line of uniform quality is worth while 

 and is practically the only remedy that has suggested itself during 

 the study of the Sea Island situation which holds out a hope for a 

 successful continuation of production for this important crop. 



In this connection, it is well to bear in mind that no new informa- 

 tion has been gained by this investigation as to the probable price at 

 which Sea Island will sell in the future. During August, 1913, the 

 demand was dull and prices were at or under the cost of production. 

 Styles must change or business revive before any great advance in 

 price can reasonably be expected. And in the meantime the Sea 

 Island farmers must live. They have " a heritage from their fathers 

 which they are loath to relinquish, 7 '" but it seems the part of expe- 

 diency that they plant a large portion of their farms in food crops, 

 set aside pasture lands, and pay more attention to beef cattle, hogs, 

 and dairying. Truck farming, if proper shipping facilities can be 

 arranged, would doubtless pay well. And while these other lines of 

 agriculture are being tried out, a small amount of good land should 

 be planted in an approved variety of Sea Island in order to keep 

 pure seed for another crop in case the price again reaches a level 



Cook, O. F. Cotton Improvement on a Community Basis, Yearbook, U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture, 1911. Brand, C. J. Improved Methods of Handling and Marketing Cotton, Yearbook, U. S. Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, 1912. 



