14 BULLETIN 1030, U. S, DEPAETME^-T OF AGRICULTURE. 



Under the auspices of the division of agronomy of the Georgia 

 State College ^ a farmers' meeting was held in Worth County on a 

 farm whicli had been devoted to the growing of Meade cotton for 

 three successive years. September 9, 1920, was extensively adver- 

 tised as " Meade Day," and all farmers and others interested in 

 Meade cotton were invited to help inspect the variety growing in 

 the fields and see a demonstration of the value of selection to main- 

 tain uniformity and also a demonstration of the proper methods of 

 ginning and baling the crop, (PI. VIII.) Farmers from all over 

 the State attended, as well as officials of the Georgia State College, 

 the Georgia Breeders' Association, county agents, and representa- 

 tives of the United States Department of Agriculture. 



PRODUCTION OF MEADE COTTON IN 1920. 



It has been difficult to obtain accurate data on the total produc- 

 tion of Meade cotton for the 1920 season. It is reasonably certain, 

 however, that fully 2,000 bales of this variety were produced, some 

 of which probably has been marketed as Sea Island cotton and is in- 

 cluded in the less than 2,000 bales so far reported for that crop. 



With very few exceptions the several crops of Meade cotton grown 

 by cooperators have been placed on the market and sold on their 

 own merits as Meade, but a large percentage of the bales produced 

 by other farmers have been offered as Sea Island and have been 

 accepted on the market as such without question. Since the merits of 

 the Meade variety have now been established, however, there appears 

 to be no reason why the cotton should not be marked with its own 

 name. 



The United States Department of Agriculture received many re- 

 quests during the winter and early spring of 1921 for information 

 and for seed of the Meade variety. It is significant that all of the 

 old Meade growers are planting this variety again and increasing 

 their acreage, while a number of new cooperators are growing Meade 

 cotton on a large scale. Among these are several growers who have 

 been for years producing the finest grades of Sea Island cotton. 

 These men know how to maintain the purity and uniformity of a 

 superior cotton and should be able to develop the Meade variety to 

 the same high standard that they reached with the Sea Island. 



In order to encourage the community production of Meade cotton 

 the Georgia State authorities selected 10 localities scattered through- 

 out the State in which special efforts would be made to persuade the 

 farmers to grow only Meade cotton in 1921. 



"This division has the following staff: J. R. Fain, professor of agronomy; R. R. 

 Cliilds, in charge of cotton industry ; and F. C. Ward, cotton specialist, assisted by E. C. 

 Westbrook. 



