28 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
more in detail upon it. I simply wish to point out some of the important phases of 
the subject as viewed from the standpoint of the plant culturist. 
3. Work having for its object the production of new, early, and improved varieties of 
cotton and the general improvement of the seed. —The value of early maturing cottons has 
been already pretty thoroughly demonstrated by Mr. Hunter in his work in Texas. 
The King cotton and the Parker cotton have proved exceedingly valuable, chiefly on 
account of their earliness. There is much left yet to do, however, in the matter of 
securing more vigorous, more productive, and better storm-resisting types. This is 
a work which involves the question of breeding and selection, in order to secure and 
fix the types desired. It is well understood that cotton seed brought from the north 
is earlier, but that this earliness begins to disappear after the first season. The work 
would involve careful selection and breeding, carried on over a_ considerable 
extent of territory, in order to get the best results. In other words, the entire 
object of this work would be to secure varieties of early and more prolific cottons 
than those now in existence, better able to resist storms, and adapted to the climatic 
conditions to which they would be subjected. Plants of open foliage are less subject 
to injury than ordinary ones and standard early sorts having the habit of open 
foliage should be produced. Varieties of all sorts should be tested as to their possi- 
bility of resistance and used in breeding where desirable. 
One of the most important lines of work in this connection would be the inaugura- 
vion of thoroughly systematic work in the matter of selection of high-grade seed. The 
average yield of cotton in the United States is only about 190 pounds of lint per acre, 
while on many large tracts it is not uncommon to secure a yield of from 500 to 800 
pounds peracre. Unquestionably a great deal of the deterioration in cotton production 
is due to the fact that little attention has been paid to a systematic selection of stock 
seed. Probably the two factors which to-day have more to do with the present con- 
dition of cotton production in the South are the improvement of the stock seed and 
an improvement in tillage and fertilization of the soil. It is believed that with 
proper attention to these two lines of work the cotton crop could be doubled on the 
same acreage as now grown. To conduct this work properly, to inaugurate lines of 
investigation which would demonstrate the value and point out the methods for 
improving stock seed, carrying on the breeding work, etc., would require an annual 
expenditure of $25,000. 
4. Studies of cotton diseases.—It is pointed out in the Secretary’s report that, while 
the boll weevil is mainly in the public eye at the present time, the fact remains that 
there are serious pests of cotton which cause great losses annually. One of the most 
serious of these diseases is the so-called root rot, which occurs over a large extent of 
territory in the South and is particularly destructive in Texas. It is not uncommon 
to find, throughout the entire cotton-growing area of Texas, farmers who have lost 
from one-eighth to one-half of their crop through this trouble. There are other dis- 
eases, such as cotton wilt, anthracnose, root knot, almost equally destructive. These 
diseases should be thoroughly investigated and efforts made to remedy them, either 
through the direct application of remedial measures or through the securing of resist- 
ant types by breeding and selection. Already very promising results have been 
obtained in this field in other sections of the country, especially in the Sea Island 
region, where the crop bas been brought back to its original standard by securing 
resistant types. It is estimated that $20,000 would be required for this general work 
on cotton diseases. 
5. Cotton insects.—These will be spoken of by Doctor Howard. 
6. Introduction of new crops.—Throughout the entire South the urgent necessity for 
the introduction of other crops which will take the place of cotton is recognized. 
Cotton will, of necessity, have to be grown, but the time is at hand when an urgent 
effort should be made in the matter of the rotation and diversification of crops. In 
many sections the yield of cotton is now barely at the margin of profit, so that when 
the reduction due to the boll weevil and other pests is taken into account it will be 
necessary to abandon cotton growing altogether and secure something in its place 
which will give immediate returns. These new crops will be alfalfa for hay purposes 
sorghum and Kaffir corn for silage, and fodder crops for hay; rape asa winter-soiling 
crop, and crimson clover, hairy vetch, bur clover, winter barley, ete., for winter pas- 
tures and green manures. Tobacco, furthermore, is a promising crop for certain sec- 
tions of the South, as has been demonstrated by the work in connection with the soil 
surveys. For the securing of seed, the necessity for the demonstration work, the 
establishment of suitable demonstration farms, and the general propaganda work in 
this direction, it is estimated that $50,000 could be expended annually. More could 
be spent if the area to be covered were extended. This work would also cover demon- 
strations in the matter of crop rotations, and, in short, would have for its object the 
bringing about of such changes in agricultural practices as would make the Southern 
farmer more independent than he is at present. 
