8 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
3. Work having for its object the production of new, early, and improved varieties of 
cotton.—The value of early varieties has been demonstrated, but most of them have 
serious drawbacks in that they are poor yielders and the lint drops out easily during 
storms. These matters may be corrected by proper breeding and selection, and one 
of the important problems would have for its object the taking up of this work on a 
systematic scale, to the end of securing sorts which would not only be early, but 
would be storm proof and resistant. 
4, Studies of cotton diseases.—While the boll weevil is mainly in the public eye at 
present, the fact remains that other serious pests of cotton cause great losses annually. 
It is natural to attribute all losses at the present time to the insect in question, 
whether these losses be from other insects, diseases, floods, droughts, or whatever 
source. Reliable studies indicate that the loss in Texas alone from the so-called 
root-rot disease will, in all probability, aggregate several millions of dollars annually. 
This and other diseases should be thoroughly studied, and corrective measures 
should be adopted. 
5. Cotton insects.— What is said of cotton diseases is also true of cotton insects 
(especially of the boll worm) other than the boll weevil. These should all receive 
careful attention, and practical experiments should be carried on with a view to 
lessening the injury caused by them. 
6. Introduction of new crops.—The urgent necessity for the introduction of other crops 
which will take the place of cotton can not be too strongly emphasized. Cotton, of 
course, should be grown, but the time is evidently at hand when a concerted effort 
should be made to bring about a change in southern agricultural conditions in the 
direction of greater diversification. Thisis recognized now as a vital question in the 
South. In many sections already the yield of cotton is barely profitable, 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; while the decreased yield in 
the best districts of the cotton-growing sections renders it more important that other 
crops should be grown. Such crops as alfalfa, sorghum, Kafir corn, and cereals of 
various sorts should all receive attention, not only for silage, pastures, and winter for- 
age generally, but for green manures as well. 
7. Studies and experiments in connection with methods for the destruction and control oj 
the boll weevil and other cotton insects.—It would seem highly important that the Govy- 
ernment should take cognizance of the many devices which are being placed on the 
market for combating the weevil and other insects. This is necessary as much for 
positive as negative results. Hundreds of devices and nostrums are offered to the 
ublic, and people are led tu spend money for them. The Government should be 
in position to determine, once for all, the value or nonvalue of such devices, and thus 
be able to definitely and positively advise on all matters of this kind. Aside from 
this, the Government should take the matter of mechanical devices under thorough 
consideration, and should encourage, by the utilization of mechanical experts, the 
construction and use of everything which gives promise of practical value. 
8. Studies of enemies of the insect.—While the studies of the enemies of the insect 
have had, so far, no practical result, there is no doubt that this work should be con- 
tinued, and everything in the nature of enemies, whether they be predaceous or 
parasitic insects, birds, fungus parasites, or others, should receive careful attention. 
9. Securing and distributing seed of cotton known to have special value for earliness and 
ability to resist the weevil.—Systematic action should be taken in the matter of securing 
from every source available seed of promising varieties and thoroughly testing them 
in the weevil-infested district. In addition to this there should be a systematic 
endeavor to bring together desirable varieties from all available sources for advance 
trials in the sections where the insect is likely soon to make an invasion. 
10. General propaganda.—Under this head there should be organized a competent 
corps of efficient workers, who could, with the cooperation of the agricultural col- 
leges, farmers’ institutes, State boards of agriculture, and all such organized bodies 
bring to the attention of planters everywhere the latest results as to methods of meet 
ing the present emergency. . 
To carry out the foregoing work effectually it is believed that the best results will 
be secured by a separate organization. It will be seen that the two branches of the 
Department primarily interested in this matter are the Bureau of Plant Industry and 
the Division of Entomology, and their officers and men would be in a position to 
effect the proper Greanizebion and to direct the main features of the work. I would 
therefore, respectfully recommend that if the amount already mentioned be set aside 
as a cotton investigation fund the Secretary of Agriculture be authorized to take such 
steps in the perfecting of a Se a organization for handling the work as in his judg- 
ment may be best. Owing to the very nature of the investigations and the fact that 
they will involve most thorough and far-reaching scientific work, the management 
of the general plans must necessarily rest with the Department. It is believed that 
