CHAPTER XI. 
BREEDING UP THE COTTON PLANT 
The average yield of cotton in the United States 
is about 190 pounds of lint to the acre. At ten 
cents per pound the gross income from a cotton 
crop then, is only $19.00 per acre plus the value 
of seed. This is certainly none too much when you 
consider the cost of necessary fertilizing materials 
and the labor involved in all operations from 
planting to marketing. Now to increase the gross 
income, but two ways are open to us: either (1) 
increase the market price for raw cotton or (2) 
increase the number of pounds of lint and seed per 
acre. 
The latter seems to be most reasonable from an 
economic standpoint. Ten cent cotton, under 
good labor and crop conditions, is an equitable 
3rice to both producer and consumer. A price 
ess than ten cents is unwise because it means 
lard living for growers and laborers. 
HOW IMPROVEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT ABOUT 
The problem before us then is to increase the 
production of cotton per acre. How shall this be 
done ? 
The following five reforms will help : 
(1) Improve the soil. 
(2) Get a variety suitable to your environments. 
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