8 BULLETIN" 294, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
uniform, point of dryness; after which, the lint should be removed 
from the seed by hand, then each carefully weighed and the per- 
centages calculated. 
4. Quality of Lixt. 
Quality of lint is assigned a possible rating of 21 points on the 
score card. These are divided as follows: Strength, 5 points; 
length, 5 points; fineness, 5 points; purity, 1 point; uniformity 
as to length, fineness, purity, and freedom from faulty fibers, 5 
points. Of course, these scores are only intended to offer means or 
standards by which the different exhibits may be compared. There- 
fore, when there are points about which there seems to be uncer- 
tainty the most perfect sample can well be given the highest score 
obtainable for that point. Then the others should be rated as they 
approach the standard fixed by this better sample. Thus, for the 
longest lint give five points and the same for the finest; also, that 
showing the greatest degree of purity and also for the greater uni- 
formity. Then, as other samples fall short in any one of all these 
respects cut accordingly. 
Exercises. — Combing and mounting (fig. 4) samples of seeds from 
bolls of different varieties will be instructive to pupils. 
References. — Bureau of Plant Industry Bui. 222 ; Farmers' Bui. 591 ; 
cotton score card published by the State agricultural college; State 
cotton growers' association, if there is one. 
LESSON IV. 
Subject. — Selecting seed. 
Topics for study. — Qualities desired in the plant. Four defects of 
boll to be looked for in selecting seed for planting. In how many 
directions does the cotton selected for judging purposes need im- 
provement? Discuss how these improvements may be brought 
about. What constitutes good seed for planting ? "Where to obtain 
the best possible seed. How to gather seed for planting. Methods 
of separating large and small or heavy and light seed. Growing 
improved varieties, advantages, money value. 
Exercises. — Let the pupils pick the cotton from 100 plants of 
poorest or least productive ones and weigh. From this weight 
determine how many plants of this type would be required to give 
a yield of 1,500 pounds of seed cotton or one bale of 500 pounds of 
lint. Then have the pupils pick the cotton from 100 of the best 
plants found in some cotton patch. Determine the number of bolls 
they contain, the average number per plant, the number required 
to give 500 pounds of lint, the number of plants required to produce 
this yield. 
