Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
RS oe 
Washington, D. C. Vv August 24, 1915. 
SINGLE-STALK COTTON CULTURE AT SAN ANTONIO. 
By Rowtanp M. Meape, Scientific Assistant, Office of Crop Acclimatization. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. | Page. 
BHPRGUEMOIN GE a et ent enn ree aes iar Wermper ae POS SOU. .<!-. Sa EE 11 
Cotton production in the San Antonio region. 2 | Numbers of locks in the bolls. .............-- 12 
LED TT N17 a a gee eran See es ee 3 | STUCCO] 04 1S ae ge ee eae, Ses sp ce NS 13 
Planting and germination of seed.....-...--- ATS OLMSIOPLO WS. 2. -t es 4. Soe ee eee 13 
Chopping wide-spaced rows...-....--.------- 5 | Yields from sections A and B-....-...-...-.- 14 
Thinning single-stalk rows..........-.------- 5 | Quality and quantity of fiber................ 18 
POSH LIS OM GHOLeSL Ss Saetee oe e et wea set ees 5 | Results in time-of-thinning test.............- 18 
Development of vegetative branches...._.- “4 6 | Results in distance-between-row test .....-.. 19 
MIGWERNE TECOLOS. 2-2 (PS 2e eect oes cep eho Te eI ALY oe ee eo ae coe See a gee eis ee 19 
INTRODUCTION. 
Single-stalk cotton culture, as explained and discussed in previous 
publications of the Bureau of Plant Industry,' has proved more sat- 
isfactory than other systems of culture in various sections of the cot- 
ton belt, especially in regions having short seasons. ‘This is so for 
two reasons: (1) Single-stalk culture promotes earliness and (2) it 
increases the acre yield. The single-stalk system of cotton culture 
embraces late thmning and short spaces between the plants in the 
row. The late thinning suppresses the vegetative branches and re- 
stricts the size of the plants, so that they can be left from 6 to 12 
inches apart in the row without injurious crowding. The plants are 
left close together, so that the row space is more efficiently utilized 
and higher yields are obtained than by the common system of wide 
spacing. 
1 The publications of the Bureau of Plant Industry concerning the single-stalk system of cotton culture 
are as follows: ‘“A New System of Cotton Culture,’ a paper in Circular 115; Farmers’ Bulletin 601, “A 
New System of Cotton Culture and Its Application’; and Document 1130, “‘Single-Stalk Cotton Culture.’’ 
Farmers’ Bulletin 601 and the paper in Circular 115 explain the single-stalk system and give the results of 
experiments at Norfolk, Va., and in South Carolina. Document 1130 is an illustrated circular that shows 
how the vegetative branches are controlled and why larger yields are possible. 
Note.—This bulletin will be of service generally in acquainting those who are interested in cotton 
growing with the several advantages to be gained through the application of single-stalk culture as com- 
pared with the more common methods. It will be particularly helpful to farmers and experimenters in 
locations similar to the San Antonio region. 
98553°—Bull. 279—15——1 
