20 BULLETIN 1056, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
produced, special methods employed in preparing it for planting pur- 
poses and for market, and the percentage that may be expected to 
grow, would indicate more clearly its actual commercial and agricul- 
tural value. The farmer, the ultimate purchaser and consumer, 
being already familiar with the possible results to be obtained from 
planting a particular variety of cotton, should be more interested in 
knowing whether the lot of seed purchased is pure, unmixed, well 
ginned and delinted, recleaned and graded, and of high viability. 
Cottonseed with each individual seed a potential plant, not descrip- 
tive variety information, is the commodity to be sold or to be 
purchased. 
TRUE NAMES FOR VARIETIES 
The number of variety names used by growers and dealers in sell- 
ing planting cottonseed during comparatively recent years runs into 
hundreds. A number of these names, however, are merely trade 
names and do not represent a distinct variety. The diversity of 
designations for the same variety is still further increased by apply- 
ing various descriptive terms. For example, the King variety is 
found to be listed in 12 forms, as follows : 
King. Re-Improved King. King's Improved Extra 
King's Early. ' King's Extra Early. Early. 
King's Improved. King's Early Improved. King's Extra Early Big 
Early King. Re-Improved Early King. Boll. 
Improved King. Faultless Bred King. 
The names of many other varieties are altered in much the same 
manner. A farmer in the market for cottonseed would have dif- 
ficulty in determining from such an array of titles when he was 
getting the best value or the highest grade of seed of the desired 
variety. To apply complex adjectives to the true variety name not 
only confuses but in some cases may mislead the buyer. Sometimes 
dealers use only such descriptive phrases as " Big Boll Early " 
or " Early Prolific " without tying them up to the variety name or 
indicating in any way what variety is represented. Such practices 
should be discontinued. 
RENAMING VARIETIES 
The practice of renaming varieties of cotton has been greatly 
abused. To grow or purchase cottonseed of a well-known or com- 
mon variety or of mixed varieties and sell it under an unknown 
name with glowing descriptions, implying that results hitherto not 
attained may be expected, is a policy to be condemned. Practices of 
this kind serve only to bring the planting cottonseed business into 
disrepute and tend to discredit the honest efforts of conscientious seed 
breeders and dealers. The latter should be encouraged, because the 
development and distribution of new varieties and improved strains 
maintain or raise the standard of cotton production to a great extent. 
When seed of a new variety of cotton is offered to the public its 
origin, method of developing, tests made and results obtained, its 
soil, climatic, and regional adaptations, and the reputation of the 
originator are factors which should be considered in passing judg- 
ment on its true value. The seller should see that these facts are 
stated fully and accurately and made available to the buyer. 
