CICULAR o. 47 FBUR,12
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
OF THE
Alabama Polytechnic Institute
AUBURN
DAN T. GRAY, Director
Results of Cotton
Variety Tests
By
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
CIRCULAR No. 47 FEBRUARY, 1923
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following summary and recommendations are
based on a careful study of the results of the cotton
variety tests reported herein, and also on earlier tests
conducted by this Station.
1. In north Alabama early or medium early varie-
ties lead. The results recorded in Tables 1 and 2 in-
dicate that the best varieties for north Alabama are
Cook 1010, King, Trice, Bottoms, and Acala. Cook
1010, a product of the Alabama Experiment Station,
has given splendid results, but unfortunately the sup-
ply of seed is very limited. Long staple varieties are
not generally recommended.
2. For central Alabama, on wilt-free land, Cook
1010, Cook 588, Cleveland-Piedmont, Cleveland-Wan-
namaker, College No. 1, Toole strains, and Acala are
recommended. Acala is the only one of these varieties
that will produce an inch, or better than an inch,
staple. Lone Star has given fairly good results, but is
a little too late for general use. Results of variety
tests are shown in Tables 3, 4, and 5, pages 5 and 6.
3. In south Alabama, on wilt-free land, Cook 1010,
Cook 588, Cleveland-Piedmont, College No. 1, Toole
and Acala are recommended. (See Tables 6 and 7,
page 7.)
4. For central and south Alabama, on land infected
with wilt, only wilt-resistant varieties should be plant-
ed. A summary of all tests of the resistant varieties
shows that Cook 307-6, a wilt-resistant strain devel-
oped by the Alabama Experiment Station, is the lead-
ing variety. Resistant strains of Toole, Dixie-Triumph,
and Dixie-Cook are also good varieties for wilt-in-
fected land. Yields obtained in variety tests are shown
in Tables 8 and 9, pages 8 and 9.
RESULTS OF COTTON VARIETY TESTS
By
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
The purpose of this circular is to present briefly
the hitherto unpublished results of cotton variety tests
conducted by the Department of Agronomy of the Ala-
bama Experiment Station. In an effort to determine
the best variety for the several sections of the State
tests have been conducted in north, central, and south
Alabama in addition to those made on the Experiment
Station at Auburn.
RESULTS IN NORTH ALABAMA
In Table 1 the average results of four tests made in
north Alabama between 1914 and 1920 are recorded.
The specific dates of these tests are not known be-
cause the original records were destroyed by fire. The
average results of more recent tests are recorded in
Table 2. A careful study of the tables shows clearly
that for north Alabama early or medium early varie-
ties are best. Those interested in Acala and Cleveland-
Piedmont varieties can find their relative standing by
studying the results for 1922 in Table 2. King, Simp-
kins, Trice, Bottoms, and Cook 1010 are apparently
better suited to north Alabama conditions than are the
later maturing varieties.
TABLE 1.-COTTON VARIETY TESTS, NORTH ALABAMA
Average yields of four crops, between 1914 and 1920
Variety Pounds of seed cotton
per acre
Trice _------------------------889
King ------------------------ 793
Simpkins- ------------ 781
Half and Half ---------------- 763
Cleveland-Wannamaker ...-------- 760
Sunbeam --------------------- 748
Dixie ------------------------ 720
Triumph --------------------. 683
Webber 49- _- ---- 653
In the tests recorded in Table 1, Cook 1010 and
Bottoms were not used, because these varieties have
been available for tests only in recent years. Since
these two varieties were added they have out-yielded
either King or Trice, which varieties were 
formerly-
leaders in production.
The following table shows the 
results of the recent
variety tests innorth Alabama.
TABLE 2.-COTTON VARIETY TESTS, CHEROKEE 
CO., 1920-1922
Variety
ield lint rac
Cl
J J Ls. Lb. Ls
a>a
Cook 1010________ 44.9 7/8 32. 3 5
Bottoms________ 35.8 1.0 28 29 32
King ___________________1 3'x.9 3/4 28 28 9
Trice _________________ 35.9 3/
Culpepper ______________J -37.5 7/8 22 29 8
Express 432 ____________ 35.5 220 22 27
Cleveland-Wannamaker 39.2 7/8 266
Simpkins __________ 37.8 7/8 272 2
Cook 307-------- 39.0 7/8 32 3235
Lone Star ____________ 39.8 1.0 2 2 2
Toole-Wilkinson --------- 1 39.0 3/4 273 251 292
Webber 49 ________-_____I 37.5 11/8 262 2 2
Cook 588 Er --. 4---- . 22 2
ColeeaNd-Wanna1 k r 139.2 7/8 266 27 9
Dixpine-Triumph-----------37.8 7/8 22 272 27
Mck 307-6-------------39.0 1.7/8 2285 279 25
Alear------------___----39.8 11. 231 25_ 24
Toleln-Wieinont-------- 
37901 3/4 
2432 24- 
23
Ebbrer4----------I 3.1 11/8 ;232 2501
Cookb58-elta----------4.4 3 1/4 2904 9
Diie2-Tiumph----------138.2 71/84 213 263
Clev etlnd-Piedmonly7. * 78 24
RESULTS IN CENTRAL ALABAMA
In Tables 3 and 4 are recorded the average of a num-
ber of tests made at Auburn between 1916 and 1922.
Only a few varieties were used continuously. in these-
tests, but of those appearing throughout Cook strains,
Cleveland, and Toole are the leaders. An exhaustive
analysis of all the variety tests made during the past
ten or twelve years shows that these three varieties
were usually among the leaders.
'TABLE 3.-RESULTS OF COTTON VARIETY TESTS AT AUBURN
1916-1918, 1921-1922
Variety Pounds lint cotton per acre
Five year average
Cook-Best strain------------381
Cleveland-Wannamaker--------366
Toole---------------------327
Lone Star------------------289
Express-------------------273
Webber 49-----------------247*
Trice --------------------- 246
* Four year average.
Reference to the recent tests recorded in Table 4
shows that these same varieties, together with College
No. 1 and Cleveland-Piedmont, continue to lead in the
variety tests at Auburn. The relative yields of such
varieties as Cook 1010, Acala, and Dixie-Triumph may
be found by an examination of the results for 1922, in
Table 4.
TABLE 4.-RESULTS OF COTTON VARIETY TESTS AT AUBURN
1921 and 1922
Lbs. lint cot-
ton per acre
Variety
Cook 307-6 -------------- 40.5 342-349 345 7/8
Cleveland-Piedmont ------ 38.2 326 343 334 7/8
'Cleveland-Wannamaker --139.4 290 360 325 7/8
College No. 1 ----------- 39.0 319 324 321 3/4
Bottoms---------------__38.4 311 301 306 7/8
Toole-Wilkinson--------- 37.8 265 1 346 305 7/8
Culpepper -------------- 36.3 283, 318 300 7/8
King-------------__--- 38.2 275 324 299 7/8
Simpkins---------------_36.0 273 318 295 3/4
Lone Star--------------_39.2J 273 296 284 1.0
Express 432------- 34.7 258 267 262 11/16
Trice ---------- 35.4 233 282 258 7/8
Cook 1010--------------- 43.4 334 --- __ 3/4
Dixie-Triumph -_-----I 37.9 334 7/8
Acala No. 5----__ _-- 39.7 311 __ 1.0
~Mexican Big Boll-------- 36.6 292 _-_1 1/16
Cook 588-------------- 36.1I 275 __,7/8
Trice 270-41------------ 34.4 256 __1 1/16
Webber-Delta Type - 32.5 223 -- 11/4
Express 350----------- 1 30.9 220 __ 11/8
'Webber 49------------T_ 31.8 210 13/16
6
Between 1914 and 1920 a number of cotton variety
tests were conducted at central Alabama points other
than Auburn. Specific dates and results of the 
indiv-
idual tests were destroyed by fire but the averages
were recovered from students. These figures are re-
corded in Table 5.
TABLE 5.-COTTON VARIETY TESTS, CENTRAL 
ALABAMA
Average yield of four crops between 1914 and 
1920
Variety Pounds of seed cotton
per acre
Cook-Best strain------------720
Culpepper------------------700
Half and Half--------------699
Express-----------------------688
Triumph----------------------655
Trice-------------------------626
Unknown---------------------623
King--------------------------619
Dixie --------------------- 615
Toole---------------------609
Simpkins------------------582
Considered as a whole, these tests show that the list
of leading varieties for central Alabama does not in-
clude, a single very early variety. The average yields
show that it is safest to plant such medium early va-
rieties as Cook strains, Cleveland strains, College No.
1, or Toole strains, rather than very early kinds like
King, Simpkins, or Trice. Where a variety with an
inch to an inch and a sixteenth staple is wanted, Acala
and Lone Star are the best varieties. All of the really-
long staple varieties like Express and Webber are
rather low producers of lint cotton.
RESULTS IN SOUTH ALABAMA
Prior to 1920 three cotton variety tests were con--
ducted in south Alabama, near Atmore. Only the av-
erages for these tests are available for publication be--
cause the original records were destroyed by firea_
These figures are recorded in, Table 6.
TABLE 6.-RESULTS OF COTTON VARIETY TESTS 
IN SOUTH
ALABAMA, FROM 1914 TO 
1920
Variety Three year average yield
Pounds seed cotton per acre
Cook-Best strain-------------435
Toole------------------------412
Cleveland-Wannamaker--------408
Half and Half----------------398
Trice------------------------364
Dixie------------------------362
Express----------------------361
Unknown---------------------356
Sunbeam-----------------------342
Triumph----------------------342
Simpkins- ____---_______-----284
King--------------------------272
In 1922 a satisfactory test was 
conducted in Butler
County, the results of which are recorded 
in Table 7.
TABLE 7.-COTTON VARIETY TEST, BUTLER Co., 1922
Variety
U I
Acala No. 5--___----____ _----40.71 11/8 501
King--------------------------38.17 7/8 481
Cook 1010 ______________- 42.42 7/8 471
College No. 1 _____________37.05 7/8 469
Cook 588 ------- --- 38.70 1.0 464
Webber-Delta Type---------- 34.48 1 1/4 445
Bottoms----------------------36.89 1.0 443
Toole-Wilkinson------------38.22 1.0 443
Simpkins------------------- 35.90 7/8 441
Dixie-Triumph-------------- 35.341 1.0 435
Cleveland-Piedmont___-_ 38.25 7,/8 424
Trice------------------------ 34.18 1 1/16 410
Trice No. 270-41------------- 33.20 1 1/8 408
Culpepper-------------------36.39 7/8 404
Webber 49_----------34.42 1 1/4 392
Mexican Big Boll ---- _------35.48 1 1/16 383
Cleveland-Wannamaker 39.10 1.0 1 375
Express 432------------------34.68 1 3/16 374
Express 350----------------- 30.17 1 3/16 317
Lone Star -________ 36.48 1 3/16 317
Tables 6 and 7 indicate that medium early varieties
like Cook 1010, Cook 588, Acala, College No. 1, and
Toole are satisfactory for this section. No very early
varieties are among the leaders, except King in the 1922
test. Long staple varieties made a very poor showing
in the Butler County test.
WILT RESISTANT VARIETY TESTS
The presence of cotton wilt (blight or black root)
in many fields of south Alabama 
makes cotton grow-
ing hazardous unless a wilt resistant variety 
is used.
During recent years a number of wilt resistant 
varie-
ties have been developed, and the relative yields 
of a
few of the best of them are shown in Tables 8 and 9.
TABLE 8. RESULTS OF WILT RESISTANT VARIETY TESTS, 1922
Pounds of lint cotton
per acre at
Variety =
Cook 307-6 296 306 249 284
Toole-Petty 294 280 232 269
Dixie-Cook _ 303 261 225 263
Toole-Wilkinson 295 264 218 259
Toole-Council 257 282 230 
256
Lewis 63 - 2 243 261 233 
246
Tri-Cook -292 207 233 
244
Dixie-Triumph 296 188 224 236
Cook 588 274 323 100 232
Toole-Covington _ _ 243 227 207 
226
Wood- ----- 236 180 233 
216
Dixie 240 221 171 211
Desoto 266 194 158 
206
Register -171 232 123 
175
In the above table are given the results of the 
tests
conducted in 1922. These figures agree very closely
with those obtained in 1919 and 1921, making it neces-
sary to consider only the general average recorded in
Table 9.
TABLE 9.-RESULTS OF TESTS OF WILT RESISTANT VARIETIES OF
COTTON
Average of seven tests-1919, 1921, and 1922
Variety Pounds lint cotton
per acre
Cook 307-6 ------------------- 286
Toole Council 251
Dixie Triumph ______ 249
Tri-Cook -------------------- 249
Dixie Cook ------------------ 248
Lewis 63 247
Toole-Wilkinson--------------246
Wood 229
Desto-----------------------225
Dixie 210
Cook 588 -------------------- 195
An examination of this table shows clearly that Cook
307-6 is the best of the varieties used in these 'tests.
Following this strain are several strains of Toole, sev-
eral Cook hybrids, and Dixie-Triumph. Either of the
first six or seven varieties listed in Table 9 will give
satisfactory results on wilt-infected land.
Considering all of the varieties tested recently, the
following usuallyproduces a staple of 7-8 inch: Cook
1010, Bottoms, King, Trice, Culpepper, Cleveland (all
strains), Cook 588, College No. 1, and Dixie-Triumph.
The following usually produce a staple from 1 to 1 1-16
inches long: Lone Star, Mexican Big Boll, and Acala.
Those that produce a staple of 1 2-16 to 1 4-16 are
Webber 49, Webber-Delta Type, Express 432 and 350,
and Register. Most of the high yielding varieties are
in the short staple group.
Ma P Of
ALABAII/
Aid
Lcc~bOrx f AvAu-n
"t