Harvesting cotton with low foreign matter while maintaining lint quality and minimizing lint loss depends on several factors. Two of these factors are reported here, cotton variety and harvest method. In the cotton growing regions of Texas there is an interest to do more picker harvesting due to the loss of arsenic acid thus limiting the producers ability to properly prepare the plant for stripper harvest. Although there are several chemicals and strategies being studied that would continue to make brush roll harvesting feasible, the study of harvest methods and varieties are necessary. Two cotton varieties, Paymaster HS26 and Stoneville 132, were used in a test to compare 3 harvest methods, (1)brush roll harvester with no field cleaner, (2)brush roll harvester with field cleaner and (3) picker. The results of this study indicate that Paymaster HS26 gave higher yields of bur cotton and lint while Stoneville 132 had a higher lint turnout due to less foreign matter in the seed cotton. Total foreign matter and foreign matter in seed cotton was affected by harvest method and variety. The picked cotton had significantly less total foreign matter along with significantly less burs, sticks and fine trash than cotton harvested with either brush roll harvest method. The field cleaner significantly reduced burs, sticks, fine trash and total foreign matter in cotton harvested with brush roll harvester. HVI data indicated that the picker gave lower leaf grades for Paymaster HS26 but there was no difference in leaf grades for harvest methods for Stoneville 132. There were no significant effects due to harvest method on the HVI staple, micronaire, strength, length and length uniformity. Paymaster HS26 had a longer staple, higher micronaire, strength and length uniformity while Stoneville 132 had lower leaf grades and lower HVI trash measurements.