The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1883-10-06
Rules for Cotton Cultivation.
Editors Planters Journal:

cultivation of cotton during the
present year have opened my
eyes to one fact, and this is that
we cultivate our cotton too deep.
Shallow cultivation gives decided
! ly better results. What the DIFF
ference will be it is yet too early
to ascertain exactly, we must. wait
until the crop is gathered. One
plat of land on this place, consist
ing of about one and a half acres,
is very low, making it impossible
to plant early, and this plat was
never known to grow good cotton
until the present year. 1t was
prepared as follows: Was broken
up broadcast early in March, aud
two weeks afterwards bedded and
let stand until the first crop of
young weeds were up. 1t was
then rebedded and left until May
9th, at which time il was again
bedded and the beds narrowed,
be fore the opener was run through
1t, was planted May 7th, at which
time the soil was in most beauti.
ful condition. The seed were
put in with aGlobe planter, which
left the soil smooth aud almost
level. The cotton soon came up
to q perfect stand was chopped to
stand at first passage with the
hose, and was dirted" or hilled
with small sweep, the middles
were kept clean and mellow by
the cultivator; no plow entered
this field after breaking the land;
and venture the assertion that
this is the finest cotton in the
county.
After viewing this plat, compar-
ing 1t with other portions OF the
field, | have about concluded that
we are a little too fast in planting
our crops early. This expert
ment ought to teach several things.
1st. That no necessity exists for
April planting. Per contra. the
time could be better and more
proftably employed in thorough
preparation for planting in May.
2nd. That upon this proper pre-.
paration of the soil depends the
yield of the crop; that this work
ing is the main work; and is in
fact half the cultivation.
Sd. That the use of tho plow OIL
any similar instrument will greatly
injure the cotton and retard itt
/ growht by reason of cutting. Cot
ton needs but little cultivation i
the lands are properly prepared
before they are seeded. Under
the first proposition, wo Gull thu
following hints: If cotton planted
on well prepared lands by May
will outgrow that planted Apri
lst, where is the neccessity 70
earlier planting than Mayi Their
will be but little difference in th'
date Of its maturity--any differ
encc existing will be in favor o
the May planted. Anyone tryinl
this plan will bo convinced tha
bad stands arc the results of earl.
planting, April proving general,
unfavorable to its growth, thu
usual April weather being coo
nights and mornings, cotton can
not grow and frequently dies, ant
the stand so necessary TO GOO
crops, is broken. This will no
occur in the later planted.
Under our second proposition
we find that to cultivate cottol
with the plow is to injureit TIL
: cause is plain, the roots are to
closely and too freqnently-.prunc
by this instrument, and every root
let cut is so much injury to tn
stalk. These small side root
: will probe the soil in every d
. rection, searching for and carry
ing proper nour.shment to til
parent stalk, and to cut these |
to cut off supplies, and the plan
droops until fresh feeders can b
(. sent forth, to be treated in pei
haps the same way. Any instrl
+. ment that will cultivate deepe
r than one .inch should not eve
I. be run down a cotton row afte
+. the plant is Six inches high.
t never could understand the use ,
hilling cotton, for to do this, ther
= must be 1T deep water furro
2 giving the sun free access sewers
a inches deeper, and therefore DIR.
t ing it, parching, or burningit unit
Q there is no moisture and no fee'
G ing ground for rootlets. All ne
d essary plowing is done in the pr
paration and only shallow guilty
/ ton should be allowed aftcrward
5 The Dixon sweep would answ,
: this purpose admirably it Is simili
l to the old Buzzard wing sweep, I
J. our fathers. With this instrumei