The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1888-08-31
.Ghr gcmorraf- Star
Killing Coco Grass.
I'd. Southern Live Stock Journal.

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My Two letters on killing out
Coco grass published in the JourR-
al seems TO have caused consider
able criticism with many inquiries
for something more explicit. Those
letters give The nature and habits
of the plant, and explain The nut
must first terminate, and then Kill
the plant by cutting il olfjust below
the stool Of roots that form from
one 10 two inches below the sur
face. Also that the land must be
broken deep during fall or winter.
Now let The land lay undisturbed
after breaking until the last of
April or first OF Nav, then bed mp
with sharp one-horse turning
plows, cutting of every sprig Of
the grass just below the stool OF
roots, drag with harrow or pillow un-
til the bed is flat AID firm. Plant
a prolific variety (clUster short
jointed cotton) that will come up
quick and get off fast, and will
have 70 long limbs in the way.
Now harrow or drag off with a light
logjust before the cotton comes up.
Soon as we'll run around with
double Sw eeps two y inch sweeps
on double shovel stocks) then
scrape and hoe 10 two or three
stalks in a place. Now put dirt TO
it until ten or twelve inches high;
by this time it will have formed
wood and bark and a little bruislng
will not hurt, but don't tear up the
roots. From now on Except lay
ing by we drive the sweeps
through the drill. This is done by
running the double sweeps fiat ESQ
that the point of the sweeps will
tear up the roots), first furrow run
jam up TO the plant. When we
turn back on the other side of the
row let the sweep strike the stalk Of
cotton about one inch from the
corner, the stalk will push over in
the loose DIRT OF first turrOw and
spring back in place after the
sweep passes and the rear sweep
will put the dirt back up to the
stalk. BY this cutting through the
drill all weed or grass will either
be cut up or Will be covered up
with their heads down the other
side of their row.
We lay by with turning pillow il
there is sufficient season IN the
ground that we can run shallow
enough next to the plant to keep
from cutting the cotton roots. ii
the cultivation has has been regu-
lar and thorough the middles can
be plowed deep.
Ii this plan OF farming is kept up
two or three years, not only will
Coco give away, but the cotton
crop will be much larger, with a
good deal less hard labor or money
spent in the making Of The crop. /
consider Coco a God send to the
South, because we will have TO
learn TO farm or quit. The abom-
Unable land should be crIminal)
tenant system must go. The wait
ing until spring to start II plowS.
The shallow breaking, only skim
ming the surface. The bulchering
up of our plants by waiting three
or tour weeks until all of the main
roofs are forced to The surface for
air. Then tearingthem loose, must
also give way, before Coco is going
to down, or The Southern farmer is
going 10 make money. If | was
going to buy a farm, Coco would
not deter me III the least.
Another way is after the land is
deeply broken in the fall or winter
don't disturb it until about the first
of May, then cut off all Of the Coco
just below the Joint with sharp
turning pillow, harrow and drag I'M
ill fine and smooth, then sow in
German millet. After the mlllet
is cut off and the grass has made
another start cut it off again, as
above. During the winter break
deeper than the first year, and go
through The same process of millet
AMI cutting off the grass below the
stool of roots. The crop of millet
each year will be large and The
land will be in the best condition
for any kind of a crop. A better
system of farming is all We need.
JEFF WELLBoRN.
New Boston, Texas.