The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1888-07-14
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
seasouab.s Note. on Cotton Culture.

On nearly every farm ''cottOn chop
ping" is the order of the dav some
dmo during the month. 1t is the
farmers dread on account Of appre-
hended bad weather. and scarcity Of
labor, or 'tiay hands" Circumstances
should determine whether the hoes
should precede or follow the plows-
il the cotton has come mp we'll on
comparatively fresh beds-no heavy
rains having fallen since the seed
was planted. aud consequently but
little or no grass, the work Of chop
ping may properly commence at once
without previous blowing. especially
IT the plows are still engaged in the
corn crop II however, the beds
have been compacted by heavy
rains. forming crust and
inducing a vigorous growth of
grass. it is very important to stir the
entire surface as quickly as possible
ny horsepower. Where the stand is
good and the land is compar atively
Aevel. some farmers have been pleased
with the plan Of cross-harrowing the
entire surface with something like a
Thomas smoothing harrow. Our own
experience is rather in favor of mar
rover triangular harrow. with the
center tooth removed drawn along
and aside the rows of plants. so as to
stir tho entire surface at one straight
trip to the row. This narrowing. or
sweeping as may be. permits the sun
fight and air to penetrate the soil.
and wonderfully accelerates the
growth of the young plants,
while it destroys all grass
that has either come mp
or sprouted. The hoes should not fol-
low the blowing or narrowing closer
than within four or five days 1t is a
common practice with farmers to
make 'sure work" at the first hoeing.
cleaning-ironing 1.-The rows" as
some express it--and reducing the
stand carefully to two or three stalks
between each width of the hoe. This
il a tedious operation. and requires a
long time to get over the crop This
plan. according to our experience. Is
mot generally advisable When the
cotton has begun to take on the sec
.ond and third leaves it needs to be
.ihinned and the remaining grass re-
moved as quickly as possible. Il
often happens that the entire
crop has come up as the effect Of .
single shower of rain. and every acre
is equally impatient to be worked.
The object, then. is to go over the
crops as rapidly as possible; to hoe,
rs we'll as to plow. the greatest mum
Der of rows in day until the entire
crop has received attention, then re
aurn Immediately to the start ne
point and do tho work more carefully
and deliberately. The punches O
plants should be left as far apart a.
the stalks are expected to stand wher
reduced to a final stand. 1t is no ust
to leave a bunch Of stalks now to b.
cut away at next hoeing. By thi
method more cotton will be thinne(
and more grass removed Of
destroyed from among tn
plants in one day thar
by the ..slow, but sure" plan o
spending from one to two days pc
hand in chopping one acre. Som
call this BLOCKING out" and it
rather Objectionable to a neat farme
until he understands the rationale
All other things being equal. the mos
effective hoeing. at this juncture.
that which kills the most grass an
Trims (partially) the greatest numbe
Of hills Of cotton in q given time. Thi
means going over the greatest area i
a day. The famous David Dickso
used to say that he taught his hoe
hands never to strike twice !
the same place. To do the wor
of chopping or hoeing cotton mos
effectively and expeditiously. ever
hand should be supplied with light
steel. square-cornercd hoe. and
should be kept sharp. A file or scyth
stone is a very convenient 1thing fc
the foreman to carry in his pocke
Would that we could do away wit
the care and extra seed necessary
secure . continuous row Of plants an
the subsequent resulting labor
destroying the continuity OF cuttin
out three-fourths or more of tn
plantsi Careful selection and preser
walton Of planting seed and droppin
or planting in hills is the comm
plan. Mark it.-6ossthern Cultivate