The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-01-22
FARMER AND PLANTER,
COTTON CULTURE.

The "Intensive" System OF Culture On an
Extensive scale-l but Little sRotation''
and NO "Decreass In Acreage" Necessary.
In cur former articles we have ad-
sised the southern cotton raisers who
have either semi-exhausted or nat
urally poor soil to contend with, and
which he desires to build up until one
to two bales can be harvested from
each and every acre, at least in favor
able seasons, TO lay of rows three feet
apart in both corn and cotton, planting
every other row III peas and giving
the corn and cotton the benefit of
four and q half or five feet of soil, and
reserving but from 10 to Is inches for
the peas. 1t peas, corn and cotton are
each fed literally, the one to two bales
OF cotton per acre and so to 100 bushels
Of corn per acre mark can be speed
lily reached. There is nothing on
earth to prevent it. and we
challenge the doubling Thomases
of the whole united world
to prove the contrary.' We come now
20 consideration Of lands that are
richer, more fertile and productive
than those above described; lands that
are already well supplied with humus,
hence don't aeed the pea vines; lands
that, without the assistance of sertil-
izers OF any kind, will make from
three-fourths of bale to one and one
fourth, or one and one-half bales per
acre. 1t is on such lands as there that
fertilizers put in their best work and
are used with greatest profit It is
here also that fertilizers can be- used
in the greatest quantities. and, strange
and unreasonable as it may appear to
the uninitiated, and to those who
have had no experience in their use.
the greater the quantity used (within
the bounds of reason aud common
sense) the more profitable they become.
and the more satisfaction and gratiA-
cation is derived from their use. It
Is on such lands that the two to four
bales per acre become possibility,
and If our advice as to appropriate and
liberal feed, good distance mot less
than four feet by two. and never more
than one stalk in place., deep prep
aration, and thorough. frequent. shall
low and comparatively level culture
Is followed, it becomes not only a pos
sibility, but, other things being equal,
an absolute certainty. 1t is just IA
sure as that effects follow causes, and
that is sure enough. or should be sure
enough, TO please any body and to con-
vince the most skcpticnl. In Missis-
sippi the yield ON IN average is about
one bale to three acres, and the cost of
raising fully as much as if two or more
bales grew on single acre. Now the
question arises, can we afford to plant
and cuitivate year after year three
acres of land in order to get what
could have been obtained from one
sixth of the amount? for one
say no. and am determined not
to do it. don't have to. and
will not. As previously stated
some of our cotton is planted in rows
six feet apart, and thinned to two,
three and four feet apart in drill, one
stalk in place. 1t is now august u
as high as my head, and gives promise
Of locking in the midddles in the
course of the next two weeks. There
is not u spindiing stalk in the field.
but every stalk is stocixy, standing up
like tree. aud well formed from bot
tom to top. Not single shape or
form has shed as yet, and this in spite
OF the fact that we are undergoing a
serious drought that is parching up
corn all around it. This cotton has
had applied TO it 40 pounds of Thomas
Flug lphosphate) and 100 pounds of MI
trate Of potash per acre. On some of
the land used acid phosphate in lieu
Of the Thomas Flag, but see no per-
ceptible differences in favor of either
one or The other. No nitrogen was
used on this land, as there is already
an excess of it present rs evidenced
by an excess of stalk or weed growth.
The phosphate and potash were
applied fof the purpose Of correct
ing this excess, to increase the fruit
fulness Of the plant ind to force it
into an early maturity. This cotton
was not planted until the 18th day of
May. For "a long time the season was
cold and backward, and ever since it
VA AsS>a W ~ AAAs sAss, 0SCA tSASOS tncE bO0
dry for any kind of farm crop. 1t is
not planted in the fertile lands of the
Mississippi bottom. as might be sup
posed by those unacquainted with the
geography of this country. but it Is in
one OF the Oldest poorest and most
badly-worn counties in the state 40 or
30 miles from the bottom. What we
claim can be done here can be done
equally in any and every other section
OF the cotton belt There is no patent
upon the process. 1t is open alike to
all and within the reach Of all, and all
are cordially invited to participate, or
give . good and alI-sufficient reason
why they do not wish to do SO. We
know it is practical for the reason that
we are practicing it, aud intend to con-
Time so doing as long as our mean
will allow or until better plan is Of
ferad Inv Soma f,ne alsa II ~ fr.rrua.