St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-05-17

planted. Plant these as early as pos
sible, and force the cotton into early
fruitage, and fair crop may be set
and made sure of before the boil
worm begins its greatest attack ON
the crop.
Following the summer campaign
just outlined, it is to be urged that
winter campaign of early winter
blowing be inaugurated. This breaks
up the pupal cells in which the boil
worm in most instances passes ttH
winter stage as chrysalis and
matches out as moth in the spring.
Winter blowing should be followed
by narrowing both ways early in
spring with the heavy disc harrrows.
This turns up and breaks up any pu-
pal cells which were missed by win
ter blowing, and will give the cold
winter rains and alternate thawing
and freezing a chance to destroy any
living chrysalis, which would produce
the boil worm moth little later.
The dying of cotton in patches is
caused by specific fungus which at
tacks the tips of the roots, and grad
ually works up until the entire root
is involved and destroyed. Then sud-
denly the planter sees his cotton die,
almost at once. Heavy midsummer
rains, with hot, sunshiny weather,
hastens this action and the dying Of
the cotton.
This fungus attacks sweet potatoes,
pear and apple trees, umbrella China
trees and a long list of other plants.
It is remarkable, however, that no
member of the grass family, such al
wheat, oats, corn, millet and sorghum
are affected. These crops being inn
mune, the farmers can renovate their
lands and rid their soils of this fun
gus by using these crops in rotation.
Lands infested with this fungus
should be planted in corn this season,
and thoroughly and frequently cul-
tivated and kept clear of all weeds
except the grasses. Cookie burs are
especially Objectionable. Later in the
season a heavy crop of crab grass
often develops, but that is not espec-
tally Objectionable from the stand
point OF the fungus, as the fungus
will not develop upon it. The next
year sow oats or wheat or some SIM
liar crop to follow corn. Crops sown
broadcast should be sown very thick,
so as to keep down all other weeds
except the grasses. If the field has
not been badly infested for some
years with the fungus, the two years
cropping as indicated will largely, it
not entirely starve out the fungus,
and it will be safe to plant the land
in cotton the third year. If the land
has been infested badly for number
of years it will be well to raise an
other grain or corn crop, and follow
with cotton the fourth year. This
will rid the worst infested soils OF
the fungus by actually starving it
out.
Heavy applications of common salt.
well pulverized, will also kill the fun
gus. In December, before blowing
the lands, give dressing broadcast
of about 700 pounds of salt per acre.
and pillow under well. Then in spring
when the land is plowed again, give
another dressing of the same amount
and ploy or harrow in again. Guilt.
vate well. The second year give sim
liar treatment and applications, and
the fungus will be gradually killed
out. This method is feasible where
cotton must be grown on the land
each year in succession, and the crop
rotation is not possible.
BY the rotation system only por-
ton of the farm can be treated at .
time, but if the system is kept up
for a period of three or four years
the whole farm can be renovated and
the fungus starved out. No system OF
farming is so injurious, or exhausts
the soil so rapidly, or encourages in
sect pests to such an extent as tho
constant gripping of one crop on the
land for number of years without
intermission. Rotation on the 9TH
err hand maintains soil fertility, and
largely helps to keep the lands free
from fungus and insect pests.-Prof.
Fed w. Malley, in Texas Farm and
Ranch.