New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1906-07-21
KEEP TIE CULTNAToR GOING.

TERPRlsE, NEW IBERIA LA
KEEP THE cULTIvAToR GOING.
Some farmers are thinking of lay.
ing by the cotton crop Ms id-summer
is now here. 1t is wise though to
look into the condition of the crop
before stopping the plows. The weed
is small for the middle of the sum.
mer. In fact the plant is from three
to four weeks late in its development
If we nre TO pick anything like a fair
crop Of cotton this fall great deal
more than the usual amount must he
made after the middle of July. To
make the weed and TO make cotton IL
will be necessary to keep the cultiva.
tor working ut least two weeks later
this year than usual. Keep stirring
the soil until the plant is of suffici ant
size to shade the space between the
rows, The preservation of moisture
in the soil may become en important
item within the next three or four
weeks. There is no better way to
preserve this moisture than by keepipp
the surface soil either protected nv
shade or by two-inch layer of finely
pulverized and frequently stirred
earth
Killing grass and weeds in the crop
is important but this i'm portance IL
secondary to that of preserving the
soil much. The fine pointed cultiva.
tor, the broad sweep, the narrow
spike-toothed harrow or even the dust
board may be employed in maintain
ing loose surface layer of soil be.
tween the rows of corn and cotton.
Don't let weeds grow in the corn and
cotton field but whatever else Won
may happen to do, don't allow the |
soil TO become hard and baked between |
the rows. Baked soil allows moisture |
TO escape, it also causes some oonsti- |
tuents of plant food to come up close
to the surfcae where a heavy rainfall
may catch IL up and carry il away in
solution or suspension in drainage
water.
Keep the surface soil stirred just
as long ms che cultivator can run be.
tween the rows without injurinx the
growing plants. Stir frequently
enough to pervent the formation of
crust on the soil, often enough to pre-
vent the growth of weeds in the crops.
II good crop rotation system is
not already being followed on the
farm one should be mapped out and
started this fall, Preparatory to in.
augurating this reform careful study
of the various fields and the crops
growing upon them should DO made.
aeiec." those fields or parts Of fields
upon which the non leguminous drops
are making the least satisfactory I
growth. 4
This fall give them as good prepar.
alton as time and means will allow.
After which some suitable crop, either
rye or other small grain should be a
sown. If tho soil is very poor, rye
will in all probability be the most Y
for the first crop, rs IL
vill grow when other varieties of
mall grain will not. Craze or cut a p
ortion of this off next spring for foed- e
~ purposes. The rest may be plow. -
drwn TO furnish humus to the soil.
his rye may be followed by peas of
~ sui 10 Hbt nun tuohkH tbi u
corn. II corn will do well after
10 rye, IL should be planted rather W
irly in rows FIVE or six feet apart, T.,
Ills to be followed by peas later In
70 season, then followed by small
ain. followed again by peas; thus
aying tho land ready tho third year
y cotton If the soil was so poor to
art with as to make corn crop un.
'rtain, the rye should have been fol.
WED by peas, which in turn shuold
followed by rye. which early in the
ring should give way to the corn as
Dove outlined. tn
The second best fields or parts of fire.