Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1908-07-01
STAND Of COT TON.
Or. Knapp's Advice In Regard to Planting.
Things Essential for Seed termination.

Procuring a stand of cotton
under the various conditions of
heat and moisture is one of the
important things which all of us
have not yet learned how to do.
OF course the thoughtful and read
ing farmer already knows that
three things are essential for
the termination of seed. They are
heat, moisture and air Tor oxy-
gen which abounds iii the airy.
The practice of many planters
shows conclusively that however
much Importance they attach to
the two former conditions they
very often do not take the latter
into consideration, although of
equal Importance with the other
two.
Let us thoroughly masticate,
sgitste, digest and assimllate this
fact 80 that we will have it sin the
blood" when planting season
comes around again. Most seed
will germinate when lying on top
f the ground with free exposure
of air if the conditions of heat
and moisture are right.
DR.. S. A. Knapp, in charge of
Demonstration farm work in the
South, and a man of ample expe-
rience and wide observation, gave
out information in the early
spring about follows: Thoroughly
pulverize the soil before planting.
Use only sound, we'll improved
seed and plant shallow. Harrow
just before planting, soon after
planting, and continue the use
of the weeder or harrow until the
plants are large enough to be in
jured thereby. This advice anti
cipated all the unfavorable condi-
tions which we have had for ger
mination. He had IN mind the
thorough aeration Of the soil, as
we'll as the bringing about of
pro per conditions of heat and
moisture.
If the rainfall Is too great, this
string of the soil right down to
the seed close underneath, dries
out the immediate surface thus
obviating, to some extent, the ex-
cessive moisture, yet forming a
mulch to conserve tho underneath
to,prevent too much dryness should
the rain leases. 1t is a form of
aerial drainage that extends only
to the depth Of string. Furthermore
this frequent stirring let's in the
sunshine thus helping in the ques-
ton of heat. It also let's in the
life-giving air.
1t is often necessary to plant
cotton seed when the soil is dry.
In planting under such conditions
the usual practice is to put the
seed into the soil-three or four
inches. This is all right provided
we know that excessive rains
would not come Immediately.
But we dot know this. Rains
may come, pack the soil, and pre-
vent entrance of sunshine and
air. However, there are ways of
securing a stand without running
this risk.
During the second week of May,
during a severe drought, the writer
had occasion to plant some cotton
seed in soil that was exceedingly
dry. A lighted torch was first
passed over seed to remove the
fuzz and adhering lint which pre-
vent the close contact of the seed
with the soil. This could nrob.
ably have been done better by
close ginning or reginning. Wet
ting the seed and rolling them in
ashes Or in a small amount of
commercial fertilizers would have
accomplished the same purpose.
The seed were thoroughly wetted
with Water and kept moist for
three days before planting. The
seed were then put three.fourths
of an inch in the ground at the
rate of ~ pounds per acre. With
in a week fully ninety-fve per
cent of them we're up. The stand
was perfect. The young plants
are strong and vigorous, with
broad, dark.green leaves, ready
for business. In fields near by
are seed which were planted from
three or four inches deen and
which have never come through.
The usual nractica in his or,