The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-03-18
Cotton Cultivation.


with rich soil more space will be
required between the rows; with
thinner soil, less.
The general rule for spacing rows
is that the distance between the rows
shall be a little more than the height
of the cotton on the land in average
years. Where cotton usually grows
two or three feet high the rows
should be from three and one-halt
to four feet apart. Where cotton nor
mally grows about three and one
half feet high plant in rows four feet
apart. Where 1t grows four or hVe
feet high, put the rows Ave feet apart. |
It is better to have the spaces be-
tween the rows a little too wide than
too narrow. Air and sunlight are OF
the greatest importance in pushing
the crop to maturity.
On very fertile and strong lands
there should be a good distance be-
tween the cotton rows, but the plants
may be slightly crowded in the rows
with good results,
Plant early-maturlng varieties OF
cotton. Some large-boll varieties are
even better than the small-boll cot
| tons under weevil conditions because
OF a thicker calyx, and consequently
the half-grown bolls are less likely
to be punctured by the weevil.
II fertilizers are used, the follow
ing general rule should govern: On
rich lands use mainly fertilizers that
will stimulate the fruit and not the
stalk growth. On lighter lands use
more of the elements to force growth,
combined with others which will ma
ture the fruit.
High-grade fourteen per cent. acid
phosphate may be considered basis
for increasing fruit and Fastening
maturity OF crops. Even on the rich
est land It has been demonstrated
that a small percentage Of nitrogen
added to the acid phosphate gives bet
ter results. Mix three parts of acid
phosphate and one part Of cottonseed
meal. This we will call mo. l."
= A mixture of one part Of cottonseed
meal to two parts Of high-grade acid
phosphate will greatly increase the
growing condition and will be better
, for medium soils. This we will cal
(, "No. 2.
l Air-slaked lime is of value for u.s.
g on stiff or gummy soils to loosen then
j up, permit the air to enter, and pre-
vent a sour condition Of such soil
when too wet
On thin or impoverished soils equa
- quantities of cottonseed meal an
= acid phosphate can be used to adyan
= tage'' This is "No. g."
a In case the foregoing can not b
obtained, standard-grade commerce.
- fertilizers may be used. Those shoul
~ contain in the mixture eight to tie
4 per cent. of available phosphori
p acid, two to three per cent. of nitro
- gen, and one and one-half to two pc
"a cent. of potash, or on some lands
- high-grade acid phosphate, fourtee
per cent, may be used.
. On black, waxy land the best pra
=, tice is to have the cotton follow
ID crop Of cowpeas.
a. Where lands are greatly worn
ar years of cropping, more fertile
Of should be used to the acre, aud
IA should contain about equal parts
os cottonseed meal and high-grade &C
.ot phosphate. The beneficial effect
~ commercial fertilizers depends larg
- ly upon the presence of humus in I
- SELL; hence the importance of usi
on stable manure and blowing und
n green crops.
ba In applying the foregoing instrl
bo tions the farmer must use consid,
able judgment and modify his PIT
- tice where necessary to fit local CT
ditions.