The farmer and mechanic., 1909-07-27
(The Cotton Journal.)

month of July marks a most
.ical period in the life history of
the cotton crop now being grown. If
all is we'll with soil and plant from
the first to the Last of this month all
is most apt to be we'll at picking time
If conditions for making a crop are
not just what they should be on the
first Of the month the right kind of a
farmer will do all in his power to
make them right as quickly as pos
sible. If the last day Of July sees the
cotton plants still contending with foes
and striving to overcome obstacles to
growth and development, the chances
then of making a good crop are far
from encouraging Work in August
can not compensate for neglect in
June and July.
Nature Assesses inc on the Weed
Raiser.
Cotton will be picked from no 9TH
er than cotton plants Weeds, grass
and other plants than cotton have no
place in the making of the cotton
crop now growing, consequently they
should be eliminated from the field
at once. Weeds are exhaustive of fer
tility. ~ requires strength from the
soil to grow grass or weeds just as
it does a crop of cotton. A full yield
of cotton, say a half bale per acre,
requires a certain amount of plant
food. If this is in the soil in a form
by cotton the result is a good average
crop, but If one-ha1f the amount is
taken up by grass and weeds, and only
One-half by the cotton plant there
can only be a half yield of cotton. It
is not the part of good farm practice
to divide plant food between two or
more crops when there is really only
enough for one. Cotton and weeds
both on the same piece of land at the
same time force such a division. Ma
fure, in turn. assesses a fine on the
FARMER by giving him only a part OF
a cotton crop instead of a full one.
Thus he must, and does, pay the pen
atty Of his folly.
The Farmer Must Pay for Lost Mois-
ture.
Just as the same particle Of plant
food cannot be used in making a
crop Of cotton and one of weeds at
the same time. neither can the same
moisture go to nourish and support
a crop of cotton and one of some 9TH
er growth, nor can it support cul-
1ivated crop and escape from the
soil in the form of vaDOr or evapOra-
ton If it does the plant any good it
must pass through the system of that
particular plant here Will be no plant
growth without moisture. The con-
troll, then. Of the moisture and its di-
rectiOn into proper channels and
courses III the T1Snl klI0S OIL pldHlS
must ever interest the farmer. Mo1s-
ture may escape from the soil in the
form of vapor. This process is ac-
celerated by the surface becoming
hard and baked or crusted, thus form
ing numerous surface pores, or tubes,
through which moisture is conveyed
from deeper in the soil directly to the
atmosphere. 1t also escapes in large
quantities through plants other than
those which are cultivated intention
ally. Every leaf and grass blade gives
off soil moisture. which at certain
times is needed In making the culti-
waited crop.
Shortage of moisture at the critical
time means a reduction of crop yield,
hence the farmer must pay for all
unnecessary wastes in this particular
Irrational Fertilization Exacts Tribute
AS fine is assessed against the
weed grower and the waster Of moiS-
ture tribute is also exacted of TIE
farmer who supplies his plants with
insufficient Or improperly balanced
T&ti"n. or allows nutriIn ent to be di-
We +~d from the most productive chan
n,ie.
y good yield OF lint cannot BE- made
on y lt;'e dwarfed or stunted plant
"I'r'uhIe bec'' cotton does not make
Dr. t'r:rb1e yields, consequently good
!: RS guard against "bumbIc bcc''
cottoE. "Bumb1c bee" cotton comes
one af the results of insufficient
plant GOOD IN the soil, and poor prepa-
ration and cultivation The moral
than is. good fertilization a.3d prepara-
ton Of the soil. followed b. rational
GU alton.
here is an evil coming rom 9
G>;t,fad or undersized plant. there
ma ;e:so be disastrous results com