The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-23

cial planting at his own experiment
farm in Oklahoma. where he will put
in practice the Simpkins' methods
and see if he cannot equal the Sinfp-
kinS' prOduct.
At the jamestown Exposition Mr..
Simpkins won the gold medal. made
by Tiffany, for the best continuous
exhibit of vegetables, winning the first
premium over the truck growers Of
the whole country.
How to Grow Two Bales Of Cotton
Per Acre.
Mr.. Sinpkins addressed the North
Carolina Farmers State Convention
on the subject How to Grow Two
Bales Of Cotton Per Acre. in which
he discussed better than could other
wise be stated the methods he has es-
poused for improving his and and
his cotton, thereby increasing the
yield. He said:
1T is impossible to give Instructions
in full that [ would like in so brief
an address as this, because the nat
ure of the soil is 50 different in the
different sections where cotton is
grown. might be needed in one
place to produce a big crop might
not be suitable in another; but there
IS one thing sure to grow two bales
of cotton per acre; your land must
be adapted to cotton growing, and
must have the proper ingredients OF
fertilizer in the soil.
Ten years ago there was not a
farmer near Raleigh who averaged
a bale per acre all over his farm. Now
there are numbers of them growing
from one to two bales per acre. There
are several things that have brought
about this condition, and [ shall
mention a few of them; chief among
which, is a better seed seletion;
next, better blowing; planting more
peas and clover; getting more hum
us in the soil; using a better grade Of
fertilizer, and using it more literally
and economically, and what l mean
by this is, not to put it all in the
ground before planting time; make
from two to three applications, ma
nuring the plant literally during the
fruit bearing season.
If the farmers wish to grow two
bales of cotton in the South, of course
they must first curtail the acreage,
cover the land With plenty Of stable
manure in the winter; pillow under in
the spring; harrow land Well; run rows
wide, from four to sever feet, and give
it plenty Of distance in the drill, from
one to three feet, n stalk in the hill.
Past experience has taught me it
is almost impossible to the
land too highly for cotton. if you
plant the right kind, and give it
plenty of distance.
you want an early dwarf cotton,
one that will not make an excessive
weed on the richest land, one that
joints closely on the stalk, fruits and
natures early, and you want to plant
cotton as early as climati conditions
will permit, for the reason our sea-
sons are generally SO short that a lot
of it is often caught by frost, and
never natures early enough to open.
We know naturally that a nan cannot
begin work at 9 o'clock in the day
and do a full days work: the same
is true in cotton planting; it cannot
be planted late in the cas- and do
its full work, and as you know you
will always find your cotton the best
where it is planted earliest.
Now, as to the best method Of ma
nuring, my experience has taught me
that you must have plenty of vegeta-
BILE matter in the soil, consequently,
every third or fourth year your land
should be sown in clover or peas, or
both. and every other year, at least, it
should have manure broadcast
literally. Use twenty, two-horse
loads per acre. This should
never be heaped up in the fields and
allowed to burn. thus allowing the
ammonia to escape, but should be ia
ken directly from the stable to the
field and broadcast it from the wagon
or a spread, (Which is bet
ter). and allow it to remain on the
land until March. The strength goes
into the soil and makes the land mel
low, and when it is ploWed deeply and
narrowed well it is in fine condition
to receive the seed and insure germ
nation.
"Now as to the amount and quality
of fertilizers. I would advise a high
grade, at least 7-4-4 goods. I would
advise at least one thousand pounds
per acre, IL of which should be used
before planting, and the other half
at the time the cotton begins to fruit.
This keeps the plant thrifty, full Of
vigor and enables it to retain it's
fruit.
lone of the reasons why cotton
sheds so fast the latter part of the
season is poverty. We must know
41a+ a+r1r hos nrA1-idod :. If NE -oXract