The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-04-12

llilelN tilAIl lo1lDN Win the corn lana
and the tobacco land. The tobacco
land after being broken. can wait
for its final preparation until after
the other two crops are planted. After
the land is broken then put on the
dis or q ~spike-tooth harrow at once,
n commence to work the land into
a fine seed bed. \ roller or plank
drag will often help this work very
much it the and breaks UP lumpy.
h importance of reducing the seed
bed to the finest shape possible is only
partially realized by most Southern
farmers. They hin that if the
I land is worked once or twice after it
is ploWed nat it may then be planted.
and the further preparation OF the
land be completed by cultivation dur
: ing the growth OF the crop. This is
a very mistaken view to take. There
can never be the best results from
the use of anu or fertilizer unless
the seed bed is made as fine and loose
as possible, so. that and fer
. tilizer can become thoroughly incor-
porated with all the particles of the
soil, and the finer these are the easier
can the little rootlets penetrate them
and get hold Of the plant food and
utilize it. This is especially import
ance in cotton culture. which is Z
finely rooted plant, and with only {
! comparatively small root system, as
compared 20 corn. To secure this
work frequently before thinking o
planting. and thus thoroughly fine
aeratc and warm the soil. Whare {
crimson clover sod has been turned
down the need OF supplying nitrogen
in she fertilizer will be largely dilnin
ished. and this is the cheapest way il
which to supply this needed plan
food. Where a crimson clover sod i
not turned under then all three ele
ments of plant food, nitrogen. Dhos
phoric acid and potash should be sup
piled. Experiments recently mad
have shown hat lime will great.
help cotton if applied and Worket
into the land during the preparation
Of the seed bed. one ton to the acr
will be sufficient to use. AS Q SQUIRE
Tor supplying nitrogen to the crop
nitrate Of soda applied at the rate O
twenty-five to fifty pounds to tn
acre has been found very effective. |
gives the plants a good start off. an
enables them to get hold Of the min
eral plant food quickly. Where tn
/ land IS poor in vegetable matter aci
I phosphate at the rate OF $50 to 40
| pounds to the acre should be useC
; More may be applied when the Ian
! is better supplied With humus. POtas
l need only be supplied in small quar-
tity, say 100 to $50 pounds to the acre
| and the best form in which to us
= it is kainit. \ n of eXper-
n made with home mixed fel
4 tilizer made up of the foregoing il
gradients, as with bOugf
mixed fertilizers have demonstrate
that the home mixed goods were NOR
q effective and much less costly. TT
Il best results have been gotten frol
the use OF farmyard manure al II
l rate of eight tons to the acre wit
t acid phosphate at the rate Of 81
y pounds to the acre. AS to the v5
c rietv of seed to plant, this is a matte
L ] Ia ruelv To no Ganj6a1 NV Zach GROW
o for himself. Like corn. the yield
any variety is largely determined
acclimation, and therefore, it is a
ways best to plant a variety grown
the same section successfully for II
J. full crop. and to use new varieti'
5. only exDerirnentally at first, II
thing is important, and a is
II plant only seed hat has been car
II fully selected and bred up 10 q goo
type. Don't plant any old seed tn;
II can be got from the GinneFS. I'll
o influence Of good seed on the yield
o as great in cotton as in corn. Dor
be in too great q hurry to plar
Whilst it is important to plant /;
II early maturing type, and one whit
N here. There Is room for much a,
&c fitness OF these types to escape bc
s. weevil injury. which ism gradual
IS extending northward. yet cott'
)e should not be planted until the 81
o. is warm enough to ensure quick sc
y, mination and rapid growth. Sc,
% planted in cold soil terminates slow
and grows off badly, and the resi-
is stunted plants. which show the I
us suits of this all through the seasC
a Just one word OF warming as to I'll
LII crop. Fifteen cent cotton is a gre
temptation to plant as much as pos!
OF bic. DO not be 50 tempted. If v
he are. YOU are likely to be caught in
IN crowd Of disappointed sellers in t
fall Whilst the world wants DleD
ed Of cotton vef the Soutb can cas-
|. grow more than the world wants
$50 fifteen cents per pound. If YOU w
S. take are to plant corn and 9th
Il products to supply all the home ST
& plies in abundance for man a
Il beast. and make the cotton crop or
s q surplus crop, YOU may then safe
EE MINT al LO,1 can find time 70 Oli