The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-04
Clemson Extension Work.

Cotton Is and will continue to be the
most important crop grown in South
| Carolina. It brings more money into the
state then all other crops combined.
While the southern farmer has practically
monopoly on this, the most Important
crop Of commerce on earth, the average
farmer Is producing 1t. however,, at such
great cost his net profit Is small.
The worlds demand for cotton is con-
stantly increasing and to such an extent
| 1t becomes necessary for the southern far
mer to make Improvements In his methods
In order to meet this increased demand
without increasing the area devoted to
cotton. It should be the endeavor Of
every intelligent farmer to encourage far
mers Of every class to diversity their crops
and raise more live stock, thus curtailing
the acreage devoted to cotton. The In
creased demand for cotton should be met
by producing more pounds on smaller
area than Is now devoted to that crop, thus
reducing the cost Of production by in
tensire cultivation. Every acre Of well
drained land In this state that Is now
devoted to that crop, thus reduces the
cost OF production by intensive cultiva-
tion. Every acre Of we'll drained land In
this state that is now planted to cotton can
be made to yield twice Its present average
production. How to do this Is the object
Of this short paper, which merely sum-
marizes the results OF experiments pub
lished in Bulletins Nos. 145 and 148 Of the
8 q. Experiment Station. This increased
Weld can be obtained as follows:
/. By early and deep plowlng.
Q. By conserving the soil moisture, by
increasing the humus contents Of the soil
and by frequent and shallow cultivation.
s. By turning under winter cover crops.
such as bur clover, crimson clover vetch
and rye which are planted In the cotton
field at the last cultivation.
4. BY planting cotton only on soil we'll
drained and adapted to its cultivation:
g. By giving plenty of distance In the
row and between the rows.
6. By using the weeder frequently dur
T. By using large amounts OF acid
phosphate before or at time Of planting.
8. By supplying stable manure either
broadcast or In the drill before planting.
9. By using only small amounts OF pot
ash except on coarse, sandy soils.
10. By applying 1000 lbs. OF lime per
acre every four years to cotton lands.
l. II. By growing some OF the winter and
summer legumes, thus storing more nj
Is. By the use Of large amounts Of
ammonia applied In the form OF blood,
cotton seed meal, fish scrap, tankage and
sulphate Of ammonia before or al the time
Of planting, and by later applications: -.
IS. By using 25 to so lbs. Of nitrate OF
soda per acre applied before or at the time
" Il. By applying 100 or more pounds Of
first bloom appears.
is. BY the liberal use Of acid phosphate
II the cotton rs making weedy growth
and not fruiting properly.
16, By the liberal use of ammonia II the
plants are slow OF growth and yellow in
color.
land when too wet.
IS. By breaking the crust after, each
enty ds th1s snF fhnRs sss ss ana Wssd and
10. BY planting only the best varieties
Of cotton, such as Columbia, Hartsville.
Cleveland Big Boil, Toole's Prolific, Ninety
Day, Triumph, Cook, Brooke's Improved,
Blue Ribbon, etc.
20. By avoiding anthracnose, or boil
rot, by proper seed selection:
2l. BY planting only those varieties
that are suitable to the type OF soil on
which they are grown.
49, By planting wilt resistant varieties.
%. BY planting only big boil, easy pick
ing, early maturing varieties.
a. By planting, early and reducing
promptly to stand. -.
rs. By the proper rotation Of crops
which prevents soils from washing which
increases the fertility Of the soil which
puts the soil In better physical condition,
better chemical condition, and better bi-
ological condition, which prevents over
production, prevents insect depredat tions
and plant diseases. such as cotton root rot,
black knot. bacterial blight Of cotton, cot
ton root louise.
26. BY using kainit on black jack and
calcareous soils on which cotton Is Subject
to rust.
in. Harper, Eirector,
s c. Experiment Station.