The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-03-09
EARLY COTTON CROP
Absolutely Necessary for Maxi
mum Yield of Staple.
Fertile Soil as Well as Thorough
Preparation, Rapid Frulting Seed
and Intensive Shallow Guilt
walton Needed.

By G. H. AFFORD, Special Agent of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work, Jackson, Miss.)
It is not only necessary to reduce
the number of weevils to the minimum
in order to grow maximum crops OF
cotton, but is also absolutely neces-
sary to grow an early crop OF cotton
A late crop of cotton is for the wee
vil-not for the farmer.
The production Of an early crop OF
cotton is accomplished as follows:
First-Cut the cotton acreage to
Ave or six acres to the mile so tnat
cultural methods may be closely fol
lowed
Second-Plant only well drained,
warm, quick-making land in cotton.
Third-Where the soil responds to
commercial fertilizers apply from
300 to 500 pounds per acre to hasten
maturity and increase the yield.
Fourth-Thoroughl pulverize the
soil before planting. Work the soil
until it is like an ash heap for three
or four inches deep. Little cotton
cannot grow off we'll in a mass OF
clods.
Fifth-Plant early, rapid-fruiting,
prolific cotton seed.
Sixth-Plant as early as the sea-
sons will allow in rows just about as
wide apart as ths cotton usually
grows tall in average seasons.
Seventh--Commence to work the
little cotton just as soon as possible
and never permit a crust to form or
the field to become grassy.
The majority of the over-wintered
weevils are probably out of winter
quarters before the time the cotton
begins to set squares. A race that
means much and a race that is watch
ed by all the world then begins. The
cotton runs the race of its life to set
squares faster than the weevils can
multiply and puncture the squares.
The weevils take advantage of every
opportunity to increase their num-
bers. If the land is well drained,
warm and quick-making, thoroughly
puiverized and fortified with from
800 to 800 pounds per acre, the seed
an early, rapid-fruiting, prolific varie'
ty, the crop given intensive shallow
cultivation until the cotton begins to
open, the cotton will go out under the
wire far in the lead with from one
half to a bale or more per acre. II
the land is late" and broken into
clods, very little fertilizer applied, the
seed a late, slow making variety, the
cultivation slow and deep, the weevils
will soon destroy all the squares ant
then destroy all the bolls.
It takes fertile soil as we'll as thor
ough preparation, rapid-fruiting seeC
and intensive shallow cultivation t
make good crops of cotton. The sol
should be well drained, full Of humui
and contain plenty Of plant food in al
available form. The soil should b'
deep for the following reasons: First
to increase the water holding capac
fly; second, to let the water escap
from the surface without running owe
the ground and washing 1t off; third
to permit the air to circulate freel
for a considerable depth in the soil
fourth, to secure crops against drout
by enabling the cotton roots to
down to perpetual moisture; fifth, I
increase the area from which plan
roots may obtain food.
The soil must be full Of vegetabl
matter to prevent 1t from packin
after heavy rains 30 that cultivatol
may be used to the best advantag
1t must be full of vegetable matter
increase the storage capacity for W
a ter and thereby enable it to ho
al enough water to carry the cote
70 msrop through the longest drouth in II
. abeummer through heavily fortified.
the soil is devoid of vegetable matt
and as a result does not hold enoue
water, the cotton crop will stop gro
ing and putting on squares during
long drouth and shed the fruit alreaC
on the stalks.
The soil may be put In the prop
condition for cotton by practicing
suitable rotation Of crops, includil
leguminous crops, and by turning u
der the corn stalks, the oat and p'
Stable, the grass and trash and Il
cotton stalks where the land Is col
paratively clear Of roots and stun
and where large plows and strol
teams can be had.
It Is advisable to fat break the la
in the fall and early winter and tn
bed It some time before plantil
time The beds should be disked
narrowed just before planting the c.
ton seed, but it is seldom advisable
re-bed the land just before plantir
Cotton comes up quicker, grows
faster and begins bearing sooner on
well settled, firm seed bed, COM
quently, It is not wise to plant t
cotton on freshly prepared land.
Where the soil responds to comm
cial fertilizers, it is advisable to ma
heavy applications to hasten mat
ity and Increase the yield It is b,