The Prescott daily news., 1912-05-01

necessity for early, rapsd-fruting seed has not been so apparent, but with the coming of the weevil we can hard ly over-estimate the value of the ear Hest and most prolific seed.
 It is advisable for the average farm CT to buy early, rapid-fruiting cotton seed from some reputable breeder and then use every known scientific method of increasing the earliness and prOductiveness of the cotton. The variety tests at the experiment sta tions name the earliest and most pro- life varieties of cotton. We act very foolish when we buy cotton seed that the experiment stations have not shown to be the earliest and most prolific by actual tests in the fields through a sufficient number of years to eliminate weather conditions. We should never buy seed because of high sounding names or on account of eXag- gerated statements.
 The object of early planting is to hasten the maturity of the crop. The weevils do not multiply until the squares begin to form. The weevils seldom become numerous enough to destroy the entire crop before the last of July. While 1t Is necessary to plant as early as the seasons will allow, do not forget that cotton Is. a tropical plant and will not grow until warm weather.
 The use of the toothed harrow just before planting and just before the cotton plants are up to break the crust and frequently during the early stages Of growth to keep the soil loose will cause the little cotton to take on rapid growth at once. The crop is surprisingly advanced by the early judicious use of the harrow
 Begin cultivation and thin the cot ton as soon as possible. Give the cot ton cultivation every week and always after heavy rain in order to break the soil crust and keep soil mulch on the ground. The essential thing in the cultivation of the crop is to keep the ground free from grass and weeds and covered with a mulch. Harrows, cultivators and heel sweeps are the implements to use in cultivating the crop. A turning blow is out of place in cotton field unless the soil is de- void of humus and packs after heavy rains or unless it rains for two or three weeks and 1t becomes necessary to bury grass. If the soil packs, espe- cially early in the season, it may be necessary to use the turning blow as a necessary evil If it becomes neces- sary to use the turning blow to loosen the soil or to clean out the crop late in the season by all means avoid deep cultivation and especially deep cultiva- tion close to the cotton. Furthermore. be sure and use harrows or cultiva- tors few days after using the turn ing blow to thoroughly pulverize the soil and make a dust mulch If possi- ble.
 This frequent and shallow cultiva- tion with harrows and cultivators should be continued until the cotton begins to open. Most of the benefits of thorough preparation early rapid fruiting seed, early planting, and in- tensive shallow cultivation may be lost unless the fields are given the ut most attention until the cotton begins to open. Frequent and shallow culti- vation late in the season will not re- suit in the death of many adult wee wills, but it causes the cotton to re- main green and continue to grow and put on squares to furnish food for the weevils
 By all means avoid deep cultivation late in the season, especially close tc the cotton. If the blows cut the side roots and cause the cotton to cease to put on squares or to shed the squares. the weevils will attack bolls which would otherwise not be injured.