The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-04-13

put into the planter. Inc nitrate mas
tendency to cause the little cotton
TO be vigorous and resist the bad ef
iects of the cool nights better. 1t will
also generally pay to make side ap
plication OF nitrate just after the cot
ton has been thinned the first time.
The production of an early crop of
cotton is now absolutely necessary.
This being true. We must plant early.
rapid-fruiting. prolific cotton seed. We
must either buy such seed every year
or select seed from cotton plants with
low fruit limbs and short joints on
the main stems and fruit limbs. The
necessity for carly. rapid-fruiting 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.
1t is advisable for the average farm
er 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
tons 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 ia
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 gr~wth 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 a 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 mulch. Harrows.
cultivators and heel sweeps are. the
implements to use in cultivating the
crop. A turning pillow is out of place
In a cotton field unless the soil is de-
void of humus and packs after heavy
three weeks and 1t becomes necessary
to bury grass. II the soil packs, espe-
cially early in the season, 1t may be
necessary to use the turning plow as
a necessary evil. If 1t becomes neces-
sary to use the turning pillow to loosen
the soil or to clean out the crop late
in the season by all means avoid deep
cultivation and especially deep cultiva-
ton close to the cotton. Furthermore,
be sure and use harrows or cultiva-
tors few days after using the turn
ing pillow to thoroughly pulverize the
soil and make dust mulch If posi-
BILE.
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 cult
walton 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 to
the cotton. II the plows cut the side
roots and cause the cotton to cease to
put en- squares or to shed the squares,
the weevils will attack bolls which
would otherwise not be injured.