The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-03-21

put into the planter. The nitrate has
. tendency to cause the little cotton
to be vigorous and resist the bad e.
fects Of the cool nights better. It viii
also generally pay TO make q side ap
pIIcation 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.
Tits 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 shors joints On
the main stems and fruit limbs. The
necessity for early, rapid-fruIting seed
has not been so apparent, but with
the coming Of the weevil We can hard
IL over-estimate the value OF the ear
lest and most prolific seed.
It 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
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 IL to
hasten the maturity Of the crop. The
weevils do not multiply until the
squares begin to form. The weevils
destroy the entire crop before the last
Of July. While it is necessary to plant
as early as the seasons will allow, dc
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
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 a mulch. Harrows
cultivators and heel sweeps are the
implements to use in cultivating the
crop. A turning plow is out Of place
in a cotton field unless the soil is de
void of humus and packs after heavy
rains or unless it rains for two OF
three weeks and it becomes necessary
to bury grass. If the soil packs, espe
cially early in the season, it may be
necessary to use the turning plow as
a necessary evil. If it 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 a 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
ton 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 units 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 tc
the cotton. If the piows cut the side
roots and cause the cotton to cease tc
put ON squares or to shed the squares
the weevils will attack bolls which
would otherwise not be injured.