Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-04-05
EARLY COTTON CROP
Absolutely Necessary for Maxi
mum Yield Of Staple.
Fertile Soil az Well az Thorough
Preparation, Rapid Frultlns Seed
and Intensive Shallow cultI-
walton Needed.

N~NHSh bNSS9S0s
(By G. H. Afford, Special Agent Of the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work. jackson. Miss.)
1t is not only necessary to reduce
the number Of weeyils 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 9
Vil-not for the farmer.
The production of an early crop OF
cotton is accomplished as follows:
First-Cut the cotton acreage to
five OIL six acres to the mile SO nat
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
800 to 500 pounds per acre to hasten
maturity and increase the yield.
Fourth-Thoroughly ~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 of we'll in a mass OF
clods.
Fifth-Plant early, rapid-fruiting,
prolific cotton seed.
Sixth-Plant as early as the sea-
son will allow in COWS just about as
wide apart as this 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 It's 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. II the land is well drained.
warm and quick-making, thoroughly
pulverized and fertilized with from
300 to 500 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
wifi soon destroy all the squares and
then destroy all the hollis.
1t takes fertile soil as well as thor
ough preparation, rapid-fruiting seed
and intensive shallow cultivation tc
make good crops Of cotton. The sol
should be we'll drained, full Of humus
and contain plenty of plant food in an
available form. The soil should be
deep for the following reasons: First
to increase the water holding capac
ity; second, to let the water escape
from the surface without running ovel
the ground and washing 1t off: third
to permit the air to circulate freely
for a considerable depth in the soil
fourth, to secure crops against droutt
by enabling the cotton roots to gt
down to perpetual moisture; fifth, tt
increase the area from which plan
roots may obtain food.
The soil must be full of vegetabl,
matter to prevent it from packing
after heavy rains SO that c~ultivator'
may be used to the best advantage
1t must be full Of vegetable matter Il
increase the storage capacity for wa
Der and thereby enable It to holt
enough water to carry the cottol
crop through the longest drouth in thu
summer through heavily fortified. l
the soil is devoid of vegetable matte
and as a result does not hold enough
water, the cotton crop will stop grow
ing and putting on squares during
long drouth and shed the fruit alread,
on the stalks.
The soil may be put In the prope
condition for cotton by practicing
suitable rotation Of crops. including
leguminous crops, and by turning ur
der the corn stalks, the oat aud PEI
Stable, the grass and trash and tn
cotton stalks where the land Is CON
paratively clear Of roots and stump
and where large plows and stroni
teams can be had.
It Is advisable to fat break the Ian
i. in the fall and early winter and the
he'd 1t some time before plantin
time. The beds should be disked O
narrowed Just before planting the col
ton seed, but 1t is seldom advisable t
re-bed the land just before plantin;
Cotton comes up quicker, grows Of
faster and begins bearing sooner on
well settled, firm seed bed. cons,
ouently. it is not wise to plant tn
cotton on freshly prepared land.
Where the soil responds to commei
cial fertilizers, 1t Is advisable to max
heavy applications to hasten matu'
fly and increase the yield. 1t is bel
to use fertilizers that stimulate tn
fruit more than the stalk growtl
High grade 16 per cent acid phosphat