Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1912-03-23

put into the planter. The nitrate has
a tendency to- cause the little cotton
to be vigorous and resist the bad ef-
fects Of the cool nights better. II viii
also generally pay to make side ap-
pIication OF nitrate just after the cot
ton has been thinped the first time.
The production oi an early crop or
cotton is now absolutely necessary.
This being true, ws must plaat early
rapid-fruttiMg. proiidc cotton seed. we
must either buy such seed every year.
or select seed from cotton plants With
low fruit limbs and short joints o1l~>
the main stems and fruit limbs. Tho
necessity for early, rapid-fruiting seed
nas not been SO apparent, but with
the coming OF the weeVil We can aar1-
iy oyer.esIimate the value OF the eafS
Hest and most prolific seed. M
1t is advisable for the average tarn1
err to buy early, rapid-frGiting cotton
seed from scma reputable breeder
and then use every ka6~h s6ieGtid@>
method Of increasing ths oar.iness
and product shess of the cot On: The
, variety tests at the experiment staH'
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 OK 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 weeVfls
seldom become numerous enough to-
destroy the entire crop before the last
of July. While it Is necessary to plant
as early as the seasons will allow, do
mot forget that cotton is 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 ls
surprisingly advanced by the early
| iudicious 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 a heavy rain in order to break
the soil crust and keep soil mulch
en- the ground. The essential thing Ia
| the cultivation of the crop is to keep
the ground free from graaa and weeds
/ and covered with u mulch. HarroWss
! cultivators and heel sweeps are tina
! implements to use In epltlvating re
crop. A turning ploW is out OF place
/ in a cotton field unless the soil is de-
i void of humus and packs after heayS~
rains or unless it rains for two or
three weeks and it becomes necessary
to bury grass, If the soil packs, este
! cialy early in the season, 1t may b6
+ necessary to use the turning pillow az
a necessary evil. If it becomes necea,
sary to use the turning pillow to loosen
the soil or to clean ott the crop late
! IN the season by all means avoid deep
cultivation and especially deep cultivR.
| ton close to the cotton. Furthermore,
! be sure and use harrows or cultiya-
tors a few days after using the turn
ing pillow to thoroughly pulverze 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
CT 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-
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
weevls.
BY all means avoid deep cultivation
late In the season, especially close to
the cotton. If the plows cut the side
roots and cause the cotton to cease to
put OH squares or to shed the squares,
the weevils will attack bols which
would otherwise not be injured.