Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-04-19
EARLY COTTON CROP
Absolutely Necessary for Maxi
mum Yield of Staple.
Fertile Soil as Well as Thorough
Preparation, Rapid Fruitlns Seed
and Intensive Shallow Cuiti-
walton Needed.

CBy G. IL. Afford. Special Agent OF the
Farmers Cooperative Demonstration
Work. Jackson. Miss.)
1t is not only necessary 10 reduce
the number of weevils 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 wee
yil-not for the farmer.
The production of an early crop oil
cotton Is accomplished as follows:
First-Cut the cotton acreage to
dive or six acres to the mile so that
cultural methods may be closely fol-
lowed.
Secondhand only well drained.
warm, quick-making land in cotton
Third-Where the soil responds to
commercial fertilizers apply from
300 to 500 pounds per acre to hasten
maturity and increase the yield.
Fourth-Thoroughly pulverize the
soil before planting. Work the soil
until 1t is like an ash heap for three
or four inches deep Little cotton
cannot grow of well in a mass Of
clods.
Fifth-Plant early. rapid-fruiting.
prolific cotton seed.
Sixth-Plant as early as the sea
sons will allow in rows Just about as
wide apart as tie cotton usually
grows tall In average seasons.
Seventh-Commence to work the
little cotton just as soon as possible
and never permit crust to form or
the field to become grassy.
The majority of the over-wintered
weeyils 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 its 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 viii go out under the
wire far in the lead with from one
half to 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
will soon destroy all the squares and
then destroy all the boIls.
II takes fertile soil as well as thor
ough preparation. rapid-fruiting seed
and intensive shallow cultivation to
make good crops Of cotton. The soil
should be well 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 over
the ground and washing 1t of: third,
to permit the air to circulate freely
for considerable depth in the soil;
fourth. to secure crops against drouth
by enabling the cotton roots to go
down to perpetual moisture; fifth. to
increase the area from which plant
roots may obtain food
The soil must be full Of vegetable
matter to prevent It from packing
after heavy rains so that cultivators
may be used to the best advantage.
II must be full Of vegetable matter TO
increase the storage capacity for wa
ter and thereby enable 1t to hold
enough water to carry the cotton
crop through the longest drouth in the
summer through heavily fortified. II
the soil is devoid of vegetable matter
and as a result does not hold enough
water. the cotton crop win stop grow
ing and putting on squares during
long drouth and shed the fruit already
on the stalks.
The soil may be put In the proper
condition for cotton by practicing a
suitable rotation of crops. including
Ieguminous crops. and by turning I'M
der the corn stalks. the oat and pea
Stable. the grass and trash and the
cotton stalks where the land is CON-
paratively clear of roots and stumps
and where large plows and strong
teams can be had.
II is advisable TO fat break the land |
in the fall and early winter and then
bed It some time before planting
time. The beds should be disked or
narrowed just before planting the cot |
ton seed. but ii is seldom advisable to
re-bed the land just before planting.
Cotton comes up QUICKER. grows OF |
faster and begins bearing sooner on a
well settled. firm seed bed. conse-
quently. II is not wise to plant the
cotton on freshly prepared land.
Where the soil responds to CONNER
cial fertilizers, it is advisable to make
heavy applications to hasten matur-
fly and increase the yield II Is best
to use fertilizers that stimulate the
fruit more than the stalk growth.
High grade Is per cent acid phosphate
is the basis for increasing fruit and
hastening maturity. Cottonseed meal
Il generally the basis for stimulating
stalk growth. A mixture OF two parts
Of is per cent acid phosphate and one
part OF per cent cottonseed meal Is
a good mixture for cotton on soil OF
average fertility. II will also gen.
orally pay to mix from 10 to 20 pounds
Of nitrate Of soda with every bushel OF
: - 4 Il