The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-12-27

tie before planting. Cotton comes
up quicker and grows off better from
a hrm we'll bed than from a loose
one, Just previous to, planting a weed
er or harrow should be run over the
crust. Quicker termination and rap
Id growth will be the result from the
above methods.
Early fruiting varieties only should
be used. Weevils seldom puncture
haif grown bolls if there are squares
available. No one variety is suitable
TO all soil types Of the State, and eocn
cotton planter having a good variety
well suited to his soil, and giving good
yields. should begin now to make Sc
lections with a view Of obtaining an
early maturing type. No result of
plant breeding is so easy to accom-
plish as that of breeding cotton for
early maturity.
The following are some of the early
maturing varieties that have been
grown successfully under boil weevil
conditions: King, Simpkins, Trice.
Express, Cook, Broadwell. Perry, Pet
way, Wonnamaker's Cleveland Zig
Boil etc.
The farmers of each community
should decide on some one variety or
type Of cotton we'll suited to their
conditions, and agree to grow this
variety, so as to prevent mixing OF
the seed at the gins.
On wilt infested lands It will be ne
fcessary to use only those varieties i'm
mune from wilt. Early maturing types
of these varieties can be develop.
ed by selection on wilt infested. lands.
Location of fields: AS far as. prac-
ticable cotton fields should. be located
in the open, away from woods: or 9TH
or good harboring places for. wcevi,s.
Cotton should not be planted two
years in succession in the same
field. $50. . - -
Planting: Cotton should be planted
as early a. possible. after all danger
of killing frost is owe and the ground
warm enough to insure quick germi.
nation and rapid growth. 1t is. a
distinct advantage when practicable
to delint the seed, because such seed
| will terminate quicker under the
same conditions than will undelinted
seed. - @
Spacing: The width OF row and
| distance between plants in III row
should be regulated according to the
fertility of the land. Whatever spac-
ing now produces the best crop should
usually be retained. If any change
at all is made, a slight reduction Of
the distance between plants in. the
rows SO as to give a greater number
of plants per acre may prove advis-
able. - As g. 8, .n48
Stable manure is the best Of ferti-
f~lizers.s but only d small amount ofN
Id produced on the average farm in
the State. A practice should be made
Of turning under green crops; such as
cowpeas. rye. ETC.. Under boil weevil
conditions it is very necessary to
maintain an ample supply Of organic
matter in the soil, both for its ferti-
LIKING and warming effects. A liberal
application Of commercial fertilizers
is also necessary and this fertilizer
should contain a large per cent OF
| acid phosphate. which ingredient
hastens the maturing Of cotton. A
liberal amount Of ammonia to quick
EN- growth should also be used. The
main fertilization should be applied
under the cotton, and then as soon as
the young plants are up, a small
amount of nitrate of soda at the rate
Of twenty-five to fifty pounds per acre
should be applied. Nitrate Of soda is
highly soluble for and will cause the
young plants to grow off rapidly. An
other application of nitrate OF soda
at the rate of from seventy-five to
100 pounds per acre should be applied
when the first squares appear.
From the very start cotton should
be cultivated intensively so as to de-
stroy woods and grass and to main
tain a dust mulch to prevent the loss
of moisture. This dust mulch also
aids materially in the destruction of
the young weevils inside Of the
squares. These squares, when they fall
on this dust mulch. especially if there
is ample sunshine, soon dry out and
the weevil contents die with them.
Every precaution should be taken to
avoid loss Of the first fruit by she'd
ding. . To that end cultivation should
be shallow and frequent and great
care should be observed not to tear