The Brinkley argus., 1916-04-28
BOYS AND GIRLs'CLUB WORK

BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WORK Nc. 6. Primary Rules of Cotton Growing.
 By w. c. Lassetter, Assistant Director of Extension, University of Arkan- sas, and U. s. Department of Agri- culture, Cooperating.
 Cotton responds more readily. more perceptibly and more profitably to a little good treatment than any other farm crop. It will seemingly do bet ter under adverse conditions than any other crop. Never a year comes but that some money can be made from cotton. But since the crop responds 50 readily to good treatment. there Is no reason for requiring that 1t grow without attention. Yield of cotton per acre can be materially increased through attention to variety to be grown, the preparation of the land, fertilization and cultivation.
 More than 300 varieties of cotton are being grown in. the South, and these vary widely in their ability to yield. In tests conducted by the Ar kansas Experiment Station the aver age of the better varieties showed an increased return of from twelve to fifteen dollars per acre as compared with the average of the poorer varie- ties. Repeated tests conducted by the Experiment Station show that for av- craze conditions the Nebane Fri umph, Cleveland Big Boil. Trice, Rub lee, Simpkins and King are reliable varieties from the standpoint of yield per acre.
 All cotton seed to be used for planting should be tested for gsrmi- nation before planting. Use for this two plates and piece of absorbent cotton cloth as outlined for various farm seed tests. Do not use seed for planting purposes that show less than 70 per cent germination.
 If the soil is to produce good cotton 1t must be well prepared. All land for cotton should be broken in the fall or in the very early spring. going one .sfou deeper than at the last breaking.
 We'll drained land should not be bedded. Very poorly drained land probably should be bedded. Do your bedding at least three or four weeks ahead of planting time.
 If land has been broken in the fall or early spring, begin to double disk it about three or four weeks before planting time. then harrow each week until ready for planting. This repeat ed narrowing will kill successive crops of grass and weeds as fast as they come up, and will leave the land much freer of weed seeds and will make the crop easier to work. Where land is bedded. harrow the tops of the beds well before planting. Try to work the beds down in such way that when the seed are covered they will be about on an average with the sur face of the land.
 Fertilisers.-Apply ten tons (ten good loads) of barnyard manure and 800 pounds of 16 per cent acid phos. phate per aero broadcast and disk or harrow 1t immediately. In the event you can secure only three or five toni of manure, lay of the rows with q good, large shovel blow and distribute the manure and the acid phosphate in the furrows. Follow with a bull tongue and eight or ten-inch heel sweep run in tho bottom of the fur. row to mix the fertilixing materials with the soil. Bed on this and allow to settle for two weeks, If possible before planting.
 If barnyar6 manure Is not available you may substitute commercial fertIl izers. For just average soils thor oughly mix 260 pounds cotton seed meal and 25o pounds 16 per cent acid phosphate. Apply in tho drill previ ous to bedding. For good soils miz 200 pounds cotton seed meal and 30t pounds acid phosphate. On rich soill | apply 300 pounds acid phosphate. Plant cotton as soon as the soil
 begins to warm up. Never use planter that drops only ono seed 1T
 a place. It is much better to plant 1 in rows from three and half to five
 feet apart and in hills from 12 to 2i
 inches apart. putting from eight to Il
 seed to hill.
 Begin to cultivate with the section
 harrow before the cotton comes up After that chop out and cultivate witt
 an implement that will not run more than three inches deep. Practice shal low cultivation two to two and hall f7nches continuously. Cultivate after every rain as soon as the soil will dt | to work, and in case of dry weather
 cultivate every ten days. Continue
 until the cotton begins to show signs | of maturity or until the plants are SC