Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-27
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION
BY DR.. ANDREW M. SOULE

liant food constituent to apply on
r1ost of our soil types. 1t not only
makes the plant harder and less
subject to disease, but it is concern
ed in the elaboration of starch and If
giving the plant a vigorous fraE1e
work as it were.
In this connection we believe that
more liberal fertilization than has
been practiced is desirable; that the
formula used should run higher in
nitrogen and phosphorus than that
previously applied; and that appli-
cations of 500 pounds per acre will
be frequently Justified. The fertil-
izer must, of course, be made avail
able to the crop early in the grow
ing season.
We rather doubt the ACCESSIBILITY
where boil weevil infestation is bad
We think it best to put the fertilizer
under the drill row before the crop
is planted; mix it with the subsoil
and bed thereon. One should select
early, rapid fruiting varieties of cot
ton. Choose only those which
branch low to the ground, set en-
fruit early and do not possess vege-
taIINe llIIlDS. by NSSSIdIlNG lllIlOio w Z
mean those branches which grow to
a good length but do NOT make cot
ton. If you will examine the plants
growing in your field you will be
surprised to find how many different
types there, are. Those with lot OF
vegetative limbs are simply occupy
ing the ground and taking up plant
food that should go to other plants
which are working hard to develop
fruit They are worthless insofar as
their crop-producing value is con-
cerned.
Much has been written and said
about varieties, and there is natur-
ally a good deal Of variation in opin-
ion relative to this matter, but our
own observation is based on good
many years of study and shows that
the earliest varieties with which we
have experimental up to the present
time are College no. l and some of
the Cleveland types followed by
Cooks, Hooper and Texas Burr
These varieties may be planted in
north Georgia. In south Georgia
where the wilt disease is bad, use
Covington Toole or some of the
strains developed therefrom. Of the
long staple upland varieties which
can be grown successfully in the
Sea Island belt, Meade is by all odds
the best.
In growing cotton under boil wee
vii conditions, the question of Gull
tiVation becomes a most important
matter. To this end planting should
be done as early as possible. This
Goes not mean. however, that the
seed should be put in the ground when
it is cold or wet, but at a time when
conditions are favorable for rapio
termination. Get the cotton chopped
to stand as quickly as possible and
then cultivate it at least every week
This will keep it free of weeds and
trash and conserve moisture and
stimulate the growth. The fact that
one might have been able to grow
cotton with a minimum amount OF
cultivation in the past does not apply
under existing conditions. The rows
should be from three and a half to
four feet apart, and the hills twenty
inches apart and two stalks left tc
the hill. The closest spacing should
of course, be on thin land and the
widest spacing on the richer anC
stronger lands. Just as soon as the
cotton is out of the ground the wee
vii will begin to emerge from his hid
ing place. He will appear in the buC
of the little plant. Therefore go over
the fields every Monday morning and
pick these first weevi1s from theil
hiding place in the terminal buds
before the squares are formed. In.
Jured buds turn black and weevils
do not travel fast al this season sc
! they can be caught with relative ease
The destruction of any considerable
number at the season indicated mill.
tates seriously against their multipIi.
ca ton because the weevil is a most
prolific insect and if let alone a pail
OF them in a year may have a pro.
! geny aggregating several million b,
TALL. The children should pick up the
| 1allen squares each Monday morn
ing. This practice should be con
tlnued to July Is or even August
IN some sections. The size and de
structiveness of the first and seconc
broods of Weevils can be materially
decreased by first picking the wee
Wis and later picking the injured
Or fallen squares.
In conclusion, spray with Calcium
Rrsenate when an infestation of re-,
| TO thirty per cent has developed. Th,
| method OF practice to follow in thi!
! respect has been fully detailed ant
| outlined in these pages on severa
! previous occasions.