The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-18
HOW TO BEAT
BOIL WEEVIL
Single-Staik Method Of Cotton
Culture Gains Favor With
Progressive Farmers

Twenty-Five to one hundred per cent
increase in yield is reported hy cotton
growers who have adopted The neH-
close-spacing system CT cotton culture
introduced s or 10 years ago by the
United States Department Of Agricul-
ture. Reports coming derectly to the
department ard to southern agricul-
tural journals which have interested
themselves in encoura cling the nrW
system, show tha1 farmers throughout
the cotton regions OF the country are
rapidly turning to the plan. Increased
yield less labor and expense for tne
same crop, and a lesseninS Of boll-
weevil damage are among the benefits
recited in hundreds Of letters written
by farmers in various parts Of the
South. Indications are that the sys-
tenn will be adopted far more widely
the coming season.
Space Plants Hoe Width Apart
The c!ose-spacing, moro commonly
known as the single-stalk method of
cotton culture, consists primarily in
s0acine the cotton plants 50 close IN
the row--a hoe width apart-that the
lower or vegetative branches do not
develop. and the growth Of the plant
goes directly on fruitlng branches.
permitting them to begin development
of blossoms and bolls earlier and Civ
irg them more nourishnlent and
more light. -
i.,e ,:is2.ir,.,.s 5:a@,. ~, cttio1: 2isiat.
Il. caI.lr5li t<It:' ,.o.i,-c, ctrao. an': =
numb - .,,,:.-4 -i.seir, prod i,,.es'> t<YE'
different sets of branches vas allnoul!-
ced by specialists of the department
about 1911, and has given direction
to a series Of useful experiments in cul-
tivation. BY taking account OF the
specialized habits of branching it was
found possible to exercise mucn
more effective control of the develop
ment of the plants so as to secure
earlier crops. larger yields, and great
er protection against injury by the
boil xeevil.
The suppression of the vegetative
branches avoids the excessive crowd
ing Of large plants and injurious COM
petition between the two kinds OF
branches. The cultural ideal under the
new system is cotton plant WITH
only the single, erect, central stalk
bearing numerous well-developed
fruiting branches but none OF the
vegetative branches or secondary
stalks. The suppression Of the vese-
tat:ve branches is easily accomplished
by leaving the young plants close to-
gether in the rows. Thinning is de-
ferred until the plants are some to
8 inches high, or even later under
conditions of rank growth. If the
Young plants stand less than inches
during these carly stages OF growth,
more of them will no tprod3ce E3nN
vegetative branches, bat will have only
the upright central stalk and the horl-
zontal fruiting branches.
The distance between the plants is
regulated with reference to local con-
ditions and the habit Of growth OF
different varieties, the range being be-
tween 6 ard II inches. The p!amiI
hen have narrow upright form ana
can be left closer together in the rows.
Even with the plants onl; 3 or lncnes
apart in the rows there may be less
injurious crowding than with large
uany-stalked plants feet apart III
the rows The distance between the
rows. usually IL feet, can be var
led with reference to local condltlons'
but crowding the rows together. So
that the sun does not reach the
ground. is undesirable especially unoer
Weevil conditions.
Small Plants May Outyicld Large
Ones.
In the way Of production two dis
tinct advantages are gained, the small
er single stalk plants free from any
arge unproductive offshoots, proceed
at once to the development OF the
branches which produce cotton Dolls
and in many cases these small pants
nraGnco alr,oct rs l.a;1H l'"':>. ana .
better quality Of lint THAI iafsv ea"l'E-
1alked plants occupying the space,
II three of the smaller. But even with
vary small plants that bear only a
few bolls apiece the yields may oe
much larger than from large spread
ng plants. The bolls also are pro->
3,1ced much earlier on the small
Dlants. and are more likely to escape
injury by the boil weevil.
The Egyptian cotton industry OF the
Southwest. an achievement of the
Department of Agriculture which mas
added s2o,OO0,o00 year to the an
nual agricultural income OF the
country, could not have been accom-
plished. in the opinion Of department.
specialists, without the new close
spacing system for controlling the
reeetative branches. The benefits to
the cOO,O00,OO0 cotton crop OF the
COUNTRY a !arsc. wl1h "ont;nue-s! *
5ension OF the new method, can CO.
be family estimated