The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-11
Data On Cotton Farming
GivenByC Bureau
Conclusions And RecOmmen.
dations Based On Twelve
Years Of Experience
GUY A. CARDWELI,
General Agricultural Agent
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad 70,

The following conclusions and
recommendations, having reference
to cotton production in South Caro-
lima, are based on methods, prac-
tees and observations drawn from IL
years of records kept by the best
cotton farmers in South Carolina. I
am circulating this information for
the benefit of Virginia and North
Carolina cotton farmers as we'll as
South Carolina cotton farmers who
have not seen a copy of Circular 179,
January 1910, Clemson Agricultural
college, entitled Cotton Production
in South Carolina"
All South Carolina farmers can
appreciate and profit from the les
sons taught by the IL years. results
Of the Five-Acre Cotton Contest. The
suggestions given here are based up
or facts and observations of sue
cessful practices drawn from a study
of records kept by a group of the
best cotton farmers in the state.
These recommendations are in line
with. results obtained by the South
Carolina agricultural experiment sta
tons.
A. Varieties And Planting Seed
1. Plant only wilt.resistant varie-
ties on wilt-infested soils.
2. Plant a variety that normally
produces a staple 1 to 1 1-16 inches.
3. Grow only those varieties of
proven worth.
4. Each year buy enough new
seed direct from breeder to grow
sufficient for next years crop.
5. Use only clean seed of known
origin and termination.
6. Save seed from cotton that was
not weather-damaged and from dis
ease-free plants.
, Z. Treat all planting seed with 2
per cent Ceresan using three ounces
Per bushel to assure good stands.
B. Soils And Preparation OF Land
1. Plant cotton only on fertile
well drained cotton soils.
2. Break the land in late winter
or early spring in the Coastal Plains
and in fall or winter in the Pied
mont.
3. Use rows Sc to AZ inches wide.
C. Fertilization
l.. A firm seeded is desirable.
Apply fertilizer and bed 10 days be-
fore planting if possible.
2. Side-placement Of fertilizer is
desirable. Fertilizer should be 2 to
3 inches to the side and 2 inches
below seed level. If this is not
practical. use a small shovel pillow
to mix the fertilizer in the drill be-
fore bedding. This is important.
8. Use 400 to 800 pounds of fer
tilizer per acre under cotton, de-
pending on the soil type and the
fertility of the land. (This amount
is figured on the basis Of plant food
contained in 4-S-6 (NPK) fertilizer.
4. After chopping, side-dress with
100 to $50 pounds of nitrate of soda
or equivalent. If rust appeared in
the previous crop, use so to 100
pounds of muriate of potash or equiv.
5. If a legume crop is turned I'M
der prior to planting, reduce the
amount of nitrogen in proportion
to the amount Of material turned
under.
6. If fertilizer is bought ready.
mixed, be sure that it is non-acid-
forming (neutraD.
Z. Have an acidity test made on
the soil to be used for cotton Be
governed by this test in applying
D.. Planting
l. Plant as soon as danger from
cold weather is past.
2. Use at least one bushel per
acre of seed terminating not less
than 80 per cent. Plant larger
amounts if termination is less than
80 per cent.
E. Cultivation
1. Thin as soon as all danger Of
dying is past.
2. Leave two to three stalks per
hill every hoe-width apart. Results !