38 



during ever}^ month of the year. Fourth, he will plan 

 for crops that can be handled satisfactorily with the 

 work stock and tools available or obtainable and, tifth, 

 which wdll tend to conserve and improve the fertility 

 and productiveness of the soil upon which his future 

 prosperity must depend. 



Rotate Crops. — According to these plans and pur- 

 poses of the progressive farmer, and also in order to 

 minimize injury by numerous insect pests (including 

 the boll weevil especially) and fungus diseases, there 

 will be a wise rotation of crops. Cotton will no longer 

 be permitted to follow cotton every year as has been 

 the connnon practice for the past fifty years- 



Increase Hiimiis and Nitrogen. — The vegtable mat- 

 ter in the soil (humus) can be increased and fertility 

 can be improved especially by using such crops as 

 clovers (especially bur or crimson) cowpeas, beans, vel- 

 vet beans, vetches, etc. The growth of weeds may be 

 prevented and the injury due to both fungus diseases 

 like the boll rot and insect pests such as the boll wee- 

 vil may be largely reduced by the practice of rotation. 



Prepare Soil More Deeply and Thoroughhj Before 

 Planting. The nature and extent of preparation to be 

 given the soil before planting and the cultivation to 

 be given the crop while it is growing become exceed- 

 ingly important questions in producing profitable crops 

 and esi)ecially early maturity in cotton. It is needless 

 to say that the average cotton field is not "worked," 

 it is barely "scratched." The results of innumerable 

 experiments and the practical experience of all of the 

 most successful planters prove that deeper plowing 

 with more thorough working of the soil before plant- 

 ing is one of the first principles in any more successful 

 system of agriculture. Deep plowing should generally 

 come in the fall but thorough spring pre j)ara lion is 

 also essential to best results with most crops. 



Cotton Crop Must Be Made Rapidlij. Xo |)rinciple 

 has been more clearly established than this. Success- 

 ful cotton crops in weevil infested territory must be 

 made rapidly. The multiplication of the weevil is so 

 rapid that after the third geni'ration becomes adults 

 there is little chance for more bolls to be set. The 

 l)resence of the weevils absolutely prevents any "top 

 crop," and usually makes the raising of "late cotton" 

 practically an impossibility. 



