SOWINO AND WATERINQ COTTON. 23 



damage is slight, but in tho very young stage a shower generally 

 necessitates a considerable amo\int of replanting. 



SOWING COTTON. 



The seed is not planted on the top of the bed, but two-thirds of the 

 distance up the slope of the bed — that is to say, two-thirds of the dis- 

 tance up from th(^ bottom of the furrow to the top of the bed. The 

 quantity of seed used is about 1^ l)ushels per acre. Holes are made, 

 generally by boys, by means of a stick or a small wooden scoop, at 

 the required distance apart and at tho height mentioned, and from 

 eight to ton seeds are deposited in eacth hole at a depth of 2 or 3 inches. 

 A watering is then given, the water entering between the beds as 

 already described (PI. lY). In about ten or twelve days the seeds 

 germinate, though this may be a little more or less, depending on the 

 time of sowing and the weather prevailing. 



It is soon seen that some seeds fail to gei-minate and blanks are evi- 

 dent. In some seasons this is much more than in others, but in any 

 case resowing is at once done. Seeds are soaked in water over night 

 and the next day sown in tlic blank places in a similar manner to the 

 general sowing. The soil has now become somewhat dry, and the 

 object of soaking the seed is to aid germination. If replanting is 

 general and forms a very large proportion of the total, it may be 

 necessary to water the land. In this case the seed is sown dry; the 

 young plants existing suffer, however. 



WATERING COTTON. 



As soon as the plants are fairly well established a hoeing is given 

 to destroy weeds and break up the surface. (PI. IV, fig. 2.) This is 

 practiced by all good cultivators, though neglected by others. Three 

 or four men are necessary to hoe an acre per day, stirring not only 

 the soil between the plants, but disturbing also the tops of the beds. 

 Occasionally a second hoeing is given before the first watering, which 

 takes place some thirty-five days after planting. This period is a 

 variable one, depending on the nature of the soil and the prevailing 

 weather conditions. On a clay soil, well hoed, it nuiy be longer, while 

 on a sandy soil it may be less. Before this watering is given the 

 crop should be thinned, the two strongest plants being left standing, 

 while the others are removed. This early thinning is advisable, and 

 to water the crop before thinning is not considered good practice, if it 

 can be avoided. 



It is generally accepted that as long an interval as is consistent 

 with the health of the plant should elapse before the first watering is 

 given ; otherwise the plant is not encouraged to root well, but tends 

 to grow too rapidly. Too frequent waterings during the early grow- 

 ing period prevent the proper branching of the plants from the bot- 

 tom. They grow up raindly, producing their forms at the top rather 



