(U8 



Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



Among the principal field crops grown commercially in South 

 Africa the cotton plant is the least exhausting. The following table, 

 taken from " Burkett's f'otton." is interesting: — 



Plant Foods Drawn jrom the Soil by Crops. 



We leave it to the reader to make comjiarisons and draw his own 

 conclusions from these figures. 



The farmer should endeavour to obtain the greatest yields at a 

 minimum cost by methodical and scientific cultivation of the soil. 

 This we may call intensive cultivation as contrasted with extensive 

 cultivation. It is far better to grow 50 morgen of cotton yielding 

 1600 lb. of seed cotton per morgen than to grow 100 morg*en yielding 

 800 lb. per morgen. It is self-evident that intensive cultivation is 

 by far the better method for the development of the country. 



Preparation of the Soil. — It is impossible to state with certainty 

 when and how the soil should be cultivated, as so much depends on 

 the class of soil and weather conditions. Where possible the lands 

 should be ploughed in autumn or the early winter, and as deep as 

 possible — 9 to 12 inches, depending on the nature and kind of soil 

 utilized. As soon as the first spring rains set in the lands should be 

 either ploughed again, if necessary, or rolled and harrowed to a fine 

 tilth. As soon as all danger of frost has disappeared the seed may be 

 planted. The earlier the planting the greater the chance for the 

 plants to come to full maturity and the higher the yield. 



The seed germinates in from seven to twelve days. When the 

 plant is about forty to fifty days old the first squares appear ; after 

 that it takes about three weeks for the buds to open. From the open 

 flower till tlie boll opens it takes another fifty days. The warmer the 

 weather the sooner the bolls open. 



Taken Irom " Killebrew and Mvrick's Tobacco Leaf." 



