94 Farmers’ Bulletin 1262. 
SECURING A FULL STAND OF COTTON. 
Many theories have been advanced regarding the spacing of cotton 
and its relation to boll-weevil control. The most profitable spacing 
varies with the season, soil, variety, and numerous other condi- 
tions, but it is generally found that the spacing which secured the 
best results prior to the arrival of the weevil is still best in the pres- 
ence of the weevil. The general practice, however, has been exceed- 
ingly careless and as a rule very poor stands are secured. It is im- 
possible to make a full crop of cotton unless sufficient plants are on 
the ground and the first step to secure this result is the adoption of 
more careful methods of hoeing to a stand. 
CULTIVATION. 
During the growing season of the crop the fields should be very 
carefully cultivated, otherwise most of the benefits of early prepara- 
tion, early planting, and fertilization may be lost. In case of un- 
avoidably delayed planting the best course to pursue is to cultivate 
the fields in the most thorough manner possible. Under most con- 
ditions the old plantation rule “once a week and one in a row ” should 
be applied. This will not result in the direct destruction of many 
weevils, but it causes the plants to continue uninterruptedly in their 
growth. By all means such operations as deep cultivation and cul- 
tivation close to the plants, which cause shedding, should be avoided. 
In many instances a fair crop already set and beyond danger from 
the weevil has been lost by running the plows so close that the side 
roots were cut and the plants made to shed practically all the fruit. 
When this happens during the middle or latter part of the season 
the weevils will certainly prevent the putting on of any more fruit. 
The general practice of “laying by.” by scraping the middles with a 
wide sweep, leaves a hard surface which causes loss of moisture and 
shedding. Where the weevil occurs, every precaution must be taken 
to avoid shedding, as the insect will prevent the maturity of the later 
fruit anc, moreover, will be forced to attack bolls which otherwise 
would not be injured. 
The value of late cultivation has often been discussed. Prior to 
the advent of the weevil it was an almost universal custom to “ lay 
by ” the cotton crops well before the time when the last bolls were 
set. This practice has been very largely abandoned, however, owing 
to dire necessity. The importance of keeping the cotton squaring 
long enough to protect the bolls until safe from injury has been 
mentioned, and the best way to accomplish this result is to continue 
cultivation until fairly late in the season, at least two or three weeks 
beyond the usual time of “laying by.” This is, of course, a some- 
what dangerous practice, since it is a critical period in the bolling of 
