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Louisiana state that they can procure early crops on their “ front ” 
land, but that such is difficult or impossible on the fields back from 
the river. This is largely a matter of drainage. In some sections in 
Louisiana and Mississippi the essential step in obtaining an early 
crop will be largely a question of drainage. Lands so situated that 
they can not be drained economically to the extent that allows an 
early crop must be devoted to crops other than cotton. 
The advantage of early planting has been demonstrated in every 
one of the numerous experiments made by the Bureau of Entomology 
and has now become the general practice among farmers. The rea- 
sons for the efficiency of early planting are not far to seek. The 
small numbers of weevils passing through the winter must have con- 
siderable time to multiply. They are unable to breed until squares 
are put on by the plants, since the food obtained from the fruit is 
required before reproduction can begin. Moreover, at the time the 
first squares are put on, the development of the immature stages is 
comparatively slow, not reaching the very rapid rate that obtains 
during the warm days and nights of the summer. For these reasons 
it is possible for the farmer to rush his crop in such a way that a 
large number of squares and bolls will be formed before the weevils 
have multiplied to a serious extent. Of course, under usual condi- 
tions the weevils will ultimately multiply so that the crop put on 
after a certain date will all be destroyed. This, however, is of no 
importance, since a top crop in weevil regions is entirely out of the 
question. The time it takes the weevils to recuperate after the vicis- 
situdes of winter, especially after the entirely feasible destruction of 
multitudes in the fall, can thus be taken advantage of in the produc- 
tion of a crop. 
Removal of plants.—The first step in the procuring of an early crop 
is the early removal of the plants, so that the land may be plowed 
during the fall or winter and the seed bed given thorough and early 
preparation. In fact, such preliminary preparation should be fol- 
lowed for the production of the best cotton crop under any condi- 
tions. The recommendation made is therefore neither onerous nor 
revolutionary. The tendency has often been to neglect the cotton 
fields until spring or at least until “after Christmas.” It would 
repay the farmer many times if he would take the slight additional 
trouble of plowing the fields before that time. Not only a plowing, 
but one or more harrowings should be given the land during the 
winter. 
Use of commercial fertilizers—An important step in procuring an 
early crop under many conditions is the use of commercial fertilizers. 
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