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In many large areas in the cotton belt the land is not impoverished to 
the extent that it actually needs fertilizers under normal conditions. 
It has been demonstrated many times by the different experiment 
stations in the South that the maturity of cotton can frequently be 
hastened materially by the use of fertilizers, especially those con- 
taining a high percentage of phosphoric acid. The recommendation 
for the use of fertilizers in weevil regions, therefore, does not imply 
the exhaustion of the soil. It merely means that fertilizers place in 
the hands of the farmers an important means of averting damage by 
the boll weevil. The proper use of fertilizers is a very complicated 
matter. In fact, in the hght of all present knowledge only the most 
general rules can be laid down. Each farmer must experiment with 
the soil or different soils upon his own place and study the results to 
obtain the greatest benefit from fertilizers at the smallest cost. In 
the eastern portion of the cotton belt most of the farmers have ac- 
quired this experience. In the West, however, this training is lack- 
ing. Farmers interested should communicate with the State experi- 
ment stations and obtain the latest bulletins regarding experiments 
with fertilizers in their own regions. 
Use of early varieties of cotton. Next in importance to early prepara- 
tion, and fertilization (where necessary), in obtaining an early crop 
of cotton comes the use of early varieties. In all experiments that 
have been undertaken the advantage in the use of early varieties has 
been conspicuous. As in other cases, the greatest advantage in this 
instance comes with the joint use of the other expedients recommended 
for weevil control. By far the best method for obtaining seed of 
early maturing cotton is for the farmer to carry on the selection him- 
self. In many cases, however, this is impracticable. Under such cir- 
cumstances the farmer should obtain seed of improved varieties from 
dealers or such individual farmers in the locality as have been able 
to carry on careful seed selection. A valuable publication on the 
selection of cotton varieties has been published by this Department 
as Farmers’ Bulletin No. 314, “A Method of Breeding Early Cotton 
to Escape Boll Weevil Damage,” by R. L. Bennett. A copy may be 
obtained by any planter by application to the Secretary of Agri- 
culture. 
Standard early varieties of cotton—There are a number of standard 
varieties that have been found of value in weevil-infested regions the 
seed of which may be obtained from seed dealers. Among them are 
the Rowden, Triumph, Cleveland Big Boll, Cook’s Improved, and 
King. All of these except the King have either medium-sized or 
large bolls. The King has a small boll, about 80 being required to 
make a pound, but is remarkably early and has given the best yields 
