164 Practical Farming 



plain except that on the level coastal plain there will not 

 be the same need for the deep subsoiling that is needed on 

 the hard red clay of the hills, except where there is a hard 

 clay subsoil in reach of the plow. While wheat may be 

 the better small-grain crop for the hills and winter oats 

 in the plain, the crops may vary to this extent, but the 

 preparation and cultivation of the soil will be identical. 



While every farmer must in every section 

 A Successful ^^ ^^^ judge of what is best for his particular 

 Rotation needs, and suggestions for rotations of crops 



must be largely suggestive, so no one can 

 lay down hard and fast rules for the adoption of every 

 one, we have known the following rotation to be adopted 

 with great success in the South. 



Starting with a cotton crop, which has been fertilized in 

 the usual manner with a complete fertilizer of rather low 

 grade in the furrow, we will add to this a good dressing of 

 a high grade commercial fertiUzer in the middles between 

 the rows of cotton, for the cotton plant, hke the com plant, 

 sends its roots far and wide. We will plant that cotton 

 flat, harrowing down the beds after putting in the fertil- 

 izer. The first cultivation will be with a smoothing har- 

 row before the cotton comes up, so as to break any crust 

 that may have formed. Then, after the cotton is up we 

 will work it both ways with the weeder, and thus com- 

 pletely keep a crust from forming around the plants to 

 make them "sore shinned" in the wind while young and 

 tender. Of course, the weeder will tear out some plants, 

 but not near as many as will have to come out in chopping 

 and will save a great part of the chopping. 



Then all the subsequent cultivation will be done with a 



