174 THE CHIEF SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL CROPS 



have been made in Cuba, but never with any perma- 

 nent success. It seems that in the future, as in the 

 past, the bulk of the world's supply will continue to 

 come from the great Southern cotton belt. 



Climate and Soil. — Cotton is preeminently a plant 

 of warm climates. It grows slowly and feebly as 

 long as the nights are cool in the spring and only at- 

 tains its most rapid growth when the thermometer 

 reaches 90°, or above, at midday, and does not fall 

 below 70° at night. It roots very deeply and hence 

 it can endure drought well, especially if given good 

 surface cultivation. Excessive rains are always in- 

 jurious, and especially so late in the season when the 

 bolls begin to open. In the cotton states April and 

 May are quite warm and are usually comparatively 

 dry. Abundant showers, as a rule, occur during 

 midsummer, and dry weather is expected in the 

 fall. This makes ideal weather for the cotton crop. 

 When, however, cold rains continue late in the spring, 

 or when, as sometimes happens, the fall is wet, the crop 

 is likely to be seriously injured. 



Cotton will grow well on a great variety of soils, but 

 there must be good drainage, as standing water about 

 the roots is quickly fatal to it. On very rich river- 

 bottom soils there is a tendency to grow large stalks 

 at the expense of fruit. The ideal cotton soil is a rich 

 sandy loam; heavy, stiff clay is not desirable, though 

 clay loams give very good results. 



Fertilizers. — Commercial fertilizers are now used 

 extensively for cotton on all old, thin uplands. Com- 

 plete fertilizers are usually employed, but the exact 

 formula varies somewhat widely in different localities. 



