154 AGRICULTURE FOR BEGINNERS 



the first plowing, unless the land is a loose, sandy loam, 

 should be done with a two-horse plow, and should be deep 

 and thorough. This deep plowing not only allows the tap 

 root to penetrate, but it also admits a circulation of air. 



On some cotton farms it is the practice to break the 

 land in winter or early spring and then let it lie naked 

 until planting time. This is not a good practice. The 

 winter rains wash more plant food out of unprotected soil 

 than a single crop would use. It would be better, in the 

 late summer or fall, to plant crimson clover or some other 

 protective and enriching crop on land that is to be planted 

 in cotton in the spring. This crop, in addition to keeping 

 the land from being injuriously washed, would greatly 

 help the coming cotton crop by leaving the soil full of 

 vegetable matter. 



Just before planting time, the plowed land should be 

 harrowed until the soil is fine and mellow. Do not spare 

 the harrow at this time. It destroys many a weed that, if 

 allowed to grow, would have to be cut by costly hoeing. 

 Thorough work before planting saves much expensive work 

 in the later days of the crop. Moreover, no man can 

 afford to allow his plant food and moisture to go to nourish 

 weeds even for a short time. 



The rows should be from three to four feet apart. The 

 width depends upon the richness of the soil. On rich 

 land the rows should be at least four feet apart. This 

 width allows the luxuriant plant to branch and fruit well. 

 On poorer lands the distance of the rows should not be so 

 great. The distribution of the seed in the row is of course 

 most cheaply done by the planter. As a rule, it is best 

 not to ridge the land for the seed. Flat culture saves 



