COTTON 157 



using the remaining half in the center furrow. 

 Double doses of fertilizers pay only where con- 

 siderable quantities are used. For the dose as 

 usually given, a single application is sufficient and 

 this is best applied in the bedding-up process. 



THE FIRST CULTIVATION 



A few months ago we visited a cotton plantation 

 which had received considerable local mention 

 because of its excellence. About one hundred 

 acres of the plantation were devoted to cotton, 

 and at the time of our visit the crop indicated a 

 yield of nearly two bales to the acre. 



" When did you begin the culture of this cotton ? " 

 we asked the owner. 



"Well, sir, I began to cultivate that cotton 

 before it was planted, " he quickly replied. 



"The crop is certainly a fine one," some one 

 remarked, " and not only that, but I see it is grown 

 on very ordinary land. How do you account for 

 the better appearance of your cotton as compared 

 with all these other fields around here ?" 



" Simply by good tillage (for I never use a one- 

 horse plow) ; by making use of all vegetable matter 

 I can find in the woods and on the farm; by 

 careful selection of seed; and by careful cultivation 

 throughout the whole growing season, and es- 

 pecially before the crop is planted. " 



The excellence of the crop truly was manifest. 

 We have heard since that this good farmer had 

 produced even more than his estimate that day he 

 made a total crop of two hundred and twenty-four 

 bales. 



His philosophy is in keeping with the facts sug- 

 gested by the study and research of our cotton 



