COTTON 161 



WHERE YOU FIND THE LATERAL ROOTS 



An examination of cotton roots as they grow in 

 the field will indicate many things helpful during 

 the cultural season, and show how essential it is 

 not to go deep into the soil with the cultivator. 

 The growing habits of cotton roots have been given 

 a good deal of study, and this knowledge ought to 

 be used to advantage in the culture of the crop. In 

 South Carolina, for instance, "it has been observed 

 that most of the lateral roots commenced about 

 three inches below the surface, and never went 

 below the upper nine inches of soil." At the Ala- 

 bama Station similar observations were made. 

 "In a soil of sandy drift and pebbles" a young cot- 

 ton plant three and one-fourth inches high was 

 found having a lateral root over three feet in length, 

 the end of the root being only three inches from the 

 surface. The position of the roots suggested to 

 this experimenter that "the usual deep cultivation 

 would have destroyed four-fifths of the lateral roots 

 which extended at right angles to the row." 



Many experiments made in respect to inter-cul- 

 ture make out a strong case as to the superiority of 

 shallow over deep cultivation. These tests extend 

 over a period of several years, and have to do with 

 conditions in several States. Only two instances 

 are on record in which shallow culture failed to af- 

 ford a larger yield than deep culture. 



HOW OFTEN TO CULTIVATE 



Early culture, if well done, plays havoc with 

 grass and weeds. And since to rid land of these is 

 the first of the reasons why we cultivate, it follows 

 that if they are kept in check early in the season, 



