COTTON 163 



topping is evidently unwise and makes an unjustifi- 

 able increase in the cost of growing the crop. 



THE LAST CULTIVATION 



The art of cultivation becomes very gentle and 

 delicate toward the end of the growing season. 

 Many men have caught the spirit of cultivating 

 work for the early stages, but few indeed for the 

 last. 



This last cultivation is but the final touch of the 

 brush to complete the picture. The top crust only 

 is to be broken; the few straggling weeds that have 

 heretofore escaped are to be caught, and then the 

 work is done. 



No breaking of roots, no ripping open of soil, no 

 hilling of land, is needed in this gentle, delicate 

 and final cultivation. Rather, every leaf, and root, 

 and every favorable soil influence, must be directed 

 to help the plant in the tremendous effort it is mak- 

 ing to fructify. 



CULTURE IS POWER TO HELP 



Finally, it may be said that the work of culture 

 is to furnish assistance to the plant that it may the 

 better do its work. 



The soil is stiff and hard, so we must open it that 

 roots may enter; plant food is slight, so we must 

 provide additional quantities; land is poor in tex- 

 ture, meaning a poorer water supply, so we must 

 add humus to the land; weeds are hardy, vigorous 

 and greedy feeders on water and food, also in- 

 fringing on the rights of the plant, so we must get 

 rid of them; the soil favors capillarity, losing its 

 moisture in dry weather, so we must cultivate fully 



