114 FUNDAMENTALS OF AGRICULTURE. 



IMPROVEMENT OF SEA ISLAND COTTON BY SELECTION. 

 O, ordinary cotton; S, selected cotton. 



and leaves. When these are burned the nitrogen in 

 them is lost. A portion of the other food elements 

 remains in the ashes. Where it is possible to do so, 

 the stalks should be cut with a stalk cutter and plowed 

 under. 



Cultivating. The method of cultivating the crop 

 varies greatly in different sections. In the light soils 

 sweeps are used almost entirely. On stiffer soils plows 

 and cultivators are used more extensively. The de- 

 struction of grass and weeds and the conservation of 

 moisture may be most effectively and economically ac- 

 complished with modern cultivators, and their use is 

 increasing. The soils should be cultivated as soon 

 as possible after each rain, or in dry weather as often 

 as may be necessary to maintain a mulch of loose soil. 



