XX 



FIBER CROPS 



COTTON 



I. Cultural Methods 



445. Seasons of Cultural Operations. The time during which 

 the several cultural operations connected with the raising of cot- 

 ton occur will depend somewhat upon the region. The cotton 

 belt is generally recognized to have somewhat marked differ- 

 ences depending on whether the northern, middle or southern 

 section is considered. While these three sections cannot be 

 divided along parallels of latitude on account of differences of 

 topography and proximity to seacoast, yet, in general, the section 

 north of the thirty-fourth parallel may be looked upon as the 

 northern section, while the section south of the thirty-first par- 

 allel may be considered to be in the southern section. The state- 

 ments which follow will be for the middle section. South of 

 this section the season is lengthened and north of it of course 

 shortened. 



The planter begins to prepare his land for cotton in February 

 and March, and plants the seed in April, more rarely in May. 

 During May, June, and July the crop is cultivated, the "chop- 

 ping out" season usually being in June, but extending sometimes 

 into July. The plant begins to flower in June, and its bolls 

 mature and open 60 to 90 days later. The plants continue to 

 bloom until September, and thus the picking season ranges from 

 August until November. At the Georgia Station, during ten 

 years the picking ranged from September 2 to October 3. 



351 



