228 Effective Farming 



humus supply of the soils of the South. Where cotton is 

 grown in rotation with other crops and legumes are made 

 a part of the rotation, a very good soil condition is ob- 

 tained. C. B. Williams advises the following rotations for 

 North Carolina. 

 For the Coastal Plain : 



First year. Cotton. 



Second year. Rye or oats, followed by cowpeas or soybeans to be 



plowed into the soil. 

 Third year. Corn, with cowpeas ; or 

 First year. Cotton, with crimson clover sown broadcast after the 



first picking. 



Second year. Corn, with cowpeas. 

 Third year. Small grain followed by cowpeas or soybeans. 



For the Piedmont Plateau : 



First year. Cotton, with rye sown after the first picking. 



Second year. Corn, with cowpeas. 



Third year. Wheat sown the previous fall, and red clover sown on the 



wheat during the early spring. 

 Fourth year. Red clover. 



134. Cultural methods. Cotton is very often planted on 

 land that has been in cotton the previous year. The first 

 step in preparing for another crop is to break down the old 

 stalks and chop them into pieces that can be turned under by 

 means of a plow. An implement known as a stalk-cutter is 

 useful for this purpose. When a stalk-cutter is not available, 

 the stalks are generally beaten down with a stick. Where 

 the cotton boll-weevil is prevalent, it is often necessary to 

 burn the old stalks. This is done in the early fall before the 

 weevils hibernate for the winter. The stalks should be turned 

 under when possible, as they add humus to the soil. 



Plowing. Most of the fields for cotton are plowed in Feb- 

 ruary and March. Some growers plow as early as November 

 or December; others just previous to planting, which date 

 varies according to the locality. Late plowing is not advised. 



