24. Growing a Field of Cotton for Profit. * 



Project Work Plan 



Study Involved 



Select a variety 



Select seed bolls at first picking 

 in field 



Gin field-selected seed separately. . . . 



Dry and store seed 



Select field... 



Manure, double disk, harrow, and 



sow to cover crop 



Test sample of seeds 



Choose suitable fertilizers for home 



mixing 



Plow and fit the soil for planting. . . . 



Plant the crop. 

 Fertilize. . . 



Cultivate. 



Thin the chop , 



Subsequent cultivation. 



Inter-plant with corn. . 



Select next year's seed . 

 Pick the main crop. . . 

 Gin and bale. . . 



Sell or store cotton. 



Make second picking; gin and store. . 

 Sell, store, or have seed crop pressed 

 Pasture the stalk field. . . 



Turn under and sow to rye or other 



cover crop 

 Compute costs and profits 



Summarize project in narrative style 



Species and types of cotton. Varieties for various soils and cli- 

 matic conditions. 



Improvement by selection. Indications of best qualities in plants. 

 Storm resistance. Length and weight of lint. Crossing to 

 improve. The seed patch. Prices of seed for planting. 



Visit gin and study methods. 



Prevention of mold and injury from enemies. 



Soil requirements. Needs of fertility. What crop should precede 

 cotton. Rotations with legumes. 



Suitable amounts of manure. Ways of spreading. Value of cover 

 crop; kinds of cover crop for this purpose. 



Methods of testing compared. Reasons for testing. 



Best ingredients for cotton. Probable needs of your field. 

 Make formulas for home mixing and compute costs. Rates 

 of application. 



Best time to turn under cover crop. Values of a bare fallow period 

 before planting. Steps in fitting soil. Implements and their 

 effects. Best methods. 



Methods of planting. Time to plant. Distances. Depths for 

 different methods. Amount of seed. 



Applying fertilizer when planting and later. Differences in avail- 

 ability. Effects of time of applying. Reasons for rapid forcing 

 of crop. 



Purpose of intertillage. How best to maintain a dust mulch with- 

 out injuring crop. Kinds of weeds. Their control. Need of 

 early rapid growth under weevil conditions. 



Need for thick planting and subsequent thinning. Other special 

 reasons for chopping out rows. How to avoid it. 



Kinds of cultivation tools. Their special effects and uses. Fight- 

 ing weevils by tillage. How to "lay-by" cotton, for sowing cover 

 crop and without. 



Control of boll-worm (corn ear worm) with use of corn a strap crop. 

 Times to plant the corn. Uses of the corn. Other means of con- 

 trol of worms. 



Review seed selection and score card for bolls and plants. 



Methods of picking; cost; new machines. 



Calculate yields of seed and lint. Determine percentage of seed to 

 lint; compare with others and with other years. Study mechan- 

 ism of gins, balers, compressers. Get samples of cotton of all 

 types at the gin or warehouse. 



Price fluctuations and charts. Profits from storing. Cotton grades 

 and grading. Practice scoring and grading. Types of ware- 

 houses; damage during storage. Need of compressing. Insurance. 



Nature of blossoming and fruiting of cotton plant. Need of second 

 picking. Character of yield. Effect of boll weevil on late crop. 



Composition, value, products of seeds and their uses. Feeding 

 cottonseed hulls and meal. 



Value and uses of cotton stalks. Danger from weevils where not 

 pastured nor turned under. 



Effects of all plowing on weevils and boll-worms. Review values of 

 cover crops. 



Cost accounting; record forms; farm accounts. Compare with 

 other crops. 



* Outlined by K. C. Davis, George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, Tenn. 



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