COTTON CULTIVATION 347 



318. Formation of beds by using a disk-harrow. A 



saving of labor may be effected by forming the beds with 

 a disk-harrow instead of with a turn-plow. The use of 

 the disk-harrow for this purpose is practicable only on a 

 field previously plowed broadcast. 



319. Planting cotton level. Practically all the cotton 

 of the United States is planted on ridges or beds. How- 

 ever, a few farmers, on well-drained sandy soil, plant late 

 cotton on land that is not bedded, but merely " flushed," 

 or " plowed broadcast." This requires very shallow 

 planting, and also requires very careful early cultivation 

 to prevent covering the plants. The object in planting 

 on a level is to enable the plants better to endure drought. 



A method that is generally an improvement on the last 

 named consists in forming low beds ; before being planted 

 they are pulled down almost level, by harrowing or drag- 

 ging them whenever a crust forms or whenever young 

 weeds appear. 



320. Distribution of fertilizers. The rows having 

 been marked off, usually with a shovel plow, the fer- 

 tilizer (if any is to be used) is drilled in this furrow. It is 

 most conveniently put in place by means of a one-horse 

 fertilizer distributor, which also draws earth over the fer- 

 tilizer. Immediately a " list " is formed. The bed may 

 be completed at once, or more frequently not until the 

 entire area intended for cotton has been thus fertilized 

 and listed. On some farms the fertilizer is distributed 

 by hand, either through a " guano horn " or without 

 this inexpensive device. 



321. Time of planting. The usual date for the begin- 

 ning of cotton planting is two to three weeks after the 



