292 



COTTON GROWING 



chopping begins it is sometimes the practice to use a small turning 

 plow in the field and throw a little of the soil away from the 

 plants. This leaves a narrow row to be cleaned with a hoe. A 

 cultivator or plow is then used in such a way as to throw some 

 dirt toward the plants. The subsequent cultivation of the cotton 

 should be frequent and shallow. About five thorough cultivations 

 will save much of the band work, but hoeing by hand, chiefly for 

 the purpose of removing weeds in the row, is usually found to be 

 necessary. 



Two-horse Cultivators. Two -horse cultivators should be 

 used if it is possible to do so, as the work is more rapid and the 

 results usually more satisfactory (Fig. 192). 



Courtesy Planet Jr. Company. 



FIG. 192. Two-row riding cultivators at work in a field of young cotton. (Productive 



Farm Crops.) 



In the level system of planting, used on the larger plantations, 

 the fields are usually harrowed or gone over with weeders before 

 the thinning takes place. This destroys many weeds and keeps 

 the surface of the soil from becoming hard or crusty. A few of 

 the cotton plants may be killed by the operation, but this may 

 be a benefit rather than a detriment. By using weeders several 

 times the seeds of weeds and grasses are sprouted and killed. The 

 field is much freer from weeds later in the season and the hand 

 work is reduced to a minimum. 



By careful planting much of the work of thinning is obviated. 

 If the cotton seed be well selected and tested the stand will be 

 much more even and this will save some of the work of thinning. 



Picking Cotton. Several machine pickers have been invented 



