TIME OF PLOWING 225 



Time of Applying Fertilizer. The usual time of application is 

 at planting, although for light, sandy soils, from which the fertilizer 

 may partly leach during heavy, protracted rains, a portion may be 

 reserved for a second application at about the time the plant begins 

 to set its fruit. 



The Culture of Cotton. The cultural methods for cotton, like 

 those for any crop, are based on the fundamental principles of 

 adaptation and conservation. 



In so far as the methods of culture can modify the soil, they 

 must be aimed to adapt it to the needs of the plant ; the soil must be 

 so managed as to fulfil the cultural requirements of the particular 

 crop to be grown. At the same time the welfare of the soil itself 

 must not be neglected. Soil management in the culture of any 

 crop must include the principle of conserving the natural resources 

 of the land and of leaving it in a good physical condition for the 

 growth of succeeding crops. 



Disposal of Old Stalks. If cotton has been the preceding 

 crop, and has made a rank, heavy growth, the first step in the 

 preparation of the field is in so disposing of the old stalks that they 

 may be plowed into the soil. They may be cut down by a specially 

 designed stalk-cutter, a triangular frame which has cutting edges 

 on two sides and is drawn between the rows of stalks ; or they may 

 be broken or flattened by dragging across them with a heavy drag, 

 or by beating them with sticks. This may be done at any time 

 during the winter months. 



Cotton stalks should never be burned or otherwise removed from 

 the soil, unless as a means of checking the spread of insects or dis- 

 eases. They soon decay and add to the soil much valuable organic 

 matter, which is a principal element of soil fertility. 



Time of Plowing. -Land for the growth of cotton is usually 

 plowed in February or in March, depending upon its climatic loca- 

 tion. Within the limits of the season, the time of plowing is regu- 

 lated somewhat by a consideration for the growth of the cover 

 crop, if such be on the land, and by the amount of water in the 

 soil. A properly drained soil can be plowed much earlier than one 

 15 



