30 COTTON CULTURE. 



quite spherical. Great changes in the degree of moisture 

 are now very mischievous. A copious rain, followed by 

 hot sun in the latter part of June and in July, will cause 

 the plant to throw out a great number of forms, and the 

 planter's prospects are flattering. But if the heat con- 

 tinues for ten days or two weeks without timely showers, 

 the plant seems to feel that it has undertaken too much, 

 and sheds a great number of its forms. This shedding, 

 however, will be checked by a moderate shower ; but a 

 copious rain, followed by drouth, will cause the same 

 phenomenon again. When the plant approaches maturity 

 in size, that is to say, when the branches are beginning to 

 interlock across the middles, it is doubtful whether the 

 plow can be of much benefit. Deep plowing at this stage 

 is clearly injurious. Besides the principal or tap-root of 

 the cotton plant, which runs directly down, it sends off 

 side shoots or sprangles, not so many or so long as those 

 of corn, but enough to be much mangled and broken by a 

 plow, or any other implement, that runs more than two 

 inches below the surface. The breaking of these roots, 

 and putting out of new ones, checks the advance of the 

 crop, and tends to produce a fresh or second growth, the 

 bolls of which will be immature at the coming of frost. 



The true policy is to push the growth of cotton just as 

 rapidly as possible until the branches interlock, and then 

 let the vigor of the plant go to making and perfecting 

 bolls. 



The old and established routine among the planters of 

 the Gulf States is as described above, and may be condensed 

 into a formula as follows : 



First. In two weeks after planting bar off ; that is, run 

 a light plow close to the young plants, cutting away the 

 grass, and throwing dirt from the row. The hoes follow 

 and chop out, leaving clumps of five or six plants a foot 

 and a half apart. 



Second. Ten days or two weeks after,, mould or dirt 



