COTTON CULTURE 9 



until about the first of August, after which time it falls 

 considerably, thus making two distinct periods in the 

 life of the plant. 



During the first period of high and increasing tempera- 

 ture the plant should be in full growth, and by the first, 

 or middle of August, it should have stored up all the food 

 it needs. From this time on, a decreasing temperature 

 is favorable to the production of a maximum crop; for 

 this checks the further growth and induces the plant to 

 convert into fruit the food material it has accumulated. 



Cotton thus requires an early start and a long season. 

 It is a semi-tropical plant, and must have semi-tropical 

 weather, long enough to mature its fruit. 



COTTON SOILS 



Cotton can be grown successfully on a great variety of 

 soils. In fact, cotton flourishes almost anywhere in the 

 Gulf States, whether the soil be sand, clay, sandy loam, 

 limestone, peaty or black prairie land. 



On sandy uplands, the yield is generally small; on 

 clay soils, and with a wet season, the plant may attain 

 a large size, but gives little lint in proportion to leaf and 

 stalk. Rich bottom lands are apt to produce results 

 similar to those of clay soils in a wet season, and are 

 not ideal soils for cotton, but rather for corn and the 

 grasses; but with a favorable season they yield heavily. 

 The best type of soil for producing favorable results is 

 a light clay loam or medium heavy sandy loam with a 

 subsoil that is not too heavy and compact. 



