COTTON CULTURE 49 



ton plant, from middle spring to middle summer, it makes 

 the growth of stalk and leaf, and gathers nourishment for 

 the future elaboration of seed and lint. This is the fruit- 

 ing season. The energies of the plant are now directed 

 toward making use of the materials it has already accu- 

 mulated, and the growth of foliage diminishes. The 

 planters assist the plant by reducing its supply of 

 water, through promoting surface evaporation; the soil 

 remains undisturbed, and gradually dries. It is pre- 

 cisely reversing the process desired in the earlier stage 

 of growth. 



The practice of sowing crimson clover between rows 

 (about fifteen pounds per acre), immediately after the 

 last working, is growing in favor. The effect of this is to 

 cover the ground with a mat of vegetation which checks 

 winter washing. It also makes a valuable green manure 

 for turning under. Crimson clover is an annual, and for 

 forage purposes requires re-seeding each year. 



HARVESTING AND MARKETING 



Picking. The ripening of cotton naturally depends on 

 the climate or location. The first bolls open about May 

 1 5th in southern Texas; June 25th in middle Texas; 

 July ist in southern Louisiana; July loth in middle Louisi- 

 ana; July 1 5th in southern Georgia and pine-hill section 

 of South Carolina; August ist in northwestern Louisiana, 

 southern Arkansas, and coast of North Carolina; Sep- 

 tember ist in the Piedmont region, North Carolina, and the 



