HARVESTING 



231 



When the plants are only a few inches high, the weeder may be run 

 across the rows, breaking the soil to a shallow depth and thereby 

 checking the early growth of grass and weeds. At the same time the 

 soil surface is prevented from baking and cracking, with a consequent 

 loss of moisture by evaporation. One or more cultivations with the 

 weeder before the crop is thinned to a stand will greatly lessen the 

 future growth of grass and weeds, and will therefore reduce the 

 amount of hoe-chopping necessary at the time of thinning. After 



Courtesy Planet Jr. Company 



Fio. 86. The use of two-row riding cultivators the most economical method of cultivat- 

 ing large fields of cotton. 



thinning, the most economical cultivation is by two-row riding culti- 

 vators, if the area of the crop is large enough to justify their use ; 

 otherwise, the use of single-row cultivators or sweeps is more 

 economical (Fig. 87). 



By the early use of the weeder, and by timely and thorough 

 subsequent tillage with a two-row riding cultivator, the frequency of 

 cultivation and the cost of each operation may be much reduced. 



Harvesting. From the field to the market the cotton crop 

 passes through three processes picking, ginning, baling. 



Picking. Cotton picking is the most expensive operation con- 

 16 



