machinery. Gang plows, binders, etc., are not in evidence. Cotton and 

 corn are the chief crops, and 11 acres of cotton or 20 acres of com are 

 considered a one-man crop. Most of the work in the cotton-fields is 

 done by hand. The single-handed farmer will usually put in only 

 5 or 6 acres of cotton and 10 or 12 acres of corn, for they are competing 

 crops and require attention at the same time. Most farmers, however, 

 pxxt in more and depend upon the help of wife and children, or of hired 

 hands. It is a common sight to see whole families working together in 

 the cotton fields. 



The treatment of the land is improving. Many acres which were 

 once " cottoned-out " are now productive again. The use of clover, 

 cow-peas and barnyard manure is chiefly responsible for this. The fact 

 that this county is not important as a stock-raising section makes the 

 proper rotation of crops the most important means of maintaining the 

 fertility of the soil. A rotation often practised is cotton or corn (2 or 3 

 years), wheat (1 year), clover (2 years.) The majorit)' of farmers, how- 

 ever, still make no pretense of rotating their crops and plant cotton or 

 corn for years in succession on the same ground. In truck gardening 

 fertilizers are used. 



A serious matter in some sections is the washing away of the soil. 

 This occurs chiefly with heavy clay soil on hillsides that have been 

 exposed by cultivation. 



The Truck Growers and Their Association. — Most of the truck garden- 

 ing is done within three or four miles of some railroad shipping point. 

 This business is naturally a cooperative undertaking. It does not pay 



AN EXAMPLE OF SOIL-WASHING 



9 



