which were placed there by nature and will remain dormant until the 

 end of time unless stimulated to activity by the application of organic 

 matter. 



Rotation 



There is no feature of cotton raising more important than rotation. 

 Land becomes cotton sick, it becomes diseased, it harbors cotton 

 pests and becomes weary from producing the same crop year after 

 year. 



Rotation gives it new life, improves the texture, relieves the drain 

 and supplies elements from the atmosphere. Probably the best rota- 

 tion that has been suggested is one used in Louisiana which is as follows: 



Three fields are selected. Field No. 1 the first year is planted to 

 cotton. Field No. 2 to corn with cow peas in the corn after the last 

 cultivation and field No. 3 to rust-proof oats with cow peas after the 

 oats are harvested. The second year the cotton field is planted 

 to corn and peas. The corn and cow pea field is planted to 

 oats. In October or early November, the field of oats and peas is 

 planted to cotton. Thus in three years each field has produced one 

 crop of cotton, one crop of corn, one crop of oats and two crops of cow 

 peas. Each plant has taken different quantities of plant food from the 

 soil and the roots of each plant have penetrated to different depths 

 and the cow peas have not only furnished an abundance of humus, but 

 have fixed in the soil a large amount of nitrogen. Where clover can be 

 grown it should be placed in a four years' rotation, for none of the 

 legumes are as beneficial from every standpoint as clover. Alfalfa is 

 a splendid crop to grow in a five years' rotation permitting the 

 alfalfa to stand five years before it is plowed. 



Seed 



It has been demonstrated in Mississippi, Louisiana and some of the 

 other cotton states that by carefully selecting plump healthy seed which 

 has not deteriorated because of heating or exposure, the crop is very 

 materially increased. One planter made a test of seed which was care- 

 fully selected in the field from the earliest maturing and the largest 

 and healthiest stalks, and made an increase of one hundred per cent 

 over seed which was not selected. 



Cotton, like corn is true to heredity and will usually produce its 

 own kind, hence this feature should be observed by the planter in 

 order that he may be amply compensated for his labor and investment. 



Diseases and Pests 



Wilt or black root is a very serious disease affecting cotton in some 

 sections of the cotton district. It made its first appearance in Georgia 

 and seems to be more prevalent in the southern part of the state and 



