102 FIELD CROPS FOP, THE COTTON-BELT 



No amount of good tillage after the crop is planted can 

 offset the ill effects of careless preparation of the soil. 



114. Drainage the first essential. Until adequate 

 provision has been made for the rapid removal of all 

 surplus or gravitational water from the upper portions 

 of the soil, a suitable seed-bed for cotton cannot be pre- 

 pared. The experience of many years has demonstrated 

 beyond question the fact that such modern and essential 

 practices as early deep plowing, the incorporation of or- 

 ganic matter, and thorough and frequent cultivation are 

 of no avail on a water-logged soil. The discussion of suit- 

 able tillage practices for cotton which follows is based on 

 the assumption that adequate drainage has in all cases 

 been provided. 



115. Disposal of stalks and litter. If cotton is 

 grown in a suitable rotation with other crops, there is 

 usually little difficulty in plowing under all existing vege- 

 tation, owing to the fact that cotton commonly follows a 

 small-grain crop or a legume crop. On most farms, how- 

 ever, cotton follows cotton and in such cases it becomes 

 necessary to chop or break to pieces the stalks previous 

 to plowing. This is most satisfactorily done by the use 

 of a stalk cutter, the blades of which cut the stalks into 

 short pieces. In many cases the stalks are broken to 

 pieces after they become dry and brittle by means of a 

 heavy stick. The rather common practice of plowing 

 up, raking and burning the stalks should, in all cases, 

 be avoided. 



116. Fall plowing for cotton. The primary objects 

 sought for in the preparation of the seed-bed are an abun- 

 dance of water, air, and available food. On most soils 

 sufficient water and food during the growing season cannot 

 be had unless early fall plowing is practiced. Late spring 



