2 



BULLETIN 511, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUllE. 



have an influence on the tillage practice employed and on the results 

 obtained. 



This information was secured by the survey method. Areas through- 

 out the cotton belt which had conditions and practices representa- 

 tive of large regions were selected. In all, 19 areas were studied. 

 (Fig. 1.) These are so located that practically all the conditions and 

 customs found in the cotton belt are represented. Complete farm 

 records were secured from 25 or more farmers in each area. The 

 record shows the general farm practices and conditions, together 

 with a detailed statement of the usual tillage practice employed with 

 cotton on each farm. 



These data are presented in tabular form. The general facts are 

 summarized for each area studied and appear in tables which show 



Fig. 1.— Outline map of the southeastern United States, showing the clis+ribution of cotton production 

 liy States, each dot repre;enting 20,000 bales (census of 1914). The letters represent the areas in which 

 surveys were made, as follows: A, Pemiscot County, Mo.; B, Mississippi Delta; C, Robeson County, 

 N. C; D, Mecklenburg County, N. C; E, Barnwell County, S. C. F, Pike County, Ga.; G, Tift County, 

 Ga.; H, Giles County, Tenn.; 7, Bulloch County, Ga.; J, St. Francis County, Ark.; K, Ellis County, 

 Tex.; L, Chambers County, Ala.; M, Johnston County, Okla.; N, Jefferson County, Fla.; 0, Lincoln 

 Parish, La.; P, Lavaca County, Tex.; Q, Houston County, Tex.; E, Monroe County, Miss.; S, Bexar 

 County, Tex. 



the average normal conditions for all areas. The purely tillage data 

 are presented in subsequent tables. A set of tables, one for each 

 area studied, is submitted, giving in detail the tillage practice em- 

 ployed by every cotton grower visited. In addition to these tables 

 a short discussion is included for each area surveyed, presenting the 

 prevaihng farm practice, conditions, and customs in the various 

 regions studied. 



Summary tables are also presented, showing the average normal 

 tillage practice employed and the normal yields of cotton obtained 

 in each region. The yields of cotton, however, must not be con- 

 sidered as indicating the representative efficiencies of the different 

 methods of tillage employed. Previous investigations with corn^ 



'Gates, H.R. Farm practice in the cultivation of corn. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 320, 66 p., 40fig. 1916. 



