12 BULLETIN 511, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



NORMAL AVERAGES OF FARM CONDITIONS. 



Normal averages of farm operations and conditions are presented 

 in Table VIII. 



Of the areas studied, the nine having the highest acre yield of seed 

 cotton have an average normal acre yield of 954 pomids, while the 

 nine areas having the lowest acre yield of seed cotton average 628 

 pounds. This great difference in yield is probably due to many fac- 

 tors. In the areas where higher yields are malde it is probable that 

 the inherent fertihty of the soil is greater, and the sociological, eco- 

 nomic, and chmatic conditions are such that, generally speaking, 

 better farming prevails. Furthermore, it is probable that the addi- 

 tional commercial fertilizer used and the extra tillage given account 

 to a large extent for the increased yields, even where other condi- 

 tions are equal. 



The average depth of plowing for the nine areas having the highest 

 yield of seed cotton is 6 inches, while the average depth for the nine 

 areas having the lowest yield of seed cotton per acre is only 4^ inches. 

 It is probable, however, that this is only an associated factor rather 

 than a correlated one, and the real cause for the variation in depth 

 of plowing may be found in the type of soU. The high yields of cotton 

 are made on sandy-loam or clay-loam soils. These soils are usually 

 plowed deeper than the heavier clay soils, on which the yields of 

 cotton are somewhat lower. 



After plowing and before planting the average number of workings 

 for the nine areas having the highest average yield of cotton is three, 

 while for the nine areas having the lowest average yield of cotton the 

 average number of workings is only two. 



One cause of this difference is the fact that in the higher yielding 

 areas 70 per cent of the farmers use commercial fertihzers and in the 

 lower yielding areas only 43 per cent of the farmers use such fertili- 

 zers. The fertilizer is applied with a distributor, the operation being 

 recorded as equivalent to a working. 



In the nine areas having the highest average yield of seed cotton 

 per acre the average number of cultivations after planting is six, 

 while the average number of cultivations given in the nine areas 

 having the lowest normal yield of seed cotton per acre is only five. 

 It appears that there is a direct correlation between the amount of 

 cultivation given after planting and the yield of seed cotton per acre. 

 (Table X.) 



The number of hand cultivations is approximately the same for 

 all areas. It is customary to go over the cotton with a hoe at the 

 first or second cultivation and thin to a stand (see fig. 5), then at 

 the third or fourth cultivation to go over the row again and take 

 out any weeds or any extra cotton stalks that may have been left. 



