FARM PRACTICE IN THE CULTIVATIOK OP COTTON. 



29 



Fig. 16. — A 1-horse side harrow or spike-tooth culti- 

 vator, an implement extensively used for the tillage 

 of cotton in Mecklenburg Co., N. C, and other 

 parts of the South. 



turning plow. Then this bed is harrowed with a spike-tooth harrow, 

 which makes it almost level, and cotton is planted on the bed. 



The rows average 3^ feet apart, and 4 pecks of seed are planted 

 per acre. After chopping, the stalks are left from 12 to 15 inches 

 apart in the drill. 



The cultivating after planting is largely with 1-horse implements. 

 Just after the cotton is up a spike-tooth harrow or weeder is used. 

 The next cultivation is given with a 1-horse harrow-tooth cultivator 

 known as a side harrow (fig. 16), and then the cotton is chopped to 

 a stand. After this, the cultivating is done with a 1-horse sweep or 

 with a 1-horse 6-shovel cultivator. 

 In all, five or six cultivations are 

 given. At the third or fourth cul- 

 tivation the field is usually gone 

 over again with a hoe, to chop out 

 any weeds or extra cotton stalks. 



Crimson clover is often grown as 

 a cover crop after corn and cotton. 

 This clover is pastured during the 

 early spring and then plowed under 

 to supply organic matter to the 

 soil. Many farmers use commer- 

 cial fertihzer, and the average application for cotton is 330 pounds 

 per acre. 



The principal varieties of cotton grown are Cook's Improved, 

 Simpkins' Prohfic, and King's Improved. 



The most troublesome and prevalent weeds in this county are crab- 

 grass, wild onion, and Johnson grass. 



SURVEY IN BARNWELL COUNTY, S. C, 



Barnwell County is located in the southwestern part of South 

 Carolina. The tillage records for this county (Table XV) were taken 

 near BarnweU, the county seat. 



This is in the Coastal Plain area, and the predominating soil is a 

 sandy loam with a clay subsoil. Some parts of the county are very 

 sandy. The land is gently rolhng, so that very httle drainage is 

 required. The bottom land's are drained by open ditches, which sur- 

 round the fields. Some of the more rolling lands are drained, by 

 surface ditches and terraces. 



About 60 per cent of the land has been cleared, and many of the 

 stumps have not been removed. Many of the roads have been 

 improved with sand and clay and are in good condition. Most of the 

 land is owned by white men, but is largely worked by negro tenants. 

 The average size of the farms visited is 193 acres, with 130 acres of 

 improved land. The farm owners have good houses and appear 

 prosperous. 



