12 BULLETTiSr 294, U. S. DEPABTMEXT OF AGBICULTURE. 



plant an acre of ground ? How many pounds would that require 



for the different varieties? Source of cotton seed? How many 



pounds of cotton seed do the best farms in your district raise on an 



acre ? How many bales of cotton do the best farms in your district 



raise on an acre ? Show how the production per acre may be increased 



and the fertility of the soil maintained. 



References. — U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook Sep. 579; Farmers' Buls. 



36; 48; 364; 501, pp. 11-13, 21; 510, pp. 13, 14; 601, pp. 3, 4, 6, 7; 



Bureau of Plant Industry Circ. 1130; Office of Experiment Stations 



Bui. 33, p. 261. 



LESSON IX. 



Subject. — The cultivation of cotton. 



Topics for study. — Stages at which a weeder or harrow is needed 

 in the cultivation of cotton. Importance of first tillage. Under 

 what special conditions may the turnplow be used for "barring off" 

 cotton? Shallow cultivation. Proper depth of cultivation. Fre- 

 quency of renewal. Advantages of closer spacing. What is best to 

 sow in cotton along in August in order to make winter pasturage? 

 What can be sowed at the last " plowing" of cotton that will serve 

 as a winter cover to the land and furnish humus-forming material 

 to be turned under the following spring? Discuss the importance 

 of such a practice. 



Exercises. — The effect of -frequent shallow cultivation to maintain 

 soil moisture may be shown by filling two cans or flower pots with 

 rich soil and planting cotton. When the plants are 2 inches high cover 

 the soil in one pot with a layer of coarse sand or granular dry soil 

 to a depth of 1 inch. Place in a warm place and observe which 

 plants first show the need of water. 



References. — A New System of Cotton Culture and Its Application 

 is the title of Farmers' Bui. 601. Practice of cultivation on a profit- 

 able cotton farm may be found in Farmers' Bui. 364, pp. 13, 14. 

 Bureau of Plant Industry Circ. 1130. Office of Experiment Stations 

 Bui. 33, p. 261. Nearly all the cotton States have one or more 

 bulletins on this subject. These should always be procured from the 

 State agricultural college and studied in class. 



LESSON X. 



Subject. — Insect and other enemies of cotton. 



Topics for study. — The bollworm. The Mexican cotton-boll weevil. 

 The cotton caterpillar. The cotton red spider. The nematode worm. 

 The cowpea-pod weevil. 



Exercises. — Find out from the fanners in the district the extent 

 to which cotton is injured by the above insects. The teacher and 

 pupils should study the features of the life history and of the 

 seasonal history of the weevil that are of cardinal importance in 



