COTTON CULTIVATION 



349 



on a small scale, by dipping the seed in full strength commercial 

 sulfuric acid, for about two minutes, which removes the fuzz. 

 Immediately the sulfuric acid must be thoroughly washed off 

 of the seed, so as to prevent loss of germinating power. 



The most common method of preparing the seed for very thin ^ 

 planting consists in "rolhng the seed." This is done by dampen- 



An Inexpensive Cotton Planter. 



ing the seed, placing them in a barrel fitted with a frame and 

 crank in such a way that it may be revolved; then dry ashes 

 or dust is added, and the barrel revolved, thus causing the ashes 

 or dust to coat each seed, and temporarily to paste down the fuzz. 



323. Quantity of seed. — A bushel of cotton seed 

 usually contains between 120,000 and 150,000 seeds, or 

 enough, if each one developed into a mature plant, to 

 suffice for fully fifteen acres. However, it is customary 

 to plant 1 to 1| bushels of seed per acre. An ideal 



