102 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



No amount of good tillage after the crop is planted can 

 offset the ill effects ,of careless preparation of the soil. 



114. Drainage the first essential. — Until adequate 

 provision has been made for the rapid removal of all 

 surplus or gravitational water from the upper portions 

 of the soil, a suitable seed-bed for cotton cannot be pre- 

 pared. The experience of many years has demonstrated 

 beyond question the fact that, such modern and essential 

 practices as early deep plowing, the incorporation of or- 

 ganic matter, and thorough and frequent cultivation are 

 of no avail on a water-logged soil. The discussion of suit- 

 able tillage practices for cotton which follows is based on 

 the assumption that adequate drainage has in all cases 

 been provided. 



115. Disposal of stalks and litter. — If cotton is 

 grown in a suitable rotation with other crops, there is 

 usually httle difficulty in plowing under all existing vege- 

 tation, owing to the fact that cotton commonly follows a 

 small-grain crop or a legume crop. On most farms, how- 

 ever, cotton follows cotton and in such cases it becomes 

 necessary to chop or break to pieces the stalks previous 

 to plowing. This is most satisfactorily done by the use 

 of a stalk cutter, the blades of which cut the stalks into 

 short pieces. In many cases the stalks are broken to 

 pieces after they become dry and brittle by means of a 

 heavy stick. The rather common practice of plowing 

 up, raking and burning the stalks should, in all cases, 

 be avoided. 



116. Fall plowing for cotton. — The primary objects 

 sought for in the preparation of the seed-bed are an abun- 

 dance of water, air, and available food. On most soils 

 sufficient water and food during the growing season cannot 

 be had unless early fall plowing is practiced. Late spring 



