108 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



ing harrow lengthwise the beds reduces their height, drags 

 out trash and clods, and flattens the surface preparatory 

 to the use of the planter. This planting on relatively low 

 beds is quite important. The cultivation can be more 

 nearly level, thus conserving moisture in the summer when 

 it will be needed. On well-drained, sandy soil, the beds 

 should be dragged down almost level. 



PLANTING 



123. Time of planting. — It is not safe to plant cotton 

 until at least two weeks after the average date of the last 

 killing frost in the spring. In the extreme southern part 

 of the cotton-belt, most of the crop is planted in April, 

 whereas in the extreme northern part, planting does not 

 begin until near the first of May. 



Nothing is to be gained by planting cotton before the 

 soil becomes warm in the spring. The seed will either 

 rot rather than germinate, or the vigor of the young 

 plants will be greatly decreased. The slow growth of the 

 plants under such conditions, greatly increases the cost 

 of cultivation. 



In sections subject to the ravages of the boll-weevil, 

 cotton should be planted as early as possible after the 

 soil becomes warm. 



124. Advantage of planting heavy seed. — Investiga- 

 tions conducted by Webber and Boykin strongly indicate 

 the superiority of heavy cotton seed over light seed and the 

 advisabiUty of farmers eliminating the light seed before 

 planting. These investigators found that when the seed 

 are ti;eated with a paste made from ashes, acid phosphate, 

 or fine dry soil or flour, the "linters" or "fuzz" can be 

 pasted down and that the seeds can thus be prevented from 

 clinging together. The separation is accomplished by the 



