106 COTTON 
ably constant. A sudden change in temperature 
bringing on a cold spell is objectionable, for it 
tends to check the growth of the plant, ripen its 
fruit, and influence its final yield unfavorably. 
A LONG GROWING SEASON 
At first cotton grows slowly. In a sense it is a 
tender plant. A light frost may do little injury; 
still it shortens the season and this is an undesirable 
risk. An ideal situation with regard to frost is to 
have the last spring frost no later than April Ist, 
and the earliest autumn one no earlier than Novem- 
ber. 
The Cotton Belt provides the much desired 
long growing season better than any other area of 
the earth’s surface when other essentials and con- 
trolling influences are taken into account. 
RAINFALL PLAYS A PART 
More rain also falls in the Cotton Belt than in 
the northern section of the country. This excess 
varies from 30 to 50 per cent. ‘The total rainfall, 
and the time rain falls, have much to do with 
successful cotton production. 
A moderately well-distributed rainfall is neces- 
sary during the growing season. A small amount 
is preferable to an excess, since grass is the bane 
of the cotton farmer; and grass is favored by much 
rainfall. When present it adds greatly to the cost 
of culture. The slow growth of cotton while the 
plants are young allows grass and weeds to make 
rapid headway, and unless costly labor is con- 
stantly furnished, the tender cotton plants will be 
choked out in the race for growth and sunshine. 
