COTTON 163 
topping is evidently unwise and makes an unjustifi- 
able increase in the cost of growing the crop. 
THE LAST CULTIVATION 
The art of cultivation becomes very gentle and 
delicate toward the end of the growing season. 
Many men have caught the spirit of cultivating 
work for the early stages, but few indeed for the 
last. 
This last cultivation is but the final touch of the 
brush to complete the picture. The top crust only 
is to be broken; the few straggling weeds that have 
heretofore escaped are to be caught, and then the 
work is done. 
No breaking of roots, no ripping open of soil, no 
hilling of land, is needed in this gentle, delicate 
and final cultivation. Rather, every leaf, and root, 
and every favorable soil influence, must be directed 
to help the plant in the tremendous effort it is mak- 
ing to fructify. 
CULTURE IS POWER TO HELP 
Finally, it may be said that the work of culture 
is to furnish assistance to the plant that it may the 
better do its work. 
The soil is stiff and hard, so we must open it that 
roots may enter; plant food is slight, so we must 
provide additional quantities ; land is poor in tex- 
ture, meaning a poorer water supply, so we must 
add humus to the land; weeds are hardy, vigorous 
and greedy feeders on water and food, also in- 
fringing on the rights of the plant, so we must get 
rid of them; the soil favors capillarity, losing its 
moisture in dry weather, so we must cultivate fully 
