342 sour HERN FIELD CHOPS 



should be avoided except when it may be made necessary 

 by the presence of the cotton boll-weevil. 



313. Methods of plowing. — The greater part of the area 

 intended for cotton receives only one plowing before the 

 seed are planted. This usually consists in forming ridges 

 or beds. More thorough preparation may be given by 

 first plov/ing the land level or flush, afterwards forming 

 the beds by a subsequent plowing. The conditions under 

 which this double amount of preparation, namelj^, first 

 l)roadcast plowing and then bedding, is especially advis- 

 able, are the following : — 



1. Wlien the soil is a stiff loam or clay inclined to form 

 ' clods ; 



2. When the land has not been cultivated the preceding 

 year, or when the preceding crop is one that has left much 

 vegetation on the surface. 



The practice of plowing land twice for cotton, first 

 fallowing it, and then throwing it into IxhIs, is on the in- 

 crease among the best farmers. 



314. Time of plowing or breaking. — Fel)ruary and 

 March are the montlis in which the greater part of the 

 plowing of cotton land is performed. The time of plow- 

 ing is largel}^ a matter of convenience. The general rule 

 should be that the larger tiie proportion of cla>' in the soil, 

 tlie earlier may plowing be done to advantage, provided 

 the surface be freshened later. The larger the amount of 

 trash to be tiuried and rotted, the earlier shoidtl be the 

 date of [blowing. Some farmers begin ]ilowing for cotton 

 in December or even in Novemlier. Tliis permits freezes 

 to aid in pulverizing the soil and killing some kinds of cot- 

 ton insects that spend tlie winter in the ground. 



