COTTON PRODUCTION 



195 



The type of soil influences the earliness of the cotton plants. As a 

 general rule, cotton grown on light, sandy soil makes a rapid growth and 

 matures the fruit early — a decided advantage where boll-weevils exist; 

 while that on heavy clay soil may grow until frost stops it, if the season is 

 favorable. Light soils are not naturally productive, but by the use of 500 

 to 1000 pounds of complete commercial fertilizer per acre, the yield is 

 increased from one-third of a bale to one or two bales an acre. 



Special Types of Soil.— Of the different types of soil, the heavier 

 members of the Orangeburg series are the best adapted to cotton culture. 



Cotton Grown by Single Stalk Method. 1 



They are marked by a reddish-brown to gray color and open structure soil 

 with a friable, sandy-clay subsoil. 



The Greenville series is very much like the Orangeburg in its adapta- 

 tion to cotton. 



The Norfolk soils are not so productive; but when there is an abun- 

 dance of humus and a liberal supply of commercial fertilizer, they will 

 produce a heavy early crop of cotton. 



The Houston series east of the Mississippi and the Victorian west, 

 with good cultivation and proper seasons, produce above an average crop. 

 However, the cotton plants often suffer from rust. 



In the Piedmont regions are located the Cecil soils. Where there is 

 not a deficiency of humus, these soils are productive, but the plant grows 



i From P. I. Bulletin 279. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



