COTTON 
161 
WHERE YOU FIND THE LATERAL ROOTS 
An examination of cotton roots as they grow in 
the field will indicate many things helpful during 
the cultural season, and show how essential it is 
not to go deep into the soil with the cultivator. 
The growing habits of cotton roots have been given 
a good deal of study, and this knowledge ought to 
be used to advantage in the culture of the crop. In 
South Carolina, for instance, "it has been observed 
that most of the lateral roots commenced about 
three inches below the surface, and never went 
below the upper nine inches of soil." At the Ala- 
bama Station similar observations were made. 
"In a soil of sandy drift and pebbles" a young cot- 
ton plant three and one-fourth inches high was 
found having a lateral root over three feet in length, 
the end of the root being only three inches from the 
surface. The position of the roots suggested to 
this experimenter that "the usual deep cultivation 
would have destroyed four-fifths of the lateral roots 
which extended at right angles to the row." 
Many experiments made in respect to inter-cul- 
ture make out a strong case as to the superiority of 
shallow over deep cultivation. These tests extend 
over a period of several years, and have to do with 
conditions in several States. Only two instances 
are on record in which shallow culture failed to af- 
ford a larger yield than deep culture. 
HOW OFTEN TO CULTIVATE 
Early culture, if well done, plays havoc with 
grass and weeds. And since to rid land of these is 
the first of the reasons why we cultivate, it follows 
that if they are kept in check early in the season, 
