CULTIVATION OF COTTON. 
91 
terminating the grass. This is perhaps the most difficult 
part of the solution, because the season has so far advanced, 
and all the circumstances are likely to be so untoward, 
that, not unfrequently, the planter after a few days' work is 
utterly discouraged, and reasoning as the fox did about 
the grapes, says in his heart, if not with his mouth, 
" The worm will get it anyhow, it^s no use to try any longer.'''' 
Then issuing his orders to all the hands, he leaves the 
grassy plain, and thus gets out of the grass. But it is not 
always so. Indeed, most of our planters get somewhat 
in the grass every season, but by faithful " pegging away " 
get out and save their cotton. 
SECTION VI. 
LAYING BY — OPENING OF THE BOLLS — A FINE SUCCESSION OF EAINS— - 
TOO MUCH RAIN — DRY WEATHER. 
Laying hy is giving up a crop to take care of itself. 
The last ploughing and hoeing constitute the laying by. 
This occurs at diftei-ent dates according to different cir- 
cumstances. The planter should never lay by as long as 
he can materially profit his crop by working it. Some are 
detained in this operation as late as the first of August. 
After this the hoes may be of some service in removing 
grass and weeds that may have escaped former workings; 
but it is not expedient to use the plough, simply because 
the branches and bolls now crossing and lapping would be 
injured by the mules and swingletrees, and not because of 
any injury inflicted upon the roots. 
The bolls b<;gin to open from the middle of July to 
the middle of August. This opening is caused by the 
separation of the valves of the capsule, and the concurrent 
