g 
THE COST OF PRODUCING COTTON. 25 
scratch harrow, a scooter plow, or a cultivator. A crew of one man 
and one mule was used almost exclusively in doing the covering. 
The normal time required for covering fertilizer appeared to be 
slightly greater than the normal time required for distributing fer- 
tilizer. However, it should be noted that only 128 men reported 
covering. 3 
BREAK LAND. 
There was a wide difference in the methods followed in plowing or 
breaking land. In several districts it was a common practice to 
break the land level. This method is known as “flat breaking” in 
some districts. However, in areas where this plan was the dominant 
Fic. 7.—Breaking land with a one-horse turning plow. 
one, other methods of doing the initial work were frequently men- 
tioned. Obviously there was a wide difference in the crew sizes 
utilized and in the type of implement used in doing the breaking. 
Flat breaking was pepouted BY, 67 per cent of all operators. (See 
Table XX.) 
The greater part of the breaking was done during the period from 
November to March. However, in a few cases this work was done 
outside of these limits. In six districts it required six hours or more 
of man labor to break an acre of land. One may infer that the men 
in these areas did the breaking at the rate of an acre and a half per ~ 
day under average conditions. (See fig. Ton } 7, 
397°—20——4 ™ 
yachasins 
