The Lincoln Times

Five-Acre Cotton Contest Suggestions
A number of important points should be taken into consideration by those farmers who enroll in the state five-acre cotton contest and attempt to produce from 12 to 15 bales of cotton on 5 acres, say Extension agronomists at State College.

The very best land should be selected-land that is well drained, has a high moisture holding capacity, and is capable of using a relatively large amount of fertilizer to advantage.

The agronomists suggest that the area be carefully examined to see that it has no weak spots in it, as this will pull down the total yields.

Land that has had good cover crops turned under is especially suitable for the contest.

In addition to the use of good seed, the agronomists emphasize the importance of having a relatively large number of stalks of cotton to the acre. In previous cotton contests some prize winning growers have used three-foot rows with 2 to 4 stalks in the hill and the hills about 8 to 12 inches apart.

Prize winners have also used liberal amounts of fertilizer at planting and relatively large amounts of topdressers at chopping, gauging the amounts in accordance with the ability of the land to utilize the fertilizer.

Where large amounts of fertilizer are used at planting, the agronomists suggest that the fertilizer be applied about 10 days before planting or with a side-placement machine, so that the stand of cotton will not be damaged.

In the contests in the past, most of the prize winning growers have topdressed just after chopping and have made only one application of topdresser.