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98 cd the whole length of the row, the small roots, as they extend, are constantly reaching fresh manure, which is considered a better arrangement, than to place the manure in small piles, either for corn or cotton. After the cotton comes up, and quite as soon as the third leaf begins to form, it should be worked. The fii t operation is “to side” “it” with a scraper or sweep, that is, to run a sweep or scraper along each side of the rows of cotton, and as near to it as possible, scraping the surface of the beds lightly, just deep enough to destiny the young grass. The implement used must be sharp, and used with skill., and of right construction. The different shapes and forms of the instruments, vary in different parts of the coun try, and it would be 4 tedious and not appropriate, in an essay of this kind, to enter upon a long disquisition of the rela tive merits of each shade of difference. The object in using them, is conceded by all,as stated before, is to scrape the beds lightly, to destroy the young grass and wceds ? and to run so near to the cotton as to leave as narrow a space, and as little work, fur the hoes, as possible. That being the end aimed at, theimplement drawn by one horse or mule, that does this work best, is the proper one to use. A scraper, or sweep rightly constructed, are preferable to any others used. Jloes follow and chop through, and bring the cotton nearly to a stand, if it is getting late and the cotton is growing well, it may be brought to final stand at once. The distance between the stalks, should be regulated by the quality of the land ; the same rule, as to the distance between the rows, governs, that is, the quality of the land. The best land sh .Id be two and a half, or even three feet between the stalks, while in thin land they should not be left more than eight or ten inches apart, intermediate distances,’according to the quality of the land. The ridges, or beds should be kept up as long as possible, for the same reasons they were first raised. It is ad visa' ble, whenever the ground will admit ofit, to lay off the cotton rows from north to south ; the sun will exert a more warming influence upon the ground then, and accele rate the growth, and production. For the reverse of the above reason, the rows of drilled corn should run from east to west, so that the corn may shade the land. Os dry years, the writer has found the production of corn increases, by the shade of the corn on the ground, pre venting the ground drying so soon after light showers when the direction of the rows, is from east to west. Some use a coulter or small scooter plow to side the cotton. Tiie second working should begin as soon as possible after the first, say in about three weeks ; strong fresh land, requires quicker work than old land. If the ground re mains loose and light, the same process may be repeated, as at first; if the ground should become hard, or is too wet to use scrapers or sweeps, the land must be plowed, using such plows as will be best adapted to the situation of the ground, and work required, and also the size of the cotton. The judgement of the planter is now called into requisition, as it is at all times, the work in the morning may have to be changed before niglit, by rain, and to do the work most favorably, his plans and method may have to be changed. If the ground is soft, friable and dry enough, use the sweeps or scrapers. If too moist for that work, use the plowj if the grass is large, use turning SOUTHERN CULT I VATOft. plows and cover it up ; if the cotton is too small for turn ing plow’s, side the cotton with a scooter or small shovel plow; if too much dirt is thrown to or upon the cotton, nail a board on the plow stock, on the side next to the cotton, and it may be regulated exactly. But plows of the rightsize may he procured to obviate the necessity of us ing a board on the plow’s. In some cases, when the grass is large, and there is danger of injuring the cotton, the bar side of a turning plow is run next to the cotton, and the dirt thrown from the cotton, at the first or second work ing. Such a course is objectionable, as the cotton falls down in chopping, with the hoes, through the narrow .ridge remaining. If the situation of the ground re quires it, it will be advisable, to plow the land at the sec ond working. The second working of cotton is an im portant crisis in its cultivation, it should be brought to a final stand in good time, and the after work is not so labo rious with the hoes. After the cotton commence bloom ing and forming balls freely, it should never be plowed deep, close to the the stalk, for if the roots are then broken, the growth is checked, .and the production mate* rially diminished. If the ground becomes hard,from baking rains, it must be plow’ed, but not too close to the cotton. The after cultivation, should be by sweeps, scrapers, or harrows, a:s long as necessary, to clear the ground of all grass and weeds, and the use of the hoes also continued, unless the cotton should become interlocked in the rows, so a plow would injure it, by breaking the branches. On some land three workings may be sufficient, but generally, four will be required, and sometimes even more-. Tiie planter must not be governed by the number of times he may work over his cotton, but by the effect produced, the situation of his land, the size of his cotton, and the time of the year. The cultivation of cotton is a work of detail. General rules will not suit all eases, the work has to be varied, to suit the ever changing seasons, size of the cotton, and the situation of the land. It is a practical science, which the planter should make a subject of special study, and be able at all times to assign the rational of every process, and assign good and suffi cient reasons for every change in the cultivation. I>y such a procedure, he will bring bis mind to investigate all the causes and effects of all his arrangements, in the management of his plantation. The manager must direct his work to the production of the greatest quantity of cot* ton the land will make, and not to the destruction of grass and weeds, regardless of the injury, often resulting to the cotton. Sometimes (though seldom of late years) the rains have fallen for a week or ten days, so that no plow ing can be done ; when the rain ceases, and the ground is dry enough to plow, grass has come thick over the whole plantation. Such has been the case on fresh cleared plan tations. Then comes the necessity for labor; mental labo r is also necessary, “mind must govern matter,” and one false step then will occasion, weeks of hard work on large grass, and injury to the crop. The regular plan of work ing all out, as we go, will not do then. It is necessary to change the front, even in the face of the enemy, and to attack with all, horse and foot, and employ all sorts of field tactics till through. To run a furrow on each side of the cotton, hoe it out then return and plow out the middle spaces, is the mos* approved procedure. First a flank movement, by which