Newspaper Page Text
the enemy is crippled, then concentrate yotir column? and
break the centre “ala NapoleOn,” with the heavy artille
ry of turning plows, and small aim?. The modus operan
ds must in every instance, be adapted to the situation of
affairs. To trace out the often varying details of the culti"
ration of cotton, would make an essay tedious, and in
some instances, scarcely intelligible. There has been
enough said, il the tyro will bring his mind to assist him
in his labors, as too much detail much confuse the subject.
One object, therefore, of the writer, is to bring the menta*
faculties to operate, pari passu, with the physical. The
highest production of land, requires as much effort cp
mind, as any other profession or calling, and the correct
application of labor, is of the greatest importance, both to
individuals, and in a national consideration of the subject.
Having “laid by the crop,” some other subjects connec
ted with cotton, will be briefly considered. Some are of
opinion, that topping increases the production. If the
growth is checked upwards by topping, it is thrown lat
erally among the branches, thereby causing a thicker
growth and shade upon the under bolls, inclining them to
rot. This conclusion was arrived at from topping two
rows, and leaving two rows not topped over several acres,
after the cotton had matured, it was examined carefully,
and no advantage could be discovered from the topping.
Some years ago, there was some difference of opinion,
in regard to the comparative advantages of drill and hill
culture of cotton. My experience is in favor of the drill
culture, having tried both plans long before anything was
written on the subject. The drill culture is the most profi
table for field crops, a good stand is more certain to be
obtained, and is less liable to be plowed up by careless
hands, than hill planting. For fancy planting, on small
lots, with careful hand, and heavy manuring, the hill
planting may be made to yield largely.
After the cotton begins to open sufficiently, the picking
should commence with all hands, in order to keep up with
the opening of the cotton, if possible. It is best to dry
the cotton on a plank scaffold, at least all the first picking-
The packing down of seed cotton, in order to evaporate
the oil of the seed through the lint, is an improvement to
the staple, both in strength and color. But if the cotton
is put down too damp, it may become too hot, and injure’
the cotton, in the strength of the staple, and in color,
giving it a bluish appearance. All well matured cotton
on good land, has a cream color, when it first opens, but
will loose that color by evaporation of dew, in one week,
if not picked out. It is important to pick out cotton as
fast as it opens, on account of the quality and loss from
storms. If the planter should not be able to keep up
with the opening of his whole crop, he should pick over
the same cotton every week, until frost, so that he may
get the first quality of cotton picked, as long as possible.
It is well to commence ginning early, before too much
seed cotton accumulates in the gin house, as a security
against fire, and to get off the cotton before the teams are
ready for plowing in January. The roads are better for
hauling in the fall, than in the winter and spring. The
gin should be of the best quality, and when it does not
makegood cotton, it is cheapest to procure anew- one, as
the difference between one hundred bags of cotton ginned
on a good gin, and a sorry one, will pay for two new
gins. The running gear should be good, and put in per
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR.
feet order ; always try the cogwheel, and see that it is level
before the ginning is commenced. Clean out the gin
twice a day, and see that no rolls of cotton are suffered to
form around the cylinders at any time. Cotton is packed
easiest in damp weather, though it is not always damp
when necessary to pack. Every one will use such gin,
and screw, or pi ess, as his judgment may direct, it is
deemed unnecessary to say any thing on those subjects.—
Strict personal attention to all the details of making and
preparing cotton for market, is necessary to ensure the
highest degree of success. Our mother earth is a kind
foster mother, ‘he will yield us some return, from almost
any kind of cu’tivation, and in no crop is-lie more indul"
gent, than in her production of cotton. Some produce
double the quantity others make, on the same quantity of
land, with less physical labor. Hence the writer has urg'
ed the necessity, upon every planter, to study his proses
sion, to reason upon every step betakes in the cultiva.
tion of his crop, let him enquire of his neighbors tneir
mode of culture, and the reasons thereof, let him read one
or more agricultural papers, and at the end of a few years
he will find himself a better and more successful planter,
than he was when he commenced. Let the planter enno
ble his proposition, and he will elevate himself higher
than those in any other pursuit, as it requires more
knowledge in all the arts and sciences, than all others*
and leads him more directly “from nature, up to nature’s
God.”— Communicated by Hr. Cainak , from Transactions
of the Southern Central Ag'l Society.
-
THAN UK U.
Elitors Soutijkrn CULTIVATOR:—There arc two points,
in relation to the production of manure on a plantation
which I would be glad to see discussed in your valuable
journal.
Ist. Suppose a man has 1000 bushels cotton seed, in
what way would they most benefit bis crop, put out as cot
ton seed, or fed to hogs put up in a covered pen, and kept
supplied with straw and leaves? Would he not get the
full benefit of his seed, as manure, and several thousand
pounds of pork besides, to pay for the trouble of cooking
the seed, hauling in the trash, and handling the more bul
ky manure ?
2d. Does the benefit afforded hogs by running in a sta
ble, compensate for the injury they do the manure, by
picking up the droppings from the horses? If confined
in the stable, perhaps all the manure would be saved ulti
mately ; but where the hogs drop their manure over the
woods and old fields, is it not questionable whether the
ruin to the stall manure, does not outweigh the benefit re
ceived by the hogs ?
This query is suggested by the miserable poor appear
ance of the stall manure which I am now having hauled
out, and which I can’t account for, otherwise than by sup
posing the hogs have robbed it of its strength,
ENQUIRER.
We shall be glad to hear from Dr. Lee on these points.
We know of no one who has given them more study and
attention.—Ed. So. Cult,
Asa Ilartz says that the nigger has been the most fortu
nate of the two races in the late war. Whilst the white
man lost all his property, and liberty also, the daikey not
only gained his freedom, but, in doing so, never lost a
scent.
99