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Mr. Robert informed Dr. Holmes of his
intention to discuss the merits of his cotton seed
in the Cultivator, and the latter applied to us for
advanced sheets containing the article, so that
he might reply to Mr. R. His reply came too
late to be put in the agricultural department,
but at his very earnest solicitation to insert in
December No., we have placed it here.
HOLME’S COTTON SEED.
Editors Southern Cultivator.— Will you
be kind enough to give publication to the fol
lowing remarks drawn forth by the published
communications of Col. W. F. Robert. Ido this
in order that the readers of the Cultivator may
not think me one who would mis-represent the
views of any one, as I fear the communications
of Col. R., might cause them to do—though not
intended by that gentleman. Col. Robert objects
to my publishing an extract from his letters to me,
and says that he would not object to my publish
ing all of his letters. This remark carries with it
the idea that I have kept something back, which
would materially alter the spirit of the remarks
which I extracted, and some might suspect me
of evil intentions—though I do not charge Col.
R., of any such intention whatever. If I could
get the space I would publish all of his letters
to me ; but, as I cannot do this I must be con
tent with the remarks in this letter. The extract
to which Col. Robert objects is the following:
Col. Wm. F. Robert, of Grahamville, S. C. ?
writes July 7th: “ Planted the Holmes’Early
Prolific” on the 20tli April. I have never had
or seen such cotton for its age. It is at least one
foot taller than the Dickson, and people say the
best branched cotton they ever saw. It is over
five feet high and covered with squares, blossoms
and bolls. “Some of the bolls are l£ inches in
diameter and 14 inches long.” He further adds
that an old planter from Blufton, Mr. J. Porcher,
who, during the war, planted in Southwestern
Georgia, says he never saw such a prospect for
cotton in his life, or anything approaching it—
that I w r ill be ahead of the caterpillar. This cot
ton was laid by on the 11th day of June.”
From this it will be seen that the only remarks
I take are Ist, that it is forward; 2nd that it is
taller than the Dickson and finely branched •
3rd, that it is covered with bolls and squares ;
and 4th, that some of the bolls are of extraordi
nary size; and the remark of Mr. Porcher is sim
ply that there is a prospect for a very fine jdeld.
In this there is nothing which detracts from the
SOITTHERX CULTIVATOR
merits of any other variety of cotton. True lie
says it is taller than the Dickson, but this is cer
tainly no reflection upon its merits, for Col. R..
himself says that Mr. Dickson had evidently
managed to dwarf his cotton. Further I claim
that it was not necessary forme to mention what
Col. R., said about other old well known varieties
of cotton. Mine is anew variety, and I must
set its peculiarities before the public, and I do
this without declaring it thereby to be better
than any other. So much by way of clearing
myself, in the eyes of your readers, from any in
tention to deceive.
The objections which Col. Robert urges against
the Holme’s Early Prolific cotton, are Ist, that it
is hard to pick; 2nd, that it is much given to rot
ting ; and 3rd, that is less prolific than represen
ted. A sufficient logical answer to these objec
tions, would be to point out the fact that I give
in my circular the testimony of some dozen or
fifteen planters, who are well known for their in
tegrity—who say that it is all that I claim for it,
and who notice no such objections. Besides 1
have letters from a hundred others now on file,
which mention no such objections. The weight
of testimony is against the Col., and his articles
on the subject should be considered only as go
ing to show r that local causes have been in opera
tion, todevelope these abnormal results which he
cites. But to be more particular. The difficulty
in picking may be accounted for in either of two
ways. From the character of the soil, there may
be an excess of glutinous matter imparted to the
fruit, which causes it to adhere more closely to
the boll; or the Col’s, cotton (pickers may be Car
olina negroes—noted for their industry(V)—who
much prefer low r cotton to that 7 and 8 feet high.
As to the bolls rotting, it is not necessary
that the sun and air should get to the bolls aim
ply, but that they should get to the roots of tin*
plant, and the rotting of a boll seven feet above
ground, although exposed to sun snd air may be
caused by the close interlocking of branches from
cotton planted too thick. The seasons may have
been w r et, but if not, the close interlocking of tin*
branches might produce the rot. The lack in
yield may be accounted, for much after the same
manner as the above. Any plant or tree to yield
well, must have sun and air all through its
branches and all around its roots. Again Col.
Robert may remember that the cotton was very
much blown down by tw o wind gusts ; and it is
possible that this might have permanently injur
ed the Holmes Early Prolific, which was (as the
Col. said) more injured than his other cotton.
H. J. HOLMES.
449