Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-17
From the Norfolk Herald
I0I'TnM

The following communication, from practical
ocner in one ofthe upper counties of this State to
gentleman ia the vicinity of this town contains
much valuable inform zion 10 those who have INT
recently embarked In the culture oftLs valuable sta
pie OF our soil, and who cannot be slDDose,I
as yet, to possess full information upon the sub
ject.
g You see many essays in the papers on the
management otthis crop; but none that have seen
which meet my entire appreciation. They are too
often composed BY men more fond oe showing off
In the newspapers before the public than in attend
Tls to he details OF the business they write about
Oie OF this kind OF essays is now going the rounds
written by an intelligent gentleman who am sure
has had but little experience, and that on n small
sca-e, as get. You shall have my course Of
III inagement and opiHions-then decide for your-
self
" beginners are apt to over-estimate the produce
oil tEer crops, and the average is often calculated
at one fourth TO one third more than it turns out
With US | think fair average is about 500 lbs
seed cotton 20 the acre. Some highly improved
lois, thSnns being favourable, will yield as
high b., as 200 lss: The average Of improv-
ed lots foundation may be IS high as 6
to 500 BE general average, think, of our
whole crdS4D1oes not exceed 500 lbs Won NAV
safely calculate to 600 lbs as the general aver
age Of your crops. Your land, in nv opinion. will
produce cutto. very well; but your Egtest sandy
ridges will always disappoint you-no matter how
"a
deep loan, neither too light nor too stiff; a CLAW
foundation is always the best. 1t is believed that
there IS nearly the result with cotton as with
tobacco, on light and stiff soils On very laht land
tobacco grows large, is thin chaffy and OF little
substance: on stiff land it is thick, heavy and Of
the greatest substance. So it Is with cotton: on
light soil the cotton stalks may be large but il will
no. yield many bolls: the cotton isefis LIGHTER
aad the staple not so strong or fine. Weigh a harnp-
per basket packed with seed cotton made on light
and another produced from stiff land, the difference
would surprise yOu--shewing that the same bulk
produced from still is much heavier than that pro-
daced IRON light lend. There is much difference in
the weigh and yield of seed cotton, in The differ
ent seasons OF gathering. That picked out early
will not ayeirge H. Of sinned, to i lbs. of seed
cotton; as The seed are thea green and Consequent
ly hetvy. That gathered la'e in the fall. in drv
weather, viii Weld ID. Ginned 10 3 10 lbs in
the seed. 1t Is mis- ken policy to sun he seed
co''oA mlch, ~ me commencement Of q herring;
when the co on is green, a day or TWO stunning =
sufficient. Aiter the st of October no summing Is
necessary, H. tlir Gather, except for that which is
PICKED out Ia t1e morning, whilst tie dew is on it,
There Is no crop hat loses so much bv evauora-
Ton as coto u Is tiici tnat never slumbers ne
yer tires, ne er ceases his piIeng. The seed, and
the nett co,ton too, are Consistently dinini.hing-
Even after q Is sinrei, if i, is not Immediately
packed, he evaporation continues, TO a degree
TIA is not even suspected by those who have no,
examined tins fact; il is like small worm hole H.
cosN OF IadeIra; although it goes drop by drop
and mot be missed from day to day, still if the
leak IS NOT Stopped, The liquor dimnshes So Wi h
cotton, IL IL is not piciyed as gathered and
pI lsed as picked it is constantly losing
Or Dy d.Op--aDd in a little while 10 per cent
Wi be found 10 have passed odin'o air. If tie cot
ton is dr. .ough 10 oe sinned, without clogging
the machine, il Is sufficient. in PURCHASING seed
cotton, sunriIg 1t IS out oil the question: as the
evaporation that will ensue isa clear loss.
g There is diversity OF opinion to the guam
tity Of seed that should be to the acre: with
US, the smallest quantity is two, and the largest
four bushels; about three is sufficient where YOU
have enough seed, and two will do If seed are
scarce
"The mode Of preparing the land varies almost
much tne faces vi the planters; and the best
Hy Of applying The manure admits of a great d.
v-l-l.y OF opinion and practice In the manage
rncI, Of bis crop have KEEP ny eye on our most
successful planters, particularly Major -. who is
beyond doJo, Jhe most sl,ifl, iudicous and sue
--ssa Of Us al. Wy 20 follow his practice as near
as circumstance will admit. The result has been
favorable
" Nataf1I land, no; intended 10 be MANFRED, we
fulh ,in da.Ohe before christmas, it we can. II
stii, we aud uut a small crop pitched, we pre-
fe. giving aotlcr plou, Ting with 3uke hoes lust
before planting But since or crops have be-
come solar C., 9e caruo. give this second plough
Iul; t.u. 10 many ins,.aces do not flush or land
untl he months oil 'iarcb aud April, or lust before
pisluns When me land is flushed and the plant
ius set o. has arrived, we Jay oil our beds with
fake plough and mould boards, ii to be MANFRED;
otDeraise rihout mo id boards, or with very short
ones. The most appro ed distance is 3 ~ feet
apart, which is The common distance with Us; bui
some prefer Q Cd TO feet. If the soil is yer,
suoae fee. Is not too great a distance; but on
common land producing about 500 lbs. 10 tie acre
- feet IS a6hcieat Mine is an planted 10
fsgj although seme Of NJ land WI ygi5 from 500