Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-17

lore requreGa skiiiul and rusty pougman, es,tiye-
IN 20 be relied on, the crop would be materially
injured by having too many plants destroyed AN
inevitable consequence oftheir being used by our ne
gro ploughboys; ard it did not pulverize the earth
near the plants. 1t is now nearly out OF use. We
find that the favourie plough in this part of the
country, 20 often mentioned in this letter. the old
fluke hoe, is the very best instrument Tor cotton,
as well as corn. Tie first ploughng, we break OIL
The right wing of an old fiuke hoe, and without
mould boards run as near the cotton possible
without njurng it q; running the broken wing next
the cotton, to keep from cutting II up This Is done
soon the plants all well up, then chop out,
with billing hoe, leaving from TO plants at n
station; and Immediately after, throw a little dirt
around the standing plants with hand hoes, 10
support them, and give them fresh loose mould to
grow in After they have recovered from this pro-
cess; and begin to throw OF finely. thin them with
the hand, leaving only one stalk at station, and
as nearly inches apart, rs the work can be done
After this, the crop is chiefly managed with the
plough, only using the hand hoes about twice In
chopping between and around the plants. where the
plough could not destroy the grass; and the last time
OF working III completing the beds. Ii the fall
should prove wet and much grass springs up after
the crop is" laid by''-it is very beneficial to scar
lily. slightly weed oil the grass, from the beds In
to the middle water furrow, just before 1t goes
TO seed; this will prev ent your next year crop be-
img grassy. Three hand hoeings in all, are amply
sufficient to make the crop giving the plants
little dirt every working, whether with the plough
or hoe-thus gradually raising the ridge. The old
fashion TO ridge down, with hand hoes, and
let the crop retain in this until it required
ing again. This practice of rdging down Is en-
ploded, and we careful as possible ne
yer to take any dirt from the plant without return
ing 1t Immediately. We never expose the plant;
and every working increase the bed little
&c When the season has been too wet to plough,
and the crop gets grassy, wait until the ground gets
III order TO work. then skim the sides OF the ridges
with hand hoes, which cuts up all The Dung grass,
and vi,hdraws it with the dirt, from the cotton; but
Immediately return it with the plough and mould
board. The dagon never use in our cotton; lis
mould board is 10 blunt-it also throws too much
dirt.
60 We commence a. above described with small
flukes without mould boards, then add short
mould boards, then gradually increase their
length, and the size of the plough, every work
Ing running further from the cotton. The last two
ploughngs very large plough hoe, from
y TO 10 inchs from wing 20 wing, with long
crooked nould boards, running very shallow, once
plough, but wider mould boards, open the water
burrows, making three burrows to the ridge In
this manner leave tie beds and water iurrows
handsomely formed the former not high and the lat
ter not deep. | am an advocate for topping cotton,
believing that it occasions it to branch and boe much
better. Suclerng is of great benefit TO it, but that
is out OF the question, with a full crop"