Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1843-03-08
AGRICULTURAL.
For he Advertiser.
REPORT ON

Considering as they do the importance OF
the cultivation Of Cotton 10 be Of vast m
portance 10 tue South, as II is one OF those
articles of commerce which alwaye yields
reodv cash, its cultivation have been ~
creased to an alarming extent, thereby de-
precia,ins its value, although other causes
have had q tendency in the reduction OF
its value. Its loo great a cultivation has
been one Of The most obvious causes, by
the supply being SO much greater than It's
consumption, thereby %lessennlng the de-
maud for whenever the supply Of any az
,icic is much greater than the demand or
consumption, as q general consequence It
dcpreciaies in value. Your COMMITTEE
arc Of tho opinion, that under any OF the
common modes Of culture, the supply oil
Cotton for our markets is toe great, and
wouIL therefore recommend as one nf the
means of consuming il, that every planter
sbouJd use the domestic Cotton Bageine
now coming into use. (whenever il is prac-
ticable for him to obtain ii,) aud likewise
that The Cotton crops be lessened By each
nj least ouc-,hird to that which is general.
Iv PLANTED, and have no doubt that the nett
proceeds OF his crop would yield fully as
largo an amount, of capitol as ii does at
present. The planter would be enabled
to have his crops picked Oh, By Christmas,
instead Of uoi being able, as is frequently
tho case, TO gather it until March; more
time would Be allowed 10 manure The soil,
clear, pu, up good fencing. and improve
the general appearance of his farm 10 ad.
, vantage. They would he enabled TO plant
much larger OF Corn AMI small grain. and
nav more attention to iis culture; raise
their own pork, horses. mules, &c.. and
live az farmers should do, Independent.
We have been, heretofore, too much de-
oendant upon others for supplies which
we might have raised at home. and there
by prevented an m eifiux Of moncy
from The State. which has been annually
expended in the purchase Of hogs, horses.
and mules. Your Committee believe ii To
be the imperative duty aud true policy of
every farmer TO raises bouniiful supply al
home Of every article thai he Gun produce
fur home consumption. aud some to spare
TO his ueishbours upon a pinch. and after
warts raise what be eau for expiration.
spch n, Cotton, Wheat, &C., and having
;nciden,ly mentioned Wheat. your Conn
m;stee would make one remark. aud that
is. tina, too little attention has been paid
TO this subject for The purpose Of expor.a
tiou, or for making even a sufficient TO sup
ply the demands Of our ~ State. and
necessarily dependent upon the North for
a.. n.o,,er mar, oflhe huuri that is cunspm.
ed within the Stale.
Having made these few preliminary re.
marks, your Committee nre Of The opinion
thar the subject Of primary importance in
tho cultivation Of Cotton, is that Of The Sc
lection Of Seed. Every farmer who rails
es stock, always makes it q matter OF mo.
mepr 10 select good breeders, they must
be ola certain age, before they are allowed
10 breed, &c., yet on The subject Of grain
and seed. how heerigcur l:vy arv. II rbu
grain or seed is Of a good size and sound,
Is ali they want; but we are OF tue opinIoo
that grain or seed may be Of good size aud
sound. and yet no, Of sufficien, maturity 10
nroduce full cars, bolls, &C., aud would.
therefore recommend, instead Of planting
,he Co,,cp Seed which has bees picked
out this fall. mex, spring, that they should
o be planted until The spring following;
go ,ha, the seed which are feeble. and
you'd necessarily produce, If planted the
following spring. hut weakly pInn's with
bu, few bells, which seed il left for twelve
months, would entirely decay, aud you
would have no seed 10 come up, but such
as would produce healthy, vigorous plants.
and the bulls that are formed, are APT to
b. large aud well ma,ured. The seed
should DO taken from the second picking
ou,. and the Cotton well summed and per-
fectly dried. on scaffolds suitable for the
nurpnse. They are also Of opinion that
iced should be changed from n plan,a-
ton to auother every three or four years.
The next suffice, that presents itself for
consideration. is that Of the preparation Of
the soil, and this will in a grea, measure
depend upon tho naiur "i the soil you
have to cultivate. for the management OF
a stiff clay snil, will require more care aud
attention. difereut implements OF agricul-
,urc, and more particular attention IN max
ing use Of the proper seasons for putting
il in order. than that Of an open free snndy
soil, and The sooner in the season you can
pc, YOUR land in order the better. Stuhhle
land should be well broken up early in The
fall with a twis,er; by so doing. you have
the grass ind weeds. which at this season
contains much nutrinent turned under.
aCd which will be dccomposed and in a fiji
state for adding vigor aud nu'rimenl to the
Cotton in the spring, besides having your
land in a loose and easy state for cultiva-
ton.
After having broken up your land intend
ed for Cotton well and deep win q scooter,
prepare for planning by throwing up your
beds rs high as practicable with Tho twister.
and in low wet bottoms pull up with The
hoe. The beds should be from 80 10 40
inches apart, according to the soil or ma
nurins OF the same. II manured old land,
the beds ough, to be 3 fec, apart; 10 low
wet bottoms. always let your rows point
ou, to your ditch or drain. When ready
for planting. open your beds as deep as
YOU can with a coulter. plant your seed and
cover with a harrow lightly, so as to pull
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