Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-05-29
AGRICULTURAL.
From, the Southern Cuttirator.
PLOUGHlNG CORN-TOPPlNG
COTTON

PLOUGHiNG CORN-IOPPlNG
COTTON
In rendering our acknowledgements tc
Mr. Mckee, :for an account Of his las
years crop, with which we have been quite
interested, we desire 10 offer few re,
marks in .plowins in the preparation o.
land for crop, and as to the advantage:
Of topping cotton, and its propriely.
The experience of scientific and practi-
cal men, a,tests most conclusively Tho ad'
vantages Of subsuil plowing in the prepar-
alton Of land for crop, both as preven-
live against the prejudicial influence of a
drouth, and an excess of rain. The rea-
soning for this system of culture, is based
upon the plainest principles of philosophy
and common sense, and is thoroughly sus-
tanned hy actual results. The subsoil plow,
which we believe is scarcely, if at all, used
at The South. is constructed for breaking
the subsoil thoroughly, without mixing ii
with the soil.
When thus prepared, the soil becomes
all absorbant of the extra quantity ofwalcr
that may fall, which it retains 10 be given
out by the process Of evaporation whenever
the abseuco of rain shall, in the economy
Of nature, render such evaporation reces-
sary to the sustenance Of vegetation. BY
this process, then, The plant converts the
subsoil into a reservoir. which serves the
double purpose of Withdrawing The excess
of water from vegetation in wet seasons,
and from which nature will draw her sup
plies to sustain vegetation during the exis-
lence OF droulh. |, ia indeed beautiful
theory. and one W hich we are quite aston
ished has not obtained 10 q greater extent
among Agricuiturists. But The progress
in improvement is Onward, and we hope
the day is mol far distant, when the South
will boast as high state of Agricultural
Improvements as any section ofthe Union.
To do this, however, one of the FIRST sub
jects which should engage the atteptiou of
planters, is, ho,r they can cultivate less land?
This is Il very important question, upon
the successful solution Of which, depends
the progress of Improvement, because it
strikes at The root of the evil of which we
complain. The effort 10 cultivate a great
ouanliiy Of land, not only forbids, but pos
lively prevents, the thorough preparation
of land for the culture of crop: and
hence, system which is begun in imper-
!ec,ions is carried out, resulting in imme-
dia,e losssto the cultivator himself, and
preiudicially 10 The general prosperity OF
the country. 1t is because Of this hurry
and confusion IN the culture of so much
land, that our lands are so imperlectly
prepared hence, few, if any, can obtain
their consent to make the experiment OF
cultivalins less land, and doing that in a
proper manner.
In our opinion, when the lard is thor
oughly broken as we have suggested, with
tho subsoil plow, (which should be begun,
and, if possible. completed, prior TO plant
ins, though the breaking between the
rows might, in an emergency, be done af.
ter plantng,) the subsequent culture OF
the crop should be almost exclusively q
mere surface dressing-whicb, while il
would eflectually eradicate the grass aud
weeds, should by no means disturb the la
teral roofs of The crop. This surface-drcs.
sing also serves, by levelling the land, 10
diminish the exposure 10 the sun, and con-
seouen,y lessons evaporation, which is al
so very important. Late ploughing, par
ticularly if deep, we regard as a danger,
Gus experiment always, and rarely, OF
never necessary, when the land had been
properly prepared in the outsetof the crop
1t is true, as in the case mentioned by MIR
Mckee, it sometimes succeeds well, be.
cause The rain came at proper period
but, in the absence Of rain, we apprehent
no one will question that 1t would have
proved disastrous. The comparison, there
fore, between MIR. McKee's crop and hi
neishbors, is, we think, not just or fail
one, for theirs wanted the proper prepar
alton Of the land in The commencement o
the crop.
The subject is however repleie with in
teres,, and should engage the earnest con
sideration Of Agrculturists at The South
where improvement, is so much needed
bu, as our Limits will not permit US TO day
to enter more fully upon the subject, WI
must pass to the consideration Of the pro
priety oftopping cotlon-upon which ther
are, we are well aware, very. opposite
opinions.
Without any opportunity of testing tn
truth OF our own views upon this subject
by actual experiments, we incline TO th
opinion that its propriety should alway
be determined in reference both to tn
character of the land for richness, aud ais
10 the season, whether it be victor dry
facts upon which the planter must deter
mine at the time. In very rich lands, c
wet seasons, where the growth is very lbs
uriant, running pretty much into stall
, without sending oul laterual branches, "
regard topping as a very necessary pre-
, cess but on the other hand in poorer soil
and a dry season, we think it doubtfi
whether il is ever needed. Of the nece!
siy Of the process therefore, the Rractic