The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-07-07
SAVING COTTON SEED.

s NC COTTON S ED.
One of the greatest disadvantages under
which the cotton planter labors, is in re-
gard to the seed we plant. The popularno-
tion is that seed run out very rapidly, or in
few years, and that fresh supply ofssguil
seed' is necessary to take new start from.
Again, we hear that changing seed among
different p planta,ons, or to and from differ
ent kinds ofsol, is of great advantage and
again that seed two or more years old Is far
more preferable, for that the poorest seed
germinate. 10 expose their engrcgious
whims and set forth what is deemed the
correct reasoning upon the subject, it is not
necessary for us to speak of any variety of
cotton grown in this country, but to state
principles equally applicable to all!
What is Gulf S'ed? The writer has m
extensive agricultural correspondence for
the last year or two, chiefly on the subject
of cotton seed; and In many letters from
from planters all over the cotton region
"gulf seed" are spoken of in contradistinc-
ton 10 be used Of the common cotton ofthc
country, and is considered far SUPERIOR
The former is worth fifty cents 10 a dolIa:
a bushel, and the latter as much less than
nothing as the value of the labor requisite
to haul it away! There arc several varict-
les of cotton in this couniry-Grst the great
mass, which may be caIlud the common
Mexican. Then there is the h;;;Stodon,
varying materially from all ,I.> above
But there is no :'gulf cotton: Or seed" diff.
terent from that which every man has on
his plantation. The name is in almost
every mans mouth but has no representa-
tive. But how came about the idea so ex.
tensvely Of gull seel! In this wise.
In the early history of cotton growing in
Mssissipp,a a few win:elIiycntand thrifty plan
ters settled IN Jefferson county, near where
Rodney now stands which place was
formerly called "Pelit Gulf" from an eddy
in the river just above the landing place.
These planters were among the first who
cultivated the Mexican cotton. now chiefly
raised, and which we all know supercedes
the old ''black seed" about thirty years ago
or little upwards. And they understood
and practiced the correct theory of saving
cotton seed, better than most of their neigh
bors. New farmers were coming in.o the
country, and the Hunts, MAgruhers, Free
lands, and a few others were ready 10 sun.
ply them with better seed than could be
procured elsewhere, because it was sared
better, and being shipped at the Petit Gulf
it after a while acquired the name Of Gulf
seed" for many years better seed could be
procured from the "Gulf'' than elsewhere
for the reason just stated and subsequently,
from other parts of the country hundreds
OF miles distant seed was sent to Rodney in
order that it might therefore become Gulf
seed and which was no doubt really as good
as the best. Thus it is that thousands of
planters have paid hundreds ofthousands of
dollars to few other planters who could
see and think, for cotton seed of the rery
sanekin they had themselves; in the most
prof,se abundance. And if the purchased
seed was any bettersthan their it was saved
better. Ofthe common Mexican seed it may
be truly said that there may as good seed
be raised on any plantation, from the seed
now on it, however much it may be run
out, as can be raised on any other plantation,
however recently it may be supplied with
fresh Gulf seed, or however near it NAV be
situated to Rodney. The extreme north
and south ought perhaps to be excluded
from this remark.
: And we are perhaps now called upon TO
explain how it is that such great advantage
is derived from some particular mode ofsav.
ing seed sometimes runs, out or depreciate
while others donots And it may here per.
haps bes admissible, as it will answer our
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