The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-30
From the Southern Ci.ltiraior.
Remarks on tho Cultivation or Cotton,

NoD~rks on tho Cultivation or Cotton.
BY DR.. M. W. PHILIPS.
No I-PREPARATION OF LAND.
ia writing out the detailed plan pursue in the
cultivation Of cotton, | must begin. suppose, on
the LIST 81 January 10 as to carry your readers reg
uarly through | will endeayor not to be tedious,
yet cannot possibly be minute, without at least
being tiresome to somebody-as there is always
somebody who already knows every thing.
For ten years past, have thrashed down all cot
ton stalks, cut down all corn-stalks, and turned
them under as well possible with turning
plough. When planting cottoh after corn, strive
TO break up the land with two-horse ploughs-what
term flushing, that is, breaking up in thirty to
nifty feet beds. Last year broke up every acre OF
land planted, with two-horse ploughs, whether
planted ia cotton, corn, oats, or potatoes.
II my land has been In cotton, generally open
out water burrows, deep, with shovel plough; to
this throw two turrows one ench side, with one
or two-h horse turning ploughs thus the land re-
mains until t. day or two before | wish 10 plant,
when have the bauik broken out, thus having
fresh earth to plant upon and yet firm earth for the
seed TO be planted in. There will be narrow
ridge of earth, not covered by the resh earth but
invariably iron tooth harrow along the ridge,
80 AS TO break ciods. and rake off pieces of stalk
and to leave the ridge fresh if running of the
harrow will not do, run it twice.
The opener then follows and opens out a furrow;
say one half inch is deep enough, and narrow if
this furrow could be as straight as bee line, ard
half an inch wide, would esteem il better if upon
level land. The seed are bcattered MinIy and regu
larly, then covered with board or block; Iwould
prefer roller. AS to distance this depends upon
quality, age, and locality of land; rich and fresh
land requiring greater distance, and am inclined
to think that The same quality of land north Of say
33' will tend more To longer joints, than does
cotton about 80 to 330, and particularly west
ern lands these lands tending to short joints,
and greater yield to height of cotton. | do
not plant any land that requires rows to be
over five and half feet, even 10 grow fifteen to
twenty cwt OF cotton per acre. There is some
times, am sure, much loss by too sparse planting.
desire TO have the plants meet in the rows by the
first Of August and should it after this date lap in
the row. the crop will not be materially injured.
lind the new varieties, as Sugar loaf and Cluster,
TO require less distance both ways than does the
Mexican. When planted my crop with Mexican
Patti Gulf gave five to five and half feet by
two to three feet on my beet land. For four years
have grown Sugar loaf, and plant four and half
feet by eighteen to twenty four inches, preterrng
about eighteen inches Upon second quality of land
reduce distance to four feet or less by eighteen
inches Upon this department of planting (the
preparatory use more time and labor than is usu
al, being careful to break up deep, throw out into
beds all the land, leaving no unploughed ridges;
the ridges cndeavor to puverize well, and do not
run ploughs unless land will pulverize, thinking
ploughing might be done too early and land in
lurcd by being ploughcd wet. My object in plough
ing say three furrows earl y, is to permit the foun
dation OF ridges to settle somewhat, seed germi
nate freer, and grow of better than upon light
earth. break out the rendue late planting
time, that the plant will start before or with the
grass and weeds. prefer never more than bushel
of seed per acre, because solitary stalks not in
jured by cold weather when scraped out, as when
grown in hot bed.
have been asked how plant seed when buy
l reply, i wet the seed thoroughly with salt and
water, and sometimes use brine made by sleeping
stable manure in salt and water for ten days before
wanted, until fermentation has ensued. The seed
are then dried of with ashes, lime, or plaser-I
prefer the two latter, the seed white, and the
master can sec that care in dropping ia practised
by hands. These seed dropped at the re
CURED distance, and covered by the foot, by
brushing little earth upon the seed and pressing
them into the earth with the foot. would prefer
a seed planter, but could not make the one tried
drop regular. Five TO ten seed in place is ample
have dropped only one, and two, and three ;
when did this myself, failed not in good stand
With good ridge, clean of clods and litter, a
hand can scrape more; the labor Of planting care
fully, and time seemingly lost in this, as well as Of
dropping seed, is fully regnined in the scraping. |
have cultivated for ten years nine to ten Of
cotton, and eight 10 nine Of corn, besides potatoes
oats, sc. Thus could not have been done but by
doing all work well. Time is saved by good
ploughing and neat planting.
Yours, with respect, NJ. w. PHILIrs.