Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-30


&, these false shows? Give bold thoughtful at
tention to these things, and be guided by the
answer; for the perfection of living is beginning
! to live rightly.
Reasons why Cotton should not be
Planted Early.
In favorable localities South of this the work
of planting Cotton may have already commen-
ced, and it was probably judcious to have done
so. Our remarks do not, therefore, apply to
such cases. We have been the advocates OF
early planting, acting upon the common suppo-
sition that what we could borrow from the spring,
was to be put down as clear gain to the Cotton
crop-giving the whole benefit of the season for
maturing and perfectlng the crop. This theory
carried with it so much plausibility as to induce
very little inquiry as to its soundness, and pref
ty much all have acted upon it without ques-
tioning its propriety. We have long done so.
But we will take occasion here to say, that doubts
have arisen, and the inclinations Of our mind are
rather against these suppositions. If the Cot
ton was indeed making and maturing all the
time, from its start until it was terminated by
frost, then would this be sound reasoning. But
all seasons, suspensions in this process? The
making in mid season almost stopped, or on
crops Of more constant and rapid maturity, ter
minated long before the killing frost. These
occurrences demonstrate that the whole season
is not appropriated by the plant in maturing
but that suspensions often occur, and that the
process of making frequently terminates before
the end of the season. With these facts before
us, the question arises as to the necessity or the
propriety of seeking to start plant so tender
and delicate as that Of Cotton, before the coming
of the warm sun, so congenial to its nature, or
the cessation of the cold, chilly nights so blight
ing and sickening to this feeble plant. Who
that has tried his hand upon a poor, bury,
longhaired stunted pig, and found how difficult
has been the task to cure, by after kinlness, the
injury sustained by former backsets, has not ar
rived at the conclusion that better hog may be
made from younger pig, placed under kind
treatment and genial influences from the start |!
The analogy may not be perfect, but we think
the illustration is and that the demonstration
in the animal, is fair in its application to the
vegetable kingdom. But we need not 60 so far,
or introduce inappropriate analogies, for the So
luton of our problem. We may take the
dwarfsh, damaged shrub or tree, and let it be
placed, with the same advantages, side by side
with the vigorous, healthy shoot, and mark the
result. The one has to repair its damages, and
regain its losses, while the other moves on in
vigorous, healthy growth. Thus it may be, and
thus We thing it often is, with Cotton planted
before the arrival of seasons suited to start and
bring it on. Before this, it may come up, and
it may so far resist these unfrendly influences rs
to live and grow after WHILE. But these hold
it in check, hinder it from growing off soon, and
make it a fit victim for lice, or any thing else,
seeking a feeble subject upon which to prey.
The suggestion which we make is, land we
will not ask for it more than a bare suggestion
would it not be better to wait little longer, Sc
cure vigorous, long stemmed plant, with sea-
sons which would move it off at once than take
the chances to have it checked and stunted at
the start, to be cured and recovered from these
ravages before it can be started to growing. But
our plan is objected to, perhaps, because it comes
in contact with the long re-estabshed custom of
delaying until after the Cotton is planted to give
the Corn its first work. But why wat9 Work
the Corn as soon as it will do, and you have the
time to spare. 1t will be much to the benefit of
this crop if it could all be worked at least enough
to stir and loosen the earth about the roots, be-
fore planting the Cotton. Indeed this is the
very change which we propose-that the Corn
shall all be sided with the plow and addressed
(but not thinned) with the hoe before the Cot
ton is planted. 1t is at this point that we look
for great gain in its benefits to the Corn, and in
the tightening Of labor, in making whole crops,
and this without sacratce to the Cotton. The
corn will thus be started to grow earlier; and af.
ter the Cotton is planted, and before it is up
large enough for work, the whole corn crop may
be thoroug ghlv plowed, hoed, and thinned, leaving
comparatively little more to be done to that,
and nearly all the after time and labor to be ap-
propriated to the cotton crop. There is but a
single objection land that one is contingent,)
which can apply to this plan. The stand of corn
may not be obtained sufficient early to receive
the work which we recommended, before plan.
ting cotton. Still we think all things consider
ed, it is worthy ofadoption, either as whole, Of
in part. If the corn crop can be started, and
most of the important and hard work in its cul
ture can be done before the cotton comes in, Ger
tainly much is gained for the corn, and the la
Dor necessary for the cotton, greatly strengthen
ed by concentrating so large portion of it upor
this crop. Our plan in detail is this: In this la
titude, that corn be planted the last of February
slightly worked by siding with the plow, ano
dressed but not thinned, with the hoe, the las
week in March and first week in April; atte'