The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-14
Thoughts ON che Culture Of Cotton.

merits n larger snare OF attention than the
Culture of Cotton. It's Importance to. the
4 preservation of the peace of the world, as
well as its importance to those who grow
it, would seem enough to concentrate pub
lie attention to its culture, and inspire men
of competennt qualifications With an in in,
clination to try experiments in the mood
of its cultivation, with the view of protec-
ting themselves from the frequent disasters
which now destroy their crops. The ex-
perience ofthe last few years proves beyond
caVil, the supreme folly ofadhering to the old
system of culture, when it has lost its
adaptation to the seasons. 1t is a histo--
rical fact, that countries become colder as
the primeyal forests are cleared up and
the land put in cultivation. This is true
ofthe seasons in the Cotton States. Our
climate is annually changing, and approx
imatingto that Of North Alabama, Plan
tiers are now exposed to mishaps, which
were unknown to them ten years ago.
This Spring may be regarded as a type
OF future seasons, and as showing the
numerous trials and drawbacks to which
farmers will be subjected; yet by no
means design to be understood as saying
that it will be exactly similar in ali res
poets. There is diversity in all animate
and inanimate things; and there is a
marked diversity apparent when we com
pare two seasons together The past VIM
ter was remarkably cold, lbat about. The
middle of February the weather became
serene and mild; vegetation was crap
idly developed, and planters pushed
forward their preparations, with emu,
lous eagerness. They planted corn
in defiance of the experience of the
last few years, and until the 18th ofMarch
they seemed to have adopted the wisest |
course, as the weather was balmyi and !
the corn thrifty and growing. But the,
wind shifted round to the Nurth-the |
weather became bitingly cold, and the
ground was completely frozen. Since that
time we'have had an occasional spell OF !
good weather, whose influence on the
crop was neutralized by heavy rains, iac-
with both wind and hail.
1t is not strange that men, whose sue
cess is SO much dependent on the seasons,
should be content to plod on without
any effort to note the changes of sea-
onsa Were they to note the period when
developed itself; mark the va
rious drawbacks that occurred from seed
time to harvest; and contrast one year
with another, it does seem to me that they |
might escape many yaxatious disasters, and
raise larger crops We would pronounce
a farmer who Should plant corn in vir-
ginia in February, a fit subject for Bed.
lam; yet, notwithstanding the seasons
have been SO materially changed even
since 1850, there are those among us
who conceive that they would be irrepar-
ably ruined, were they not to plant corn
before the first of March, Is there any
more nationality IN their course than that
Of the Virginia farmerf Let the repeated
destruction of their crops by frost declare
he folly of such system. aT'l ,rr-ai- 4
] assume, as a fair deduction from the
previous observations, that Cotton ought
lot, even where the land is prepared, to
De planted prior 70 the ,5th OF eth Of ApHl. |
As a general thing, the spring raips are
overby this time, thegroundb dbecomeswann
enough to make the seed sprout in a.few
days, and the weather baImy enough to.
make it grow offjust as soon az IL eomesup
/ hail it as a favorable omen, that this
opinion, once so much secuted, is gaining
ground, as. year saiier year shows that
late planting is more certain to secure n
good stand Of cotton, and that the cotton
is less liable to be stinted by bad weather,
or destroyed by insects. Nor should the
ground be prepared too soon where there
is abundance Of team, as Il then becomes
weedy and is covered with a hard ,incrus-
tation before the cotton gets np.t In such
case, the land has to be thoroughly bro
ken up anew, before the cotton can grow
Of, or the land be worked TO sdyantage.
For averifcation of this fact, IL any weFe|
necessary limighszappeal she psrsoas'
al aleSperience Of every obsersaot farmer q
just as soon as the cotton is well up.
the harrow should be run close TO the drill,
and a sweep put Behind It to reopen the
water furow. Harrows are preferable, be-
cause they arenot half 50 apt TO cover up
cotton as sweeps--they sin the dirt among
It better, drag the elods and stalks from