Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-01-17
Cotton Seed.

1t can be no longer questioned that the
cotton seed, in many parts of our country,
is fast degenerating, and we hear frequent
complaints from the planters on this subject.
The plants, in many places, are not as
vigorous in growth nor in the quantity and
quality produced as formerly. We are as
sured that the staple of the cotton is being
seriously affected by this degeneration Of
the cotton seed Various reasons are as
signed. One thinks it is owing to the con.
dition Of the soil or the state OF the weather;
another thinks it is owing to the defective
manner oil culture: 81 must change my seed"
says q third; and thus a variety of conjec-
lures are started The reason Of this de.
generation is made to appear when we con-
slider that, year after year, our planters pitch
their crops with seed taken promiscuously
from the field. In the very nature of things
it must dwinde and become dwarfsh in the
course of time; and Notwithstanding it de-
preciates under their eyes, they still pursue
the same insane policy. Upon the same
principle your stock of horses, cattle or hogs
would degenerate and run out. We do not
wonder, therefore, that your cotton is seri.
ously affected. You do nothing to improve
it, to give iavigor Of growth or constitution.
There is no need to change your seed;
all that you have to do is to pass through
your fields and select your seed from these
plants that exhibit most vigor of growth and
produce the greatest number Of bolls. Plant
those to themselves, and then Gull again as
before or else select few acres, and plant
it exclusively with the best seed, selected as
above, and in one or two years you will
have superior seed, if not better than can be
obtained anywhere else. If you are too
negligent or lazy to make the necessary im-
provements, no complaints should fall from
your lips.
The famous seeds, about which so much
is said, and for which such high prices are
paid, have been brought up TO this high state
Of culture by the means stated above, and
by proper crossing kept up for series OF
years
Try the plan indicated, and you will find,
a vast improvement in the quality aud qua "
lty of your cotton.-Sou!hern Organ.
IMPROVEMENT OF LIGHT So1Ls-Fery
light soils are comparatively unproduclive,
in their natural state, from two causes they
are deficient in the elements of plants, and
their mechanical texture is too loose to afford
plants-cspeciaI!y in their early stages--a
sufficiently firm hold. The former deicien-
cy may be supplied by the application Of
the ordinary manures, but as such soils pos.
sess little or none Of any substance which
can hold manure in combination, this remedy
OF itself is only temporary.-It has been
proved by practical experiments, that clay
possesses the power OF retaining manures-
the alkalies, as ammonia, potash and soda,
readily combine with clay, and the gases
which are emitted by decomposing animal
and vegetable matters are absorbed by this
substance. The alumni coyAsi7sd in clay
constitutes its adhesive p9 ence, as
a means permanently imE 3ht soils,
clay is a substance of gre;N- 1t sup.
plies principle which prevents the waste Of
manures, and holds them in a situation to
benefit crops to the greatest practicable de-
gree, at the same time that it corrects the
mechanical defect of the soil by imparting
the requisite adhesiveness and solidity.-
Farmer and Planter.
WINTER PLowING.-All stiff clays which
are not naturally wet that may be intended