The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-08-19
TIE PROPER PREPARATION OF
COTTON FOR MARKET.

The greatest economy in the gathering
and preparing any crop which is produced,
& essential 10 ensure the proper profits TO
tie planter. lie may have fine lands, pro-
uitious seasons. and all the incidents to sue
cessful production; bat, if the most care
full attention is moi bestowed upon the gath
cring If his staples, lie Is 40 better off in
the end than lie who tills poor lands, and
carefully husbands and protects its pro-
ducts. From the moment Il crop Is matur-
I'd IL demands, therefore, strict attention,
and no labor il better paid than its prcscr-
walton and protection from depreciation. If
all the cotton which is produced was saved,
and properly brought to market. it would
swell the production to degree unthouSht
Of bv those wi:o do not look strictly into
details. If tbs, which j. not regarded by
the larger producers of cotton a. essential
Il a fact, how much is lost to the planters by
tic careless and buugliug manner i'll which
the staple crops are prepared for market
We do not Hazard great deal in saying,
that from til, alone the planters suffer Uiorc
than from even short prices, and all other
depressing causes combined. Nor DO we
assert anything but truth when We say, that
these losses to the planters IF South Caro-
lima would pay their faxes more than four
times over.
The careful picking and ginning of cot
ton is most essential. Nothing pays better
Il. \
good cotton gin should be secured, and at
tcntion paid TO the manner in which the
ginning IS performed. The condition OF the
cotton should be perfect. If it has been
properly summed before put in bulk, and
securely housed against the effects Of damp,
it will be III such order that the lint will be
drawn from the brush wheel in 4 fcathery,
fcecy state. If the gin is in proper comdi-
fibre be cut by the saws. Knapping cot
tou aad that which is cut by the saws, al
ways sell for less than even dirty cotton,
which are we'll ginmed, from the fact, that
the manufactures has the proper machines
for cleaning it of the dirt and leaf left in it
but yhcn the fibre is once destroyed its
value is in like manner impaired. This ex-
cmption from injury can only be proper
Il secured by having both the cotton and
gin i'll perfect order. An Overscer shculd
not only be 4 capable judge of these things,
but he should be able to remedy any defects
which may occur in the working of the ma
chincry of the motive power which drives
tho gin, as well as in the gin itself. The
Georgia and Alabama cottons are preferred
in our shipping markets, not on occOunt of
the superiority of their staple, but merely
because they are well ginncd. In packing
cotton, six ropes should be used to each
ways sufficient number left to secure the
bale from bursting. The rope, too, is sci.
dom an expense to the planter, it usual
ly brings as much as it costs, and hence he
can afford to apply it without stint. If siN
ropes are used, the sowing of the bales Oh
the side with twinc can be dispensed with
for with close packing the bagging vii
meet, and even if it does not, there can be
no wastage at the sides. From the mode il
which cOttons are packed in the scrcw-box
cs in layers, the wastage only occurs in tho
top, bottom and ends. The heads of the
bales should be securely and properly sew
ed up with Irvine in the best manner. AT
ter the bale is turned out, avoid the com
mon custom of exposing it to the weather
If It's worth gathering. picking and packing
for the market, it certainly is worth pro
tecting from the weather. If these parti
"nlors are strictly attended to, the cottor
crop would bring the producer from one t,
two cents per pound more than it does wheI
prepared i'll u careless and Indifferent man
ncr.
CONOUERING BY KINDNESS