The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-09-24
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COTTON PICKING SEASON.

CO1ION PlChING SEhSUN.
The mass of our brother planters, having
nothing in view but cotton, are at loss, al
this season of the year, to employ their hands
proftably unless when engaged at the picking
out of their cotton crop; they consequently
pick cotton tho wet, and even during rains.
Cotton will certainly dry sooner on the stalk
without labor to hands, and uone to rot in
bulk, not stained by leaf or dirt, and il
hands are employed in preparing for the
next crop, in many instances, are more prof,
table than when picking cotton. by a loss,
admit, of one or two days work, hickory tim
ber can be housed for axe handles, oak for
plow beams and when the weather is un>
suited for out door work, the axe handles
and repairs to plows can be made, and save
the good weather of later period. Yet, if
during the summer, cypress, oak and pine
blocks be sawed for shingles or boards, these
can be made; horse collars made; and the
general repairs of rlow brides, &C., done
The good planter is shown by looking ahead
and preparing for bad weather, SO as to have
profitable work always on hand. Parts of
days, after the rains, preparing woods pas
lures, deadening timber would be more prof
table than in gathering cotton so wet that
water will run out of the sack and basket
Corn stalks can be hauled into stable, COW
lot and hog pens, which will keep stock more
comfortable, and absorb the urine, which is
considered equal to the dung; thus provide
that which all of our lands need. Our plan
tation contains as many acres of good land
to the quantity owned, as any of the planta
tions out Of Mississippi swamp; yet we can
use any quantity of manure, and none Of
our land would be injured
The constant sound, cotton, cotton, is det.
rimental in more ways than neglect of man
urirg and attending to the small things, for
there are things, we think of magnitude,
which demand attention; for instance, oats
wheat rye, &C., no time to SOW these, cotton
requiring all the time. Would it not be much
better to handle cotton SO as to command
from one to three cents more 4? Say, gather
eight bales to equal in value nine to eleven;
thus, time can be usedin providing for stock,
and less demand on the corn crib, so that
less cotton crop is demanded for necessaries.
Suppose a planter would raise colt to
every ten hands even, which would save
$3.50, or SIS to each hand, equal to one third
of bale; then make his own meat, equal 20
half a bale more, and easy to have something
to save the other fraction, which would be a
bale, and cost less to make at home and bet
ter when made, besides saving of the land
and avnense of cultivation Were nlanters
only to fence in their woodland, cut down
the small growth, and deaden the worthless
timber, native grasses would soon produce
feed for stock, which would save from the
corn crib which with providing shelter from
severe weather, and water in abundance,
would be great gain, This is not regarded
in its proper light. The woodlands are
really loss instead of gain for they do
not pay the interest, whereas, if properly
managed and not overstocked, profit would
be the result Southern Rural Gentleman.