Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-09-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR THE COURIER.
preparation Of Cotton for Market.


Preparation Of Cotton for Market
Mr.. Editor: In compliance with your request
and my promise will give you the mode pursue
in preparing cotton for market:
Nothing influences more the profits of the farm
than economy in the gathering and preparing of
all crops and it Is probably more essential in
the cotton crop than any other, from tho fact
that 1t varies so much in price, caused chiefly by
more on less care in its preparation for market
So much care rs use in gathering cotton would
not be advisable where heavy crops arc produced
such as u or bales per hand. Where not more
than bales to the hand are made il will pay and
pay handsomely. The extra care | used in gather
ing last year's crop enhanced its value over cot
ton gathered in the ordinary way, not less than SO
or $40 per bale, which, in fifty bale crop is no
small difference The making of fine cotton will
bc OF more tnn usual Importance. in order to make
up Tor the deficiency in quantity, caused by the
recent unprecedented long hot dry weather.. 1t is
u saying that cotton, red-headed peckcrwoods and
lizards can endure any sun; how the two latter
Jared don't know but cotton has had to succumb,
and lie who makes half crop will do we'll
me preparatory steps for gathering, are, the
furnishing tue pickers with lampcr. n sruall
picking basket and a saok The gin house should
be thoroughly cleaused from top to bottom Every
available hand should be put TO picking This is
considerable advantage the cotton planter has
III employing an extra force in picking which
could not be in making the crop. Every basket
should he labeled with the pickcrs name so that
il, will be readily known in examining the cotton
at any time and when it is weighed. Having all
hands properly equipped, the next thing is to cx-
PLAIN to each one how the work has to be donc.-
My orders to them arc never to pull a boil off the
stalk never pick boil that is not we'll orcn-
ed and pick it free OF all leaf or trash If las is
.o'cn The case in the first and last pickings) there
arc faulty bolls. the imperfect portion is pulled of
anu thrown away; one such hol! will iniurc doz-
nm n,C,,n A., - 4
the stalk because it rctards the picking and sc,i
ously affects thc vitality OF the stalk Every boil
pulled oil the stalk previous to frost is wound to
the plant The pods should not be picked until
fully blown, because the staple will be knappcd in
ginning, and will become mouldy, as il can never
he thoroughly dried in bulk. The staple of imma-
turc cotton is Gncr than that which has attained
its full age, but it is deficient in the other essential
qualities Of perfect staple. viz length and
strength. No pod should he ickcd until its iuicc.
er sap is elaborated by the heat of the sun. 1t is
OF very great Importance to pick cotton as fast ms
it opens: by doing this. the quality is better and
The quantity is increased. Every day after cotton
Is fully blown. it looscs until gathered. Even if
there is no rain il looscs by evaporation and when
exposed to rain and Iews both the quality and
quantity suffer.
When the cotton is brought to the gin-housc.
unless thoroughly dry it should be spread over
the house and kept frcquc lily stirred, until tho
seed Will crack in walking ovcr it, II should then
he thrown into a bulk. whore i, undcrpocs sweat
which imparts To the fibre rich cream color |
Will mention here that unless the first pickings
(from which arc usually kept planting sccd) are
carefully dried, the seed will heat and thus iniurc
their vitality. This is not uufrcqucntly the cause
OF bad stands. Every grade should he Kent dis
tihet; too mich Gaze cannot be given to this mat
ter y difference that may appear sligi; TO tie
planter, may be quite an objection to the buyc,
and thus he the cause of loss of n good many
dollars. On wct days the hands overhaul the cot
ton and remove all trash and imperfect pieces A
goou deal may be done in this way in improving
the quality of the cotton, but the time to make
good cotton is when il is being picked.
y good gin is absolutely necessary to make good
cotton-all previous care will have been in vain
unless it is well ginncd. The difference in the
price OF well and badly ginncd crop of 20 bales
VIII pay Tor good gin. Particular notice should
pad to having all the parts Of the gin properly
adjusted also TO he speed. The aximum speed
iora cotton gin is. think. about 300 revolutions
to the minute. The gait of the team should be
steady and uniform Mules are preferable 10 horses
ior ginning as they more steady. The enner
should be reliable fellow. The gin should be
icd untormly--ncvcr permitting the roll to break
by too much on too little feed either of which
causes the staple to be cut. 4 basket should be
placed alongside the gnncr, into which he is re-
CURED to throw all trashy cotton which is cleaned
on wet day.
In bacing, all that is necessary il, to keep the
cotton clean of all dirt and trash Bind il with
the best gunny cloth and the best rome; the bag
ging should lap little the ropes should be well
stretched. and ono for every foot in length of the
bale. When bacd put it under good 1helter.
The last, but most important matter is. TO send
1t to the right place and the right man Fue cot
tons cannot be sold to evcry buyer for their -or.h
Yours. respectfully, j. w. CRAWFORD
Cold Spring, August 90, 1860