Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1860-03-03
o0M@UNaoA. IONS
Cotton Culture.

ago to give you my modoof muklpg and prcpar-
ing Cotton for market. | now comply, but re-
luctantly, as have had only afcw years expe-
rience in its culture, and consequently, with a
subject that requires so much skill as cotton
culture, many of my notions may be in error.
| will give you what | conceive to be tho most
important points for its successful culture in
| this latitudc -:
! The aspect 6ftho land il of primo importance
| in starting and maturing the plant where the
season is SO short The aspect has so much to
do with the cotton plant, here, that think no
one should attempt it's culture unless his lands
have favorable aspect The aspect is iayVra
| bic accordingly as it faces the South or S, f.
Lands of northern exposure should never be
| planted in cotton-they are gRod for corn and
wheat. The texture Of the s6il has great cf-
feet upon the plant. That soil in which sand
l,predomiuates, with porous subsoil, is the best
suiteu 70 it, This kind of soil being readily
| penetrated by sun and air. and the porous sub
soil permits the speedy fermentation of tho
surplus water that settles from tho surface.
! l have been thus particular iii mentioning
| tho aspects and textures of soils, because there
are variety Of both i'll Pickens, audon almost
every plantation; and, as the culture Of the
! plant is limited, that aspect and texture best
adapted to its culture, should be selected The
above items being determined upon, the two
next OF Importance, arc to elevate and stimulate
! the plant. The former is effected by high bed
| ding. the latter by manuring.
| The preparation of land Cor cotton should be
made carly, say in January or February. BY
an early preparation firm compact bed is Oh
tanned, and the very important item of the carly
application OF manure is obtained. The carly
deposit Of all manures or all crops is Important
| When applied carly they arc rendered soluble
by the winter rains, aud mingle with the soil
and assist the plant E'om The beginning. Ihaye
L. ~
have rain enough upon it during the growing
season of the crop to rondcr it soluble and II
failure was the result.
Having the land prepared as above stated,
the next operation is the planting. This is
usually performed in short order, and there is
no part of its culture more important. Great
care and nicely should be used in PLANTING this
crop. In opening the bed a very narrow, short
plUw should be used, attached to n very light
stock, as the weight Of heavy one causes it to
run too deep. About two bushels seed to the
acre find sufficient on thoroughly prepared
land. l use, III covering. light iron toothcd
rake. This IL slow mode compared with tho
usual way with plow and board. The principal
advantage of the rake is the preservation of tho
height of tho ridge. | never could sec any
sense in making high ridge and then throw it
all down, which is sure to be the case when it
is covered with plow aud board. Throughout
the entire cultivation the ridge should he kent
Il
believe that by highly elevated ridge, degree
in latitude may bc attained. The crop should
be all planted by the 18th of April. My rule
is TO commence on tho 9th OF April, regardless
of tho cold. After the seed arc thus covered, Il
light onchorse roller is run over the beds
rolling two rows at once. This breaks down
the inequalities of the ridge, pulverizes the
earth directly around the plant, prevents ovapo-
ration, accccrates germna.ion, causes the plant
to como up and grow off with more yigor, incii-
tatcs the first working, and excludes somewhat
the cold When | get this much done, / con-
slider the crop half made.
AS rs the cotton is sufficiently up for n
stand, the first operation is to scrape down. Right
here ! think an cgrcgious error is generally com
mhtcd by using the pow Vicc the hoe. My mode
is to scrape down HghHy about foot on each side
of the cotton; at the same time bringing the cot
ton to q very narrow straight line. This mode /
consider far preferable to the chop through modc.
BY scraping down tho cotton is left thin and by
being brought to a straight line the plowing can
be made more ctfectual .han when left in zig-zng
line. as is the case when chopped through. Assoon
as 1t is. scrapcd, the hoes go directly back to spa
cling and thinning The distance between the
stalks regulated according to the fertility of the
land; the richer tho land the farther apart and ON
poor land rice oerSa, but mover closer than twelve
inches, and never more than one stalk in place.
except where one is missing, and doubt if two are
better here than one. Tho cotton plant requires
ample room for its full expansion in every direction
not only is the quantity greater but the quality
is better when it has plenty of sun and air; tie
picking is also greater the bolls are largcr-
The thinning should be done if possible by the
time the plant assumes the third leaf as about this
time the plant begins to shape its course If il is
crowded now il will adapt its organism to narrow
limits; il ii has ample room it will begin to tiller
and the stalk will acquire siZo and stamina, which
it can neyer attaini if crowded. Getting the crop
thinncd and set in time is the rub in managing the
crop. The next working is done with the sweep
running lightly twice in row, throwing gently
small quantity of canll among the cotton and COW
cring the small grass This is very critical juno
ture in its culturcas regards keeping down the GRASS
The best plowmen and the slowest mules should be
put to this work. Ii the crop can be gotten over
with the sweeps now before the grass begins TO
ieke hold the crops will be of very little trouble.
The sweeps arc at all times very snpcricially used
barely deep enough to eradicate the grass and
render pulvcrcnt the surface. Not only should the
sweeps be specifically uscd but on light soils care
balance of the culture consists in keeping the sur
face clean and pulvercnt by means of the hoe and
| sweep. do not top cotton. AS to the propriety
OF this am not able to say; thing about it, is,
| that it is unnatural. think IL best toilet nature
alone II topping does no good, it does harm. as
it is certainly wound to the plant. The working
| of the crop is continued till it begins to open
| by the above modes L hayc been making very
satisfactory crops; rarely making undcr an aver
age of 100 lbs. per acre. Last year, which was
not at all favorable for either or cotton made
on what suppose to be eighty acres land 80 bales
! average weight, 4i0 lbs, Two thirds of the
land is very old--orignally good balance, third
years land. merely state these facts to show the
result of my mode of culture
| AS this article is getting too long 6ill defer
| giving you the mode of preparing cotton for mar
| knt till the croD begins to omen.