Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-25
Cotton ana its Cultiva,iou.

In the year 1921, cotton seeds were brought
: the banks Of the James river. Yet nothing was
ever Thought Of this till after the war Of indie
penoenee. Two things have produced the enor.
nous demand for the American staple. One is
the cotton gin, and the other the superior char.
acter OF the American seed and the cotton II
produces. Africa and Asia, in fact more than
half OF both OF those continents, are capable of
producing cotton, do produce. on the whole, far
more than America, and have produced Il from
the very earliest historic records. The micro.
scope has demonstrated that the bandages and
cloths wrapped around the most ancient mum
mics discovered in Egypt are made of cotton,
and some OF these ofa very remarkable fneness
and beauty. Indeed 1t has been matt r of coz,
troversy for hundreds Of years, whether cotton
or max is the real material used and tho micro.
scope even has been declared to favor the pre-.
tensions of both ~
In Turkey and in India cotton can be produced
at Two pence per pound, aud yet American, mt
seven pence, will be preferred, because Of the
Two advantages named. As to cleaning, the
American is superior, because of the cotton gin
Tor one thing, but also because on the rich bot
tom lands the weed grows larger and higher
rom the ground; hence 1t is not so apt to get
mixed with sand, splashed upon il by the rains
order and discipline in picking the cotton, SO as
not to let IL fall on the ground, would almost
entirely cure the complaints made against Indian
cotton. Or a system of assortment, for which
different prices would be paid, would, by de.
grees,. produce greater care. 1t has even been
remarked that there has been great falling off
In the quality of American cotton within the
last few years as 70 this matter of cleanliness,
a large per cenatsge of sand, and even stones,
having been left or put into the cotton TO make
it weigh more.
Il lie the quality of American cotton which
causes il to command such higher price,
This is partly dependent upon climate. partly
upon soil, but chiefly upon cultivation No finer
and more perfect climate for the cotton plant
has been found, or probably will be, than that
OF the Southern United States. Yet even there
1t grows well In such varieties Of latitude, of
height above the sea, Of soil and of moisture,
that there will doubtless be found plenty of re.
gions in India where the climate will do all
that climate can. Even as to soil, we have
seen the cotton doing well in the rich black
mud of the Alabama prairies and canebrakes,
where IL had been sown for twenty years Sue
cessively without manure and without diminu
tion OF crop. And we have seen it on the red clay
hills Of Georgia, or the sandy loan Of South
Carolina. OF course. the richer the soil the
better. Cotton Is gross feeder, and the scanty
height will give planter broad field, when he
has worked his soil too hard and too long. Some
planters are now beginning to find out (~hat
all will have to come to) the importance OF MP.
nuriDg the soil. Thus far the thriftless plan of
clearing new ground has been pracised. IL has
been mainly because planted in virgin soil, that
American cotton has increased in the length of
the staple upon that Of the old world, and i'm
proved the seed and become 80 valuable.
But the care which nsed to be taken many
j years ago in improving the seed, has been the
chief foundation of the success Of America.
The finest sea island varieties were produced
BY degree Of care hardly conceivable now and
quite gone out Of practice. The master Of the
plantation used to go through bis fields with
4 pieces of red cloth In his hand, tying one OF
these pieces round such plants as appeared the
most perfect in every particular. The cotton of
these was picked and kept separate from all the
, rest, and the seeds separated by the hands of
his own wife and children. These eeeds were
the only ones sown, and thus, by selecting the
7 best seed, and by great care bestowed on each
successive culture, the seed has been brought up
10 its present high standard, Much of this care
is now relaxed. IL Is probable, by the use of
the same pains and care, on carefully enrich.
ed soil, equal results might be and will be pro
duced In parts of Asia and Africa, but the
American cotton producer need not fear any
such composition. BY the use of cultivators and
steam, instead of the hoe of the negro, greater
cheapness can be secured, and greater perfec'
tion IN keeping down the grass and refreshing
the roots. Phiiadetrhia Ledger. ase