Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-09
COTTON RAISING IN pE.AwAnp


The question of Cotton.growing in thi
State has recently occupied the attention
of many of our farmers to considerable
degree. A number of them have deter
mined, we are told, to try the experimen
Of raising the article with view TO il,
general introduction and culture. Tha
Cotton has been successfully raised in thi,
State is established by wcll.writtel
pamphlet by DR.. Emerson, from which We
extract the following
" In this struggle for mastery the sup
ply OF Southern Cotton being at present
mainly cut off SO as to enhance the price
three or four fold, it becomes interesting
to those who live in localities farther
north, favorable to the developement of
the Cotton plant, to consider whether il
may not be to their advantage to direct
attention to its culture the success of
which rests upon the answers that NAV In.
given to the following questions -
-" lst Have we in any part of the
Middle States climate and soil adapted
to the culture of Cotton!
" 2d, Have We at hand the necessary
skill to cultivate and prepare the crop for
market, so as to render it an object of
greater profit than our present agricultn-
raj staples
" The first question is partially answer
ed by the knowledge we possess, that
Cotton has heretofore been raised in the
lower portion of the peninsula between
the Delaware and Chesapeake Buys, SO ms
to form All important item in home in.
dustry.
" A lady living in Camden, Delaware
some time since picked some stray seeds
IRON cotton which she had bought and
planted them in the garden; these grew
and perfected their pods, from which she
picked the cotton spun it into thread.
and Knit several pairs Of stockings.
" y colored family, Of the name of
Miller came last year from Sussex coun.
ty TO live in Camden, Delaware brinpinu
with them the seed of cotton which they
had always cultivated and spun and woye
for clothing. The cotton in this new sit.
uation perfected itself we'll, and huy,.
succeeded in getting about IL quart Of the
seed, which, with as much more as | can
obtain from other places, enough /
nope, TO put ON several acres, 81 shall
plant near the same place the present
season. This family make it a rulc to
plant their cotton on the 18th ,lay of
May. W
" Friends of mine in Kent county, Del
aware have obtained cotton seed from
the neighboring county of Caroline, Ma
ryIand, where it was raised last year. ana
has been cultivated every year in II small
way, for family uses, since its first intro
ductlon ON the peninsula.
The instances here cited miubt nm.
pear tritling if they did not AFFORD posi.
i've assurances of the ability to mature
Cotton in the localities named.
" I'd, In answer to the second question
relating to the skill required for managing
the crop in all its stages-it may be OBJ.
served that for the preparation of the
ground, and all subsequent operations in
culture no more skill is required than
what is usually demanded in the raisinm
Of corn. The picking, drying and gin-
nlns' are simple, processes, performed bv
common hands of all ages and sexes f"
We advise those interested in the cnl.
Lure of Cotton in Delaware to purchase
a copy of DR.. Emcrson's little work
From it will be obtained much valuable