The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-05-07
DIRECTIONS FOR THE CULTURE
THE COTTON PLANT.
BY JOHN H. KLIppARr,
SOIL


Select. if possible. dark colored,
sandy, or sandy loan soil, with south. !
ern exposure if possible. 1t should be
well pulverized, therefore it should be
plowed rather deep, twice at least, and
then narrowed. 1t should then be plowed
IN ridges, and the cotton planted on the
ridge, 50 that the water of the spring and
summer rains will not stand about the
roots of the plant, but will aow away as
soen as possible.
A dcought will check the growth of
the plant and the bolls will not develop
but will fall of; wet season is equally
pernicious.
TIME AND MANNER OF PLANTING.
10 the Southern ates cotton 10 plant
ed from The 6r,t of March until the FIRST
OF June, according to circumstances, as
corn is planted here in OHIO from the frs.
of May uutiI the first of July. The oo-
ject in planting in March appears to be
to obtain time to attend to other farm
work, as we'll as To realize the entire
amount of cotton. should the season prove
favorable. But even in Georgia aud Al
ALBANIA the March planting is frequently
cut of by frost. On account Of the com
parative shortness of our seasons, il
should be planted as early as possible, SO
as to avoid the spring and early fall frosts
1t does rot bear trausplanting as we'll as
tobacco does.
After the ground has been prepared by
blowing and narrowing it is then ridged
or furrowed out; the ridges being from
to feet apart one way. and about 9
feet apart the other Some planters ridge
one way only, and then plant the seed IL
or 18 inches apart; others ridge both
ways and plant the seeds in rows, say
feet by 5. There are generally four or
| FIVE seeds planted in hill, aud these are
subsequently, thinned out. so as to leave
two or at most three stalks in hill.
SOAKING THE SEED.
Mr. NJ w. Phillips, one of the most
successful cotton growers in Mississippi,
recommends that the seed be thoroughly
soaked with salt and water, or in brine
made by sleeping stable manure in salt
and water for ten days before using or
until fermentation has eDsued. The seeds
are then dried of with ashes or lime OF
plaster-the latter is preferred because i,
makes the seeds perfectly white, and they
can be more carefully planted When the
seeds are planted, they are lightly Gov
cred, that is to say. covered FROM half AT
inch to an iuch deep with The soil Cotton
seeds are about the size of white beaus
and the quantity of seed for any giver
plot o. ground is much tie same as thai
required for field corn
AFTER CULTURE
The after culture of cotton is muct
like that of corn; it requires to be KEEP
perfectly free from weeds and grass.
The crop of cotton can be gathered Al
several times; first from the lower bolls
these ripen irst; in many instances the
lower bolls are gathered before the uppe
or top ones are in bloom. Some days
and in many instances weeks even, afte
the 6rst boils ace gathered the middl,
ones will be ready to be harvested. aud j
the season be long aud favorable, qnit,
late in the fall the upper or topmost boli
may be gathered; but it is very seldom
indeed, even 10 Georgia and Alabama
that the ;opmost boIls are gathered; they
generally are caught by the frost befor.
ripeniDg.
~ have sent home one half bush
ell of seed, and will be there in time {,
distribute it. Please publish the above
O,CON NOR