The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-05-09
FARMERS DEPARTMENT.
From the Lawrence Journal.
COTTON GROWING.
From the Seed 10 the Gin BY an Old
CuItiVatOr.

/
CultivatOr.
Some weeks since, we urged Josiah Mil
Ter. Esq, to favor our farmer readers with
a clear statement of the process of cotton
cultivation as il should be in Kansas. At
that time he declined; but upon being again
solicited, he last week consented to write
such an article. a e 1eat
Now Is the time to plant cotton seed, and
the article is perhaps mere timely than it
would have been month or two since.
Peculiar tiles of climate and soil in this part
Eof the country render the directions of
Judge Miller of particular value. His fam
lily experience in cotton growing and gin
ming has been unusually advantageous. and,
though we confess ignorance in this depart
ment OF agriculture. we confidently recon
mend The following suggestions to the farmer
readers of the journal:
LAWRENCE, April 81, 1858
MEssRs EDIToRs: As | have taken an
active interest in the experiment Of cultiVat
ing cotton in Kansas, and especially in
Douglas county, and as the officers of our
Cotton Club have procured and distributed
at cost. about l75 bushels of seed and nu
merOus inquiries being propounded to me
concerning its culture, | have, therefore.
concluded TO submit few suggestions
through the press, although late, aud they
MAJ not be new, yet they will refresh the
minds of those now preparing to plant. Ex-
perience is our only guide, making such
allowance for difference of climate and soil !,
as our own judgment may dictate.
KIND OF SOIL.
A deep, rich, loamy, sandy soil, with a
southern exposure, is best adapted to the
culture of cotton. In this county these
qualities are found principally in the bot
toms, but in many places in Kansas they
exist on the rolling prairie. While the bot
toms have tie advantage in richness. giving
a more vigorous growth, IN looseness, Ie-
ceiving more readily the penetrating rays of
the sun, and allowing the rain water to set
tie deep beneath the roots of the plant, they
also labor under the disadvantage Of the more
severe late and early frosts. The high
lands may lack the richness, and are more
, liable to wash yet the plant has ten days or
two weeks longer TO grow than the bot
toms. Cotton, however, has grown we'll ID
this county, even on the black, rich prairie
soil, without the presence of sand. The
sun has more powerful effect on sandy
soils, and cotton is decidedly sun plant.
PREPARATION AND CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL
There are VARIOUS ideas on this point but
having been raised on a cotton farm, South,
, and having made more, and OF better
qualify, according to the force employed,
+ than any of our neighbors, and that aOh0tlg
a0ithout tile employment Of slave labor, l give
what | consider the best method. r.,
The soil ought to be plowed very deep and
close, and as early in the spring as possible,
so as to enable it to receive the ere6cia
influence of the heating rays of the sun, and
to be properly settled by the rains. l pro.
pose to plant fifteen acres, and plowed my
f ground in March. 40
About the 25th of ApRib when the weeds
: begin to come up, sfurrow off the ground
. thus broken from three to four feet
l apart, according to the richness of the
j, soil, and then with q one horse diamond
pillow throw two burrows into this, aud C
e between the rows with a straight shove
e pillow, throwing out the small ridge left; ano
V thus fne list or bed is formed. As ny
3 ground is very loose, | am dispensing will
the first furrow, simply throwing togethe
two with the diamond pillow, and then with
one turrow the space left between. #e
Many persons do not see the object o
l. this ridging, aud think it unnecessary. b.
L means of this ridge, the sun has a NOR
. powerful effect upon the ground. 1t alsC
!. turns tie water of heavy spring rains ava,
IS from the roots of the young plant, as it love
n the sun and dh-likes standing water, and vii
u endure much greater drOuth than corn
3 1t would be we'll for these lists or ridges q
-e have rain on them before planting, as
settles the grouOd. But do not wait 70
rain, as think this spring, as soon after tn
first of May as possible, will do 10 plant
Just SO that the last frosts of the season d.
not strike the young plants. as, when thI
is the case. unlike much other vegetation
it is gone; add, owing to the high price O
seed, we could not afford TO re- plant. l an
tplanting three acres now. and will put til
balance in as soon as the weather viii full
permit
PLANTING
/ When you are ready for this process, tb
L seed should be placed on haId spot Q
= ground, wet with water, and we'll rolled 4
II ashes or plaster of paris. They may lie j
y this condition in a pile all night Thl
N causes the lint to adhere closely to the seed
= and enables you to drill it more evenly; be
- sides, saturating the seed, they sprout, an
come up sooner. Then take small pillow
d six or eight inches long, and little wide
= than the foot Of a common plow stock, an
be use your smallest horse, causing him t
q walk on the top of the ridge With TIL
Sc plow, open a straight shallow furrow. G
IA even depth, in the center of the ridge, i
e which YOU drill the seed, about one bushs
b. 10 the acre. or an average of two to fou
L seeds TO the inch. This might seem thick
L