Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1867-05-04

stand, the first operation is to scrape down
Right here / think an cgrcgious error is gen
orally committed by using the plow vice the
hoe My mode is to scrape down hghHy abou,
a foot Oh each side of the cotton ut the same
time bringing the cotton to very narrow,
straight linc This mode consider far pref,
cradle to the chop through mode. BY scru.
ping down the cotton is left thin, and by being
brought to a straight line the plowing can be
made more effcctual than when left in a zig.
z.ag line, as is the case when chopped through
back to spncing and thinning. The distance
between the stalks is regulated according to
the fertility of the land the richer the land
the farther apart, and on poor land yice ocrsa,
but never closer than twelve inches, and new
er moro than one stalk in place, except where
one is missing, and doubt if two are better
here than ono. he cotton plant requires am
pic room for its full expansion in every direc-
tion-not only is the quantity greater, but the
quality is better when it has plenty Of sun and
air. the picking is also greater as the bolls are
larger The thinning should be done if nos
Slbe by the time the plant assumes the third
lcnf, rs about this time the plant begins to
shape it's course If it is crowded now it will
adapt its organism to narrow limits if it has
ample room it will begin to tillcr, and the
stalk will acquire size and stamina, which it
can never attain if crowded. Getting the crop
thinncd and set in time is the rub in mana.
ging the crop. The next working is done
with the swccp-runnng lightly twice in
row, throwing gently a small quantity of earth
among the cotton and covering the small grass.
This is Il very critical juncturc in it's culture
rs regards keeping down the grass. The best
plowmcn and the slowcst mules should be put
to this work. If the crop can be gotten over
with the sweeps now before the gruss begins
to take hold, the crops will be of very little
trouble. The sweeps are at all times very su
perficially used-barey deep enough to eradi-
cate the grass aud render pulverent the sur
face. Not only should the sweeps be superb
cialy used, but OIL light soils care should be
ance of the culture consists in keeping the
surface clean and pulvercnt by means Of tho
hoe and sweep. ] do not top cotton. AS to
tho propriety Of this I am not able to say;
one thing about it is, thut it is unnatural /
think it best to let nature alone. If topping
docs no good, it docs harm, as it is certainly
wound to the plant. The working of the crop
is continued till it begins to open.
l}y the above modes [ have been making
very satisfactory crops; rarely making under
an average of 700 lbs. per acre Last Jear,
which was not at all favorable for eiiher corn
or cotton, made on what 1 suppose to be
eighty acres land SO bales average weight,
40 lbs. Two.thirds of the land is very old
good balance, third years land.
I merely state these facts to show the result Of
my mode Of culture.
AS this article is getting too long will do
fer giving you the mode of preparing cotton
for market Lii the crop begins to open.
J. w. CRAWFORD.
CoLD SrRINos, Feb. 10, 1860.