The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-25
HINTS ON AGRICULTURE.
The Pouliaia System Of Cotton Culture
lErom the Augusta chronicle and sentinell

The Pouliaiz System Of Cotton Culture.
From the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
ImpelIed by the uncertainty and ineficiency
of the present system OF labor, the public mind
| has been directed to devise and adapt method
of cotton culture which will best moet the
habits and characteristics of the careful and
skilled emigrant OF Europe.
Fortunately, our starting point has been
propitious To bring the worn lands OF our
State into iair competition with the fertile, but
unhealthy bottoms Of Mississippi was prob
lem in AGRICULTURAL science which has hereto
fore commanded the efforts of our best planters
and practical men be.ore the war. Governor
Hammond, of Beach Island Ia point In close
connection with our city and in constant COM
munication with it), established and maintain.
ed an agricultural club for the sole purpose OF
promoting intercourse, not alone among prac-
tical farmers, but also between the farmer and
the factor who handled the farmers products,
and who was in direct communication with
those who manipulated the products OF the
farmers labor-the raw material. The crltl-
cism and wants Of the purchaser WAS made
known through the vendor or faclor to the
farmer. The wants of the manufacturer were
made known to the producer. and the problem
was to reach it. Each OF these wants were
made the subject of experiment. and COM
parison of results in friendly club meetings
| furnished new ideas.
But it was reserved for that plain, unassum--
ing gentleman and practical planter. David
D ckson, ESQ of Hancock County, Of this State,
| by patient and practical effort, to devise and
extend system which heretofore, more than
others, hus obtained popular favor by practi-
cal results and impressed itself fully and etfec-
tually upon the agricultural community. Dick
sons sweeps and Dickson's culture are known
everywhere within the State, and generally
throughout the South. They have become
common expression even in the mouths OF the
commonest farm hands now. This has been
our starting point.
The present problem of the cotton farmer ls
to increase production Of small areas and de-
wise that system which is best adapted to white
labor. Tho desire OF profit is sufficient stimu-
| lus to achieve the first OF these objects. The
constant agitation and disturbance, produced
by political excitement and uncertain ties, I'M
pose the consideration of The last and at pres
ent absorbing object. These make up the sum
of the practical farmers inquiries-to reduce
the area Of cultivation and to increase the
amount and profits of production under such
system of skilled labor as will not be disturbed
by political bearing.
VERY recently the public have been astound-
| ed by the results Of tho system pursued by
Mr.. James Bancroft, Of Athens, Clark County,
Georgia. Mr.. Bancroft is, we believe, ma
| tive Of Charleston. A merchant by profess
sion, he brings nothing to biz new calling but
| the habits OF early training, OF method, OF de-
cision and OF close observations; keeping con-
stantly in view the end desired, and persstlng
unremittngly in that which would be likely
to contribute to that end Mr.. Bancroft's soil
is certainly not what is usually styled as rich
or fertile or free and productive in the South.
There arc thousands of acres in the State just
such as he possesses that have lain idle and
unculhvated, simply because it was believed it
would not pay, particularly since labor enters
so directly into the cost Of production aud
has been rendered so uncertain and expensive.
Mr.. Bancroft's system, we understand, is
simply to convert the soil into 0stilth" by deep
and repeated ploughings with the turn plough,
the tine or Golfer plough, and supplyit literally
with such fertilizers as by experiment he has
found best suited for the cotton plant to feed
upon during ills growth and while maturing:
The tthoroushness OF preparation OF the SOL
frees him from large part OF the usual con-
tinuous labor during the heat OF summer, by
pulverizing it at those seasons which will best
destroy interfering growth. His summers
work is light, confined almost wholly to surface
stirring.
We learn that he has arrived at the conclu-
sion that Middle Georgia lands can be made to
produce five bales per aero and yield hand
somo profit upon the capital employed. II two
bales per aero can be made With profit, it equals
the production Of the farmers of the Mssis-
sipp bottoms in their palmiest days, and with
out exposure 10 Ine DaleIul Ciluidlc VI tuo
Mississippi swamps.
We would be glad to have under Mr.. Ban
croft's proper signature the details Of his views,
and the result OF his present crop, which has
attracted visitors during its growth from all
parts of the State. The lands of. our State are
its wealth, and he who contributes to making
them available to the highest degree, contIi-
butes to general prosperity, and Is public
bcnefactor.
Again: we have before US circular from MIR.
Philip Poullain, late Of Greensboro, Georgia,
now Of Baltimore, covering "a schedule referr-
q to" in letters patont granted in May last,
for certain "improved terminating and trans-
ton of cotton and other plants" Tho improved
cuo is the frustrum of cone, having taper
sides, and both ends open. 1t is simply the or
dinary earthen fower-pot, with both ends open,
and inverted-the larger opening being the
base, and the smaller the top. The larger
opening bong lowest, permits the cup in trans
planting to be drawn up over the plant with
out disturbing or rupturing the roots OF the
plant' ''by the lhcson of soil to the sides or
walls OF the pot" and dispenses with the use
of devices and transplantinS tools" ordinarily
employed by gardeners.
Mr.. Poullain proposes by his system
1st, To secure q full and rly bottom crop,
acknowledged by farmers to be that which
yields the greatest quantity and the first quail
lty of cotton.
81. TO economic, the usc or fertilizers, By so
placing the compost aud enriched soil within
the rcacL of the plant, as demanded By its ia
ture.
81. To economizo labor, by directing it to
tho particular point maintaining the plant, and
confining its chief demands to rreparat on in
late winter and early spring, and the "'cklng
season.
9Th. To increase production by prolonging, at
least one month, 'the season for bossoming
and maturing the fruit or pod."
The objects are to be attllned by the follow
ing method
A pit of the style and character of The gar
dcncr's pit "a cabbage plant hot bcd) is made,
| OF dimensions suited to the extent OF farming
operations, to be so arranged that its contents
will be protected from frost by glass or cam
yas on rollers, or even by pine-!ops; the better
the protection the earlier operations may be
commenced and the more secure the results.
rough shelter near by is erected Tor coy
ering the composts and protecting the hands
while filling the cups with compost and plant
ing the seed.
In inclenent weather, the force is employed
under shelter in filling and planting. Two
seeds are placed in each cup, and the cups. as
planted are placed lipou boWd or shallow
trough or tray, to be conveyed to the pit at
convenience.
In favorable weather the forco is to be en-
ployed as follows: One set to lay of the land in
burrows eight feet apart, and check it OF the
same distance. Another set trenches at the
check or intersection, two feet deep, and this
lo,o hy tbo oroda or hv an nnllrnn1 D0st