The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-07

both the common and improved varieties, at
nv leisure, and make such minute and pains
taking inquiries in detail as to lead me to uni
form conclusions in many important partc-
ulars such as the efficiency ofthe sweep in use
then and its draft on the animal-the compaf-
alive prolificacy OF common and Improved va
rieties OF cotton-the capacities OF enduring
great reverses of season and rough handling
the rocuperative capacity ofthe plant when neg
lected or injured by foul work-the average
number of plants to given area and the num-
Der OF pods to the plant-the possible results
with high fertilizaton-thec capacity OF plants to
hold the fruit put out, all ofwhich, in connec-
ton with my experience as long cotton plan
ter. afforded me varied and solid data for form
ing reliable conclusions.
was agreeably surprised to find, on consul
tation with practical men of valued experience,
who assured me how near my inquiries In NIL
mute detail had led me to truth. Let me state
here, that have not been driven by the recur-
renee of the worm to the advocacy of cultiva-
ting uplands; nor yet by a low estimate oil our
capacity to produce sea islands. as my preVi-
Gus article has shown.
An experiment this season of few acres in
extra fine sea island cotton, fcrtllized TO the
extent of ten pounds to aero, and put in and
cultivated entirely without the use Of the
plough, has given such remarkable results, in
view of severe loss from rust or blight, and
partial injury from worms, that cannot but
recognize the fact (thus far disclosed) OF our
being able to raise much larger crops OF sea
islands on a small scale and carefully handled
than would care to express. This patch,
after 18th June, was managed simply by gene
raj directions, but strictly according to the
same; was gathered entirely by freedmen un-
der the coored leader; kept under his key
until my return in November, when found az
least a hundred pounds oflint to the acre, beau-
tjfnlly gathered. and this of cotton selling as
high as 81 10 last year. This crop was made
on land that had been hacked for three years
previously in freedmen's patches OF corn, &C.,
and on land predsposed to rust. II suffered
from long drought, followed by heavy rain.
The circumstances were just such as to induce
what transpircd, and parties observing the crop
though an intelligent friend, previous to this
inquiry, had pronounced 1t the most beautiful
cotton he ever saw grow. think, from care
full inspection, the crop must have lost at least
half 1t, however, has exceeded by forty 10
fifty per cent patch Of cotton growing IN tae
same field on better land and of more pro-
ductive variety. This latter patch was not
fortified in any way; was well cultivated,
though possibly worked differently from the
former.
Ia view of this striking result, am yet in
favor of going into uplands to certain extent.
fo- with high average crop of sea Islands we
will possibly suffer as much loss from reduced
p~Iccs as We have done from worm. This Is
owing to the whole crop hing in the hands OF
one or two buyers.
We are hedged in corner. But If we adopt
the proposed policy we can escape both the
Egyptians and the Phillstines, and press such
portion Of the crop as VIC sh2'. raise IN sea
islands TO remuncrative figures.
In order to reach safe conclusions, 1t Is re-
ccssury to answer satisfactorily the following
questions:
Will the uplands grow in long-cotton regions
comparatively as we'll as in the interior?
Will the individual stalks produce with as
comparatively as many pods and as large as in
tic interior?
Will they produce as many pods as sea
island.
Will the uplands admit more stalks to given
area, and to what extent, than sea islands?
What is the comparative weight OF an up
land and sea island pod?
What number Of average pods of each va
ricty does 1t take to q pound OF clean cotton
What is tho comparative cost Of gathering
and preparing for market the two varieties?
What is the comparative time of maturing
for the same and getting the crops to market?
Will shallow cultivation, with sweeps, help
our fields in the interior, and what effect will 1t
have in impoverlshlng soil in comparison with
hoe work alone?
What are our advantages in fertility OF soil,
our natural resources for enrlching the same,
and superior economy in transporting mercan-
tile manurcsP
With what comparative efficiency may these
mercantile manures be used with us?
What are our advantages in raising cattle, and
hence in solling our fields or "running pens"
What is the comparative chance in escaping
ravagc of worm'
What is the comparative capacity In holding
fruit put out, and OF rccuperatlng from injury
received from foul work or otherwise?
What are the comparative chances in main
tanning market value?
What superior opportunity is afforded In cnl-
tiyating, by one variety over the other, In at
tending provision crops, &c.
To what extent would it be safe to 60 for the
present in making the change!
propose hereafter to answer these ques-
tons at length, and promise to convince any
but an old or obstinate man that the positions
1 take arc tcnable beyond dispute.
JNo. w. r. Pope.
Another View Of the Case.
BEAUFORT, s. c., November 20.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS.