The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-01-02
HINTS ON AGRICULTURE.
Pou1lnin's System of Cotton Culture-Fhe
Details and Economy Of the System -
Its Profitableness-The Limit of Pro-
duction.


In letter, published in the Georsii papers,
Mr.. Philip Poullain has given more explicit in-
formation in regard to his system of cotton
planting. He says:
It must be apparent 10 every one that the
revolution which has been made IN our system
of labor, has n lde necessatya O new system OF
cotton culture. The labor upon which the
growth Of cotton has heretofore depended
does not appear to be either increasing or like
ly to increase. There is no indication that
When trained hands OF this generation pass of
in the course OF nature, that their places can
be supplied from the same source. To regain
our agricultural prosperity, these conditions
make il REQUISITE that VIC should devise some
improved system OF culture wnich will give
us an increased yield from q small area. we
must cultivate less land and make that land
profitable by making 1t produce as much as
orr extended cultivation formerly yielded.
Having, during the experience OF many
wears, discovered that the losses in the cotton
crop we're, in great degree, Owing 10 tne
want OF deep preparation Of the soil in pre-
venting the roots OF the plant from penetra-
ting to the depth of perpetual moisture, l
adopted the method Of digging holes-say
from fifteen to twenty-four inchcs deep ana
two feet square, throwing out the clay and tll-
ing the whole with surflce soil. by this
method I make soil from 15 to "a inches
deep Should the soil be poor, manure IT
the quality Of the manure demands the best
Judgment Of the farmer.
Our plouehing is not generally four inches
deep. Cotton planted with such preparation
can only send it's roots about five inches deep.
When drouth overtakes it tho fbrous roots
and the tap roots being near the surface are
DESTROYED, or more or less injured ny heat,
from want OF moisture. Line piaub luen snoue
most of its forms.
On the improved plnn above indicated the
roots of tho plant penetrate from. fifteen TO
twenty. four inches into the region OF perpetual
moisture No drought can affect it. The cot
ton has uninterrupted growth, and the whole
or nearly oil OF the forms mature.
Cotton is an exotic. The longer tile season
can bo had upon it, provided the preparation
OF the soil is adapted to it, the moro 1t VIII
produce. The larger (not taller) the stock be,
c,mes tho greater number Of blooms 1t VIII
mako from day to day. The proportioned ln-
crease Mt the proper season, from day TO day,
is wonderful. It was to meet this point that l
adopted the method OF transplanting III ordlna-
ry use by gardeners and horticulturlsts, put
found it too slow and expensive to be apphed 10
field culture. This led me to seek new MODE.
My invention OF the method OF transPlantlns
consists, or a.:ises, from the shape end nature
of my cup. The cup is the frnstrun OF conc
open at both ends-say four inches long, four
inches broad at the bottom, and three inches
broad at the top. These cups are to be placed
i'm hot beds-say bed in each acre, fifteen
feet long and five feet broad. lhe large end OF
the cup rests upon the bottom OF the PED, ana
the small end up. They should be hilea WIN
rich earth, woods earth preferable, and sucn
cups planted with eight or ten seed, from four
10 eight weeks before the usual planting time.
Care should be taken tot.theat" the seed to in
sure quick germination. Eat the proper time,
after the seed has come up the planter 'thins
his crop "to stand" according TO his Judg-
ment, easily and quickly, with the fingers, by
simply pulling up the surplus plants OF weaker
growth. To insure perfect success, the hot
beds should be closely made and covered with
glass. The cups, soou after the cotton ger
inmates, is filed with TIE sap and hbrous
roots Of the plant, which preserves them from
injury, Whilst the plants are III the hot bed
it IL often necessary to water them, but this IS
easily and quickly done with Watering. pot.
When there is no longer danger from sprin
frosts the planter transplants the contents or
each CUP into tho place prepared for it by
drawing tie cup over tho plant. Attention
should be had to airing the plants when the
weather is warm and tavo; able 10 open cul-
ture.
Now, as to the limit of production, which
seems to havo taxed your crcduEty so sore!y.
There are 1861 holes or hills in an acre OF
ground, prepared according to my method,
say eight feet from row to row, and four feet
in the drill land not eight feet, as you have
enormously stated it, The general estimate
is that 100 full grown pods or boles will make
4 pound OF seed cotton. Two-thrds OF the
weight OF seed cotton is due to the seed, or, in
other words, there Gun be gotten one-shird
weight OF lint cotton from any given number OF
pounds of seed cotton. Now, with 1861 hills to
tho acre, the Yield will be as follows: