The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-01

Tue pro0ucuon OF 0noukh breadBtuftS TO
make US wholly independent Of the grana-
ries Of the North and West. But if cotton
is to be the chief object Of our labors; if
we are once more to take the risk of sell
ing uplands at fifteen cents pound and
paying one dollar bushel for corn, it
is certainly to the interest of every plan
ter to arrange his operations in such
way as to obtain the best results at the
lowest practicable cost. In this connection
there are four good rules, which, it seems
to us, should be strictly observed:
l. The increased yield Of cotton should
be drawn from the more thorough prepara-
tion and working of the area which was
planted last year, rather than from an ad-
dition to the area in cultivation. An in
creased acreage carries with it the cost Of
extra labor, extra stock, extra implements,
and extra seed. On the other hand, lib
eral use Of fertilizers, and an attention to
the cotton field as great as that which is
given to fine vegetable garden, will large
ly increase the yield, the only extra cost
being that of the increased quantity of fer
tilizipg material. And the fertilizers will
develope and mature the cotton so rapidly
that the worm, if it comes, will not be able
to do as much harm as in those tracts where
the fertilizer is used with niggardly eoono-
my. With average seasons, and with OF
without the caterpillar. one hundred acres
thoroughly cultivated and generously man
ured, will give larger net profit than two
hundred acres carelessly worked and sup
Piled with but small Or average quantity
Of the favorite fertilizer.
2. The greatest care should be exercised
in the selection Of fertilizers. There are
as many varieties in the market as there
are quaok medicines; and faith will not
make cotton grow, although it may remove
mountains or cure galloping consumption.
It is impossible to tell by amateur inspeo-
tion what are the peculiar properties of
each kind of guano or superphosphate, and
the only safety lies in buying the fertilizer.
from men of known character and stand.
ing, whose statements, even in matters of
business, may be implicitly believed There
is no use in being discouraged, or in blam-,
ing the manufacturer, if the fertilizer in
any particular season does not gives as
good return as was expected The man.
ufaoturer and agent of the leading kinds Of
fertilizers cannot afford to lower the stand
ard of their article. They will maintain
the quality for their own sake; and If the
r1on nfo 10 ;cE oH hat ho - ~
honest men, and has good article, he will
not be anxious to make change.
g. 1t is unwise to put off the purchase Of
fertilizers until the last moment. In 1868,
there was but small demand for guanos:
the agents were not pressed with ordera,
nor the railroads with freights. Procxas-
tination did no great harm. But in 1867,
there was large sale Of fertilizers, and
the planters who postponed their purchasse.
until March or April, had, in many in
stances, to wait two and three weeks before
their orders could be filled and the fertil-
izers delivered. There is prospect of on
active inquiry for guanos and phosphates
this spring 1t is, therefore, the true pol
10y to buy early.
4. Planters should, above all things, be
careful in the selection of seed Upon
THE, in greater degree than any other
thing, will depend the value of the crop.
There are several prolific seeds in the mar
ket, and planters should choose what ap-
pears to be the best. and plant it instead
of the common seed. If the cost is too
great to admit of the purchase of enough
for the whole tract, small quantity may
be bought, and this will produce enough at
the end of the year for the whole acreage
Of the next season.
We have not attempted to go minutely
into the discussion of these things. We
have but given broad hints, which the plan
tors must elaborate for themselves, being
confident that strict attention to the four
rules which we have suggested will 60 far to
make cotton planting in this State gene
rally and enduringly successful.