The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-11-24

seed was drilled In It's narrow bod. tho
planter, walking over his cotton field
may expect to SEQ row of tiny leaflets
just bursting out of tho moist earth. Il
the interval has been wet aud cold, anx,
icty is mingled with his hopes, for sc
many Of tho seeds may have rottcd as to
give him only al uneven and irregular
stand. Where tho stand is thus def
cicnt, the question of replanting must be
decided in u day or two, for time is now
precious, and every week lost at this end
of the season is just rs much snbtractet'
from the length Of tho picking scason.
If he has planted thick and the stand is
fair ono in most places, the chilled seeds
in tho damper soil may yet come out and
do well. lie first secs two lcaflctts, and
In about three days the third appears,
as soon as tho third leaf is fairly dcyel-
opcd, tho cultivation begins, and here at
the very outset, tho difference between
careful and slovcnly planting of tho seed
will appear. Whcro the seed arc dashed
carelessly into wide and somewhat ir.
regular furrow, tho line of plants will bo
correspondingly irregular. IT, on the
other hand the furrow or drill was small
and sharply defined, and 10 seeds drilled
neatly and straight, tn. ork Of thin
ming out and cutting ~. .y to stand
will be very much ensier. or course the
first thing to be done, where the sprouts
arc very thick, is to cut away tho super-
fluous plants, and concentrate all the fer.
tilizing powers Of tho soil upon tho most
thrifty specimens. Our practice Just
here, is to ''run around the stand' as it
is called, that is to carry small furro~
with side plow close up to tho crest of
the bed on each side, very shallow, aud
not leaving tho bed more than thrco or
four inches wide where tho cotton stands.
Our experience is, that tho roots Of, the
plants require the sun carly in the spring,
and where the plowing is properly done.
the thinning out, or chopping out as it.
is called, can DO done rapidly. Tho hoe.
gang pass along behind the plows, chop
ping out gap from six to twelve inches
according to soil, and leaving three to
four plants together. Where tho plants
have sprouted with uniformity, the work
being mostly mechanical, can DO done
very fast. AS rule it does not pay to
DO very particular this time over tho
crop. 1t will not do to lingcr. Let tho
hoes pass on rapidly. While tho hoe.
pfSs pfo%s 60 Sack %Getror tr tS b6aKSg gthe
and start In for another working. This
time the dirt must be thrown up from
the middlcs toward tho pIants-yet not
SO rs to choke them, or bury the roots
too deeply. For this plowing wc use the
sweep, made to run very shallow and
light. If tho "middles" have become
foul, they snould be plowed out. Let
the hoes follow, cutting away all the
plants but ono, tho most thrifty Of each
clump, and throwing littlo fresh earth
around those that stand, taking out MI
the grass and weeds. This working
should be more careful than any which
tho crop receives. Cotton is jealous and
cxacting in it's nature; it must have at.
tenlion, or if tho plant docs not die amid
tho grass, it soon looks yellow and sick.
ly, aud its bearing will be abridged three
weeks or a month. Tho Industrious
planter, twice over his crop, and tho
plants thinncd out to final or perma.
nent stand, tho rost is comparatively
easy. The plow must continue to run,
and tho hoes to follow; but hero we
must remark that the cultivation varies
with the seasons and the situation Of the
land. If the rainfall is excessive, so as
to form crust around tho roots, it is ad-
visable to carry shallow furrow near
the stand, so as to break up this crust,
and allow the air and sun to strike upon
the roots of the plant. If, on the other
hand, tho season is uncommonly dry, it
is best to put large plow or a sweep in
the middles, aud throw up bed Of dirt
that will protect the roots Cotton is a
plant that loves heat, and docs not dc.
mand large supplies Of moisture.
An excess OF moisture or heavy rains
followed by fierce sun on flat lands,
when tho plant is young, is apt to breed
lice upon it. This is tho first enemy
from the insect world that tho planter
has to meet. a few days later tho same
state of things will produce rust upon
Cotton. In our opinion, tho remedies
for these diseases Of tho Cotton plant
consists in rapid working, AID the i'm
proved and scientific culture of cotton
Where the lands are flat, tho beds should
be raised so rs to keep standing water
away from the roots Of tho plants. Er
regard to the shape and weight Of tht
1loWS uSeu III CuhlfuLihS CotOn CIOp
there is much variety Of opinion. and
perhaps much room for improvement
We deem the ordinary light wooden plow
best adapted for tho purpose with tht
| present labor, as there is no necessity fol
deep blowing whcro tho lands have beer
thoroughly prepared. Tho sweep o.
| cagle plow, with shovel and bow, ant
cuIlivator, making furfows one to three
inches deep, and rs wido as desired
answers oil the purposes Of tho cotton
grower quito well. ......,..
During tho latter part Of May, Jun
and tho early part Of July, it Is impor
tant to press tho growth Of tho plant
and nothing does this SO cfiectualIy a
frequent stirring Of tho soil. As a rule
the planter should manage so as to GO
over his crop onco In ten days or tw'
weeks. The true policy is TO push tn
growth Of cotton just as rapidly as posi-
bic, until the branches interock, an
then let tho vigor Of tho plant 90 to max
ing and perfecting bolls. lHI I-
| When the plant approaches maturit.
in size, that is, whom the branches ar
beginning TO intorlock across tho mid
I1oo If 10 fo,I,f c,l ,,,{ I, ~ ~ a al n a., m