Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-05

,aring for the cotton crop. W.
lone dne thought will be given 70
he matter, and the best possible
beginning be made. The question
be asked, "What Is the best
node Of preparing the ground for
he crop 7? and when the best mode
3 found It should be followed, re-
,ardless Of a little extra labor, care
Or expense which may be invOlved.
viii be labor and money well in
vests3~
Now that Improvement is the or
der OF the day, IL is we'll to inquire
If there be not room for improve
ment In cotton planting. We do
not advocate rash innovations. A
system is not necessarily bad be-
cause it Is old, or good because
new but as our 81 stem OF cotton
culture originated under a system
of labor and plantation manage
ment, radically different from the
one now prevailing, and at a time
when there were fewer Incentives
10 thought and invention in this
direction, ii is not unreasonable to
suppose that il Is less perfectly
adapted to our present needs, than
one that we are now prepared to
devise and put into operation.
Cotton undonbted requires q
deep, mellow bed. Is not the prac-
tice Of many planters, who simply
lap two burrows together, leaving
for @ foundation for the bed q
strip Of unbroken soil some six or
eight inches wide, a very bad one?
II good crops are grown in this way
as they undoubtedly sometime are,
would not better crops be secured
by a more judicIous method? We
think 50. Let a furrow always
form the centre Of the bed, and let
this furrow be sub-soiled If posi-
bic. Throw your side burrows up-
on this, and You secure a deep, soft
bed for the roots Of the plant.
On stubble, corr or fa!law land,
a good plan istO lay of the rows
with a scooter, enlarge the furrow
with shovel pillow, follow this
with a snbsoil plow, and then drag
all weeds, stubble aud trash into
these burrows and cover by throw
ing two burrows together upon this
trench with a two horse pillow.
viii 1t not pay to break out the
middles at the first blowing, This
may depend npon the condition Of
the soil. On lands that have not
previously been Thoroughly cultiva-
ted we think II should be done.
AMERICAN SUNAc.
Arecent item which we publish
ed in n previous npmber of the
American grocer about American
Sumac has attracted so much atten.
ton and called forth SO many in
qniries about IL, that in our pres
ent issue, although the subject is
out Of our line, we venture TO give
some additional information else
where aud 10 add the following;
The leaves r the only part of
the plant used. They are gathered
in the fall Of the year, taken to the
mills, ground to q hne powder,
sacked and then sent to market.
The sacks are about the size Of cOf-
fec bags and contain about 260
pounds.
The American article known
best in this market, comes mostly
from Virginia. That gathered in
this State and New Jersey is not so
highly esteemed. As it has a wide
range, and grows so luxuriantly in
all the Southern States, It Is quite
likely that the yield from others OF
them would be, IL necessary, quite
as large aud OF as fine equality as
that gathered in Virginia. There
are three mills, located in Virginia,
respectively at Lynehburg, Peters.
burg and Richmond. The leaves
in their natural state are worth
about fifty dollars per ton at the
mills. They are too bulky to bear
long transportation before being
ground, and therefore the nearer a
mil the better for the gatherer.
The jobbing price for the American
Sumac IN New York is about
niaeIy dollars per ton.
There are two qualities ofSicily
Sunlac found IN this market, The
finest is worth about one hundred
and seveuty-fye dollars per ton.
Tie Inferior quality has been al
most entirely displaced by the
American, and Is very slow Of
sale at greatly reduced rates.
The quantity produced this year
in Virginia is much greater than
ever before, but will not probably
reach more than three thousand
tons. The actual consumption Of
Sumac in this country 10 about so
much every year, and does not
grow very rapidly, hence the limit
Of demand for home consumption
for the American article will prob.
ably be the amount Of second quail.
~ Sicily heretofore used, at least
until the dyers become convinced
that the American will answer their
purposes. as we'll as the finest grades
Of Sicily. But an export demand
may be created, and then the pro-
ductlon might be prORtably carried
70 smuch greater extent.
Sumac has'twO principal uses in
the arts, viz. /; for tanning and for
dyeing. The tanners use itih tan.
ming their finest qualities Of sheep
skins, and for white goods, mo.
Foccos. etc. They cannot maksan
exclusive s~RP,aSaaSH Of the Amer
lean article on account Of its stain.
ing too much, and feel compelled
70 use the Sicily; but improved
care In preparing e for the market