The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1870-02-09
27.2os Pounds Seed Cotton on six
Acres.

ZS,IVO 'EVu4uS SCoQ COt1Ou Oh SIX
Acres.
The mode Of Culture-Letter from COL
3. G.. Llocseis.
Since tho Fair, We have received eeve.
raj hundred letters, making inquiry
as to Col. Lockett's mode of oultivating
cotton, by which he produced the un-
paralleled result oils bales to six acres.
Not being able to answer so many
enquiries by letter, We called upon Col.
Lockett Cor letter for publication, and
now have the pleasure of presenting his
system to the cotton planters of the
South, and that our numerous enquircrs
may see it, we respectfully request tho
entire Press of the cotton state to pub
iish it:
ALBANY, GA, Deo., 20, 1869.
CoL. G. w. STYLES
Dear SI:-I had prepared and
planted six ucres of land in cotton this
year, the result of which (twenty seven
thousand two hunnred and six pounds
of seed cotton, was intended for the
Georgia State Fair.
The premium having been awarded
Jordan & Lockett for the greatest yield
on two acres, am receiving many letters
asking information as to the mode of
preparation and cultivation of this land
| hope, therefore, you will have the
Kindness to publish tho following state.
mcnt for the benefit of all wishing to
know:
The land was first broken with the
Watt g. Knight-A. B. plow, the large
mould board attached, breaking the land
about six inches deep. This was done
the. latter part Of January. The land
remained iu this condition until ready to
be planted, which was done on tho 24th
Of April. The rows were laid eff Eve
feet apart, with au ordinary scooter plow,
following in each iurrow with double
wing shovel sixteen inches long and
eleven inches wide, drawn by two mules.
In this furrow was distributed about
one hundred and fifty bushels Of we'll
rotted horse lot manure, and three
hundred pounds of "John Merrymau 4
Cos ammoniated dissolved bones," per
acre. This was then covered with The
Watt & knight A. B. plow, small mould
board attached, following in each furrow
with sub soil plow, breaking in oil
about fifteen inches deep. As soon as
the preparation was completed, tho seed
was planted, putting one bushel per acre,
with the Dow Law planter.
AS soon as the cotton was large
enough, it was plowcd with the sweep,
cutting twenty four inches wido, and
one half inch deep, and was at once
chopped to stand, using the No. 2
Schovel hoe, leaving one and two, and
sometimes three stalks-the width Of
the hoe-and us near as we could, ten
thousand STALKS per each acre. The
cotton was hoed twice and plowed seven
times, using each ime tho twenty four
inch sweep, and never cutting over one
half inch deep. 1t was cultivated with
twenty one burrows, but equally as good
work could have been done with fifteen
burrows, by using sweep few inches
wider.
l am also asked my opinion relative
to the number of stalks that should be
left on the acre to make the greatest
yield. There is great diversity of opiu.
ion upon this subject. My experience
has been, that much depends upon the
variety of cotton seed planted. Those
planting that variety of cotton which
grows large, win long limbs, will never
make large yield by leaving eight or
ten thousand stalks on an aero, while
the prolific or short limb cotton will do
better with this number than less.
have endeavored to answer intelIigi.
bly, aud conciscly all the questions ask.
ed, and hope the statement may bo Of
benefit to those asking the informa-
tion.
Below I hand you tho evidence of
the yield, furnished the committee at the
State fair.
Most respectfully yours,
B. G. LOCKETT
Tho 1ond ,voo Grot Aue1,od Nth kha