Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-08-25
For the Keo,cee Courier.
II Opping COtt o II

GOO late 20 TOP cOtton, Wnlcn tnlnR In our
climate may, advantageously, be done down
to the first Of September, propose to give..a
report made to the Southern Cuitivator, and
which I fnd n'rtho Farmer and Planter,
April number, 1856. The report is us fol.
lows:
TOPPING CorToN-FwE YEARS EXPERIENCE
Editors Southern Cultivator: The time
has again arrived for mo to present. through
your journal, to tho readers of the Culti0ator,
tho ffthsexperiment on my place in topping
cotton. This year it was conducted by
friend living near my plantation, very cor
rect man. Owing to my having changed my
residence in March last, could not attend
to it. Below give his figures. Ono acre
of laud was selected as usual, Of the snme
quality and the stand tho same. lie had it
topped the first Of August-two rows topped
and two skipped throughout the aero which
presents the following results:
Topped rows made of seed cotton, 1853 lbs.
Rows not topped, G59
In favor Of topping, 81 lbs.
will now bring forward and show the re-
suit of every years experiment. and bring it
up to one ucre instead of half on acre, as here.
tofore reported, that it may be more readily
understood, as follows:
1851.
One aero topped cotton, 1888 lbs.
not topped, $50
In favor of topping, 40 lbs.
1862.
Ono aore topped cotton, 1925 lbs
F" f" not topped, 024
In favor Of topping, lO2 lbs
1868.
One acre topped cotton, $50 lbs.
+" F" not topped, 72O
In favor of topping, l30 lbs.
1854.
One acre topped cotton, 9l8 lbs.
not topped, 87S
In favor of topping, 40 lbs.
1865.
One acre topped cotton, 1906 lbs.
!" (" not topped, 1918
In favor Of topping, 1873 lbs
The average for the last FIVE years. not
noticing fractions of pound, is as follows;
Average per acre of topped cotton
for the last five years. 1907 lbs.
One acre not topped for the last
five years, 0O5 lbs.
Average gain per acre, for the
last five years, by topping, 102 lbs.
This shows gain Of moro than one,tcnth
by topping, on my place, for the last five
years.
am we'll arprised that tho variation in
seasons, together with the cultivation, would
cause, sometimes, different results; but think
the average would be about the same, taking
several years together at least, am satisfied,
and was before commenced the experiment
IT others arc not satisfied, I hope they will
continue it until we are brought to tho light.
(Signed) E. JENKINS.
|, Mcssrs. Editors, have never been much
OF cotton piantcr-living above the cotton
bolt proper--but occasionally, according to
the season, have made experiments in top.
ping, and I think invariably with success
but have heord mnny condemn tho practice,
perhaps such as had topped ut on improper
time, ard made but fow experiments. wos
moro thou over convinced of the goin of pro.
duct by topping last full, on being invited to
SEQ field of cotton belonging to William
Hamilton, Of your county, which had been
manured with Wilcox, Gibbs & Co.'S Guano,
small portion of which ho had topped, and
which ho was most anxious to show me. The
datc when topped is not recollccted, but tho
difference was decidedly in favor of tho top
ped portion. The bols were larger and bet.
tor matured at tho samo height from the
ground than those of the untoppcd stalks on
the same rows.
Respectfully yours, 60, S.
LousyILLn, August 13, lS71.--The off
oial rsturDs from eighty four counties Give