Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-11-15
FAisd TOPICS.
Cotton Culture by Northern NJ, thods.

ers' Association OF Mississippi, learned
from prominent Mississippian that
some men from Kansas had made de-
cided sensation in the locality where they
had settled, by their mode of raising
corn and cotton. | therefore visited
Major Young, near Columbus, Miss, to
get some points. The plantations Of
these kansans joins that Of this gentle
man The former are under his control
and that of an associate. With great
libcraliiy, Major Young had leased them
% acres for "A year, free of rent. He
then rented them a number of acres
each, al the usual rent Of such land-S4
per acre. per annum There are three
men, father, son and son-in-law. The
father and son-in-law nave their wives
with them.
This year the son-in-law, Mr.. Evans,
no; wishingto oyer-crop himself, planted
- acres in corn, &c acres in cotton, and
5 IL acres OF oats. The usual plant of
a colored man is 10 acres in cotton and
five corn, and they do not half till that.
He planted bis corn in the latter part OF
March. He began to plant cotton April
18th. He was very late, starting disad
vantaeeously in not having quite the inn
plements he wanted, and in having a
very late and wet spring. He cultivated
his corn and cotton with walking cult
vators. and left the ground nearly level.
There was very severe drouth, and he
made bad mistake once in cultivating
his corn too deep-eutting off the roots
next the side where he last worked it.
| heard several planters say that, at one
time, his corn was the most beautiful
looking crop they had ever seen: but
the six weeks drouth, and particularly
the last working, injured it fearfully.
BY starting so late with his cotton, he
was injured by the boll-worm, and by
the very wet August. He and his father
told me that each expected to make
about 81, 900 clean money. They figured
about this way.
Twelve bales of cotton, at $40 bale,
$3.50; 200 bushels of corn, at soc. per
bushel, 5000, and $50 bushels of oats, at
Soc, S125, making total of S1,205.
Nothing is allowed for poultry, hogs,
etc. The actual result will be about as
follows: Nine bales of cotton, at $40
per bale, $500; 500 bushels of corn, at
Doe. per bushel, $3.50, and $50 bushel of
oats, at Soc, S15, making the total only
S6S5. He had paid SIS for all work up
TO October 9Th; but rs he has worked
some outside, he probably will come out
about even, lie says he sees his mis-
take, and by another year, under the
same conditions, could excel this wears
crops. But as he may not in lifetime
have such along dry spell, and need not
start so late, he will have far better
chances. He is greatly pleased and pro-
poses 70 have for next wears crop GO
acres-3s in cotton and - in corn. He
saws that he can attend it. He intends
to plant in checks, and expects to raise
4 bale to an acre. hope he may, but
il looks too sanguine. However, one
gentleman near Aberdeen, Miss, has
raised from , to i-2 bales per acre by
planting in checks, digging holes and
fertilizing well, and piling the clay
about the base Of the stalk so rs 10 keep
down grass If Mr.. Evans should raise
bale 10 the acre he will get good deal
of money.
His father-in-law, Mr.. Kilmer, had &c
acres of cotton, - - of corn and of
oats. He and his young son TILED these.
The father is considerably past hard
work. They paid SSfor work. They viii
make about the same crop rs the first
mentioned gentleman. nearly forgot
To say that when their cotton was just
fairly up, they dragged it across the
rows. much 10 the astonishment Of one
planter, who said they would ruin it.
But this narrowing, almost every one
says, was'very beneficial, as it made the
earth very mellow for the tender roots
of the young cotton. These men pillow
with a big plow-I forget their favorite
and use riding-plows and walking
cultivators. These are being introduced 1
into the neighborhood where they live,
and many people are watching them I