The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-05
Cotton-Culture III Virginia

A friend has been good enough to hand
II, the following communication, on The cul-
tiyalion OF cotton in Virginia, sent him by
Mr.. JEFFERSON d. BRETT, OF Crittendcn,
N,nsemond county, Through MeSsrs. {. W.
GRANNY a. SONS, Norfolk Mr.. BRETT IS a
GOOD cotton farmer, and has secured an
average Of 333 pounds Of Infection to the
acre from crop OF 80 acres, which would
not be bad showing for regions much far.
Their South
about the culture Ct cotton in Viz.
ginia will say word. prefer mixed
soil, neither 800 heavy nor too light. On
sandy soils the cotton is apt 20 shed 100
many forms if 1t should be either too wet
or too div during The lat OF July Orthe
first part OF August. In preparing tie
land flush thoroughly as deep as the soil
will allow, so a. not 10 turn up any Of TIE
subsoiI: tben | run off my rows three TO
three and bali feet apart. If the land has
moi been thoroughly cultivated before. |
,ubSoii by running Il plough in the same
furrow, with the mould board off, a. deeply
- il can be gotten in. Then | drill from
300 10 900 pound, Of fertilizer per acre, and
ridge IN by running fonr burrows TO the
row: then drag The ridge with One.horse
>lraight-toOth drag. | DO not like the ridge
too fat-it is best 20 have ii somewhat Gle.
waited; the cotton centrally comes up bet
ter and earlier as the ridge Is warmer, and
then the young plant i easier 10 clean.
81 begin TO plant about the Doth OF April
il the land il not too wet. OF seed there is
great variety; there is the sugar-loaf, six
oaks. Pecler, Dixon, johnson, a.. Some
like one best, some another; in fact, there is
nothing about which planters differ more
In opinion than which is the best variety Of
seed to plant. In planting use Fosters
cotton. planter; it docs better work, in my
Judgment, than any other, and leaves the
land in finer condition. Cultivation begins
as sopn as the cotton is all up. thoroughly
scrapiDg OF the ridge with a scr iper Qihs
can be found in any store dealing in such
articles), and running as near to the plant
as you can get this. If properly done, will
leave very barrow ridge. Then chop out
with a No. 2 steel hoe, say twelve inches
apart, leaving two TO three stalks in the
bill; then follow with Stonew8ll cotton.
plough, running as near the plant as you
can with the small points and sweeps,
which will enable you 10 place the dirt
very nicely TO and around the plant. and
this will keep il from falling down. Az the
second working, bring TO stand by taking
out all the stalks in the bill but one, and
then follow again with plough with same
points and sweeps; then in few days split
out the middles with large points and
sweeps. At the third working you will
simply 90 over with the hoe. Take out
what grass you 6nd, following with plough
as before, and continuing TO plough TO the
10th Of August, enGeavoring, il possible,
to stir the soil every two weeks. Many
planters stop cuiiyating too soon, and their
crops suffer accordingly. My way is to stir
often but Shdtl0D. When the cultivation is
done the land should be very nearly level.
The more level The land is In August the
less effect the sun has on II and the fewer
forms will drop. The greatest trouble
baye Is in preventing my cotton from she'd
ding It's FORMS"