The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-19
Cotton-Culture on the South Side.

Cotton-Culture on the South Side.
We published, some days ago, the cir
cular issued by the Richmond and Dam
vile Railroad Company, rendering their
services TO the people along the line OF their
road, looking 70 the promotion OF cotton
cultivation there. This circular has been
very generally responded to, and Major
HcPHAu., who has charge OF the matter,
has prepared report covering the drift OF
the replies. We have asked for a copy Of
il, and present Ii below In full. We are
persuaded il will DC read with peculiar in
terest by every farmer on the South Side.
The fearful floods in the Mississippi Valley
(the best cotton country in the South will
doubtless render il impossible to make
much cotton there this year. If so, there
will be room for the best work in this line
the planters on the Atlantic slope can pos
sibly compass, due attention, OF course,
being given to food crops:
RICHMOND, VA, March 10. 1882.
Colonel T. n. II. Tdlcott. Genera, Man
0qcr Richmond and DdnriNe Railroad:
Dear Sir,--The cotton-circular OF the
2sth ultimo issued from your office, and
sent, az far us they were known, to all who
planted cotton last year in the counties in
Virginia contiguous and tributary to the
line Of the Richmond and Danville railroad,
has elected q general response. After q
careful review of the replies present the
following synopsis for yoiT Information
to wit:
The general character Of land planted
IL 90
not produce tobacco without heavy ma
uuring. and but poor crops OF grain. All
the experiments go TO show that this cha
racter OF land is better adapted 10 cotton
culture than rich alluyious or heavier soils.
Those who fertlized at all used chen-
Gals OF some kind composted or mixed
with farm manurcs. or farm manure alone (;
hut few, comparatively, tried some ferti-
lizer of well known and approved brand.
A careful ANALYSIS OF the reports in this re-
sDect gives about these results-naInely
Those who used chemicals with home ma
nures say their crops Of cotton were affect
ed by the severe drought, and that there
was much dropping OF top blooms, which
greatly diminished the yield; those who
used farm manures alone report similar re-
suits. In fact. the free use of chemicals
and farm manures appeared TO be attended
with serious disadvantage. Those who
used standard fertilizers, or planted good
gray soils without manure, say their cotton
crop withstood the drought much better,
comparatively, than tobacco and other
crops, and report no falling off OF top
blooms.
The yield OF seed cotton Il variously re-
ported from say $50 to 1000 pounds per
!. acre. The highest yield was from lands
fertilized with chemicals composted with
farm manures, or farm manures alone
the heaviest from fertilization with some
standard preparation. or where planting
was made on light gray upland in "good
heart" without manure. The aggregate
OF results clearly demonstrates that in fair
crop years, with reasonable cultivation and
fertilization with the best brands OF ma.
nipulatcd fertilizers, yield Of go pounds
Of lint cotton, or hall bale to the acre,
can readily be accomplished for an average
crop.
The date OF planting is variously re-
ported, running from the last OF April 10
the first Of June. Those who planted early
and gave their crops fair fertilization and
cultivation, report from nine tenths TO all
OF the bolls opened before killing frost !;
OF the later paintings three fourths or less.
Frost generally occurred about the same
date, October 9th, which was earlier by
some two or more weeks than Is usual in
the tobacco-regions. 1t Is also generally
observed that light frost, one indeed that
would materially damage tobacco crop,
failed 10 materially affect the cotton-plant.
The reports indicate, take their general
drift, that cotton should be planted as early
In April rs the ground can be gotten In
condition 10 receive the seed.
There Is a general and decided DISPOSE
tion amongst the producers Of dark tobacco
to increase the culture OF cotton. There Is
not half seed enough to supply the demand.
This Is In great part owing TO the fact that
In the absence OF gins the cotton was
shipped and sold In the seed. Much graft
fcation n expressed at the intention OF the
company to furnish seed TO supply the de-
ficiency.
To recapitulaic, both the soil and climate
Of the dark tobacco region are well adapted
~ the culture Of cotton. The experience
Of those who have planted for the last two
seasons show TINT by getting the seed IN |
early, with proper selection VI land, fair