The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-02-29
HOW TO MAKE COTTON.
THE METHODS OF A MAN WHO
KNOWS HOW AND MAKES 1T.
Editor Laurens ADVERTISER:

q rec NttS'f
Some time ago q little notice APP
pearcd in your paper, stating how
much cotton I made last year
without commercial fcrtilizers.-
Since tho publication Of that arti-
| Gle, I have had letters from various
farmers in different parts of the
State, asking me to give them my
method of farming. The letters
have been SO numerous that have
concluded that it would perhaps
not be out Of place to give n few
suggestions through your paper for
the benefit of anyone who may sec
tit to adopt them.
The first and most Important
part is how to prepare the land
My method is to break stuhble
land deep, with Il narrow, square
pointed scooter, az soon after
Christmas as possible. About the
Inst Of March, or the first Of April.
I cross this with ~ small shovel or
scooter. This will appear to be a
slow process iii tliS advanced age,
and many farmers will say at once
that it is useless, but think it al
ways pays. Rows are layel Off
from 81 to So inches apart, with II
shovel. If homemade or
compost is to be used, run two fur
rSwS so as to break the ground
thoroughly and deep. Then ridge
the land with y half shovel, split
tho middlcs with u short shovel
and sweep. This work prefer rs
late as possible.
Plant between the 10Th of April
and the 10Th Of May. Open the
bed with Il short, wide scooter. J
use homemade planter, which
drills and covers, leaving II ridge
ovcr the seed, resembling the work
Of Il double foot plow.
When the cotton first makes its
appearance run over it with Il har-
row, (homc-madc) running with
the rows. This il 4 good working.
Then, with Il sQuarc-pointeu ScOOt-
cr run close to the cotton, and
deep, having q side wing attached
SO as to throw rs much dirt to the
middle as possible, and also cover
ing the young grass. AS soon as
the plant shows the cotton leaf
chop to u stand Sto II inches apart,
being careful to leave only one
stalk in q place.
The next blowing should be with
a short shovel or scooter, with n
short sweep turning the dirt to the
| nnSfn,, ur,nl- l,tn. N,, r,r
row in the middle with Il shovel
and sweep, medium size, and then
in one week moro with II size long
err shovel and sweep. Run around,
making the dirt to lap around the
cotton.
In ten days or two weeks the hoe
is applied, breaking the surface
along the row and removing all
grass. This work well done, leaves
the cotton in good condition to re-
ceivc the next blowing, which
should be with a still larger shovel
and sweep. AS to the time be-
tween workings depends .on cir
cumstances; my plan is to work
shallow, often and late, leaving
the beds rs fiat as possible.
Ill pjailtiHS uitci COJ'ol L pow
up the stalks with Il square-pointed
scooter, two burrows to the row. In
April run II turrOw with q ten
inch shovel, on the old bed. Then
put down manure, ridge and bed
as abaVe stated.
On my crop last year l used cot
ten seed and stable manure com
posted. My plan is to put about
ten bushels Of Gotten seed with sta
Bile enough to Kill the
seed. Whom properly composted
and applied this is undoubtedly
"a Of the cheapest and best fertil-
iZers q farmer can use.
My idea is that many farmers
make their compost too early. The
compost should be made only long
enough to kill the seed. Then, /
never waste my manure, but am
always as careful to put it in the
ground as l would be with com
mercial fertilizers.
GEO. NJ. HANNAH.
Cross Hill, S. G..