Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-05-02
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
Hints on Cotton Planting.

corn early in March will now be ready
to commence planting cotton.
The same remarks in regard to the
proper time to plant and the signs OF
planting time" that were made with
reference to Indian corn will apply with
nearly equal force to cotton. Our eli
mate is so variable and changes are SO
sudden and unexpected, especially in
the spring, that we must be governed
by past experience, modified, always,
by the present condition Of the soil.
This last consideration is of far more
Importance than the difference of a
few days OF time, or many degrees
of temperature. The young cot
ton plant is much more delicate than
that OF corn, and can not withstand the
same harsh treatment. Corn may be
cut down by frost, or destroyed by the
knife or other means, down to the sur
face OF the earth and even lower, and
yet recover and put forth anew with
little apparent loss of time or vitality.
The same injury would be wholly fatal
to cotton plant This difference in
results is not due to any inferior hardi-
ness in the tissues of the cotton plant
as compared with corn. 1t is because
of the organic difference in structure
and manner of growth, which divides
all plants into two great classes. Exo-
genous, which includes cotton, and the
Indigenous, which includes corn and
the cereals generally and grasses.
The plants of the Indigenous
class grow from within the. stem,
and the tender, growing bud or
spear is always concealed in the very
heart or core of the plant. A young
corn plant has its embryo first joint
just below the surface Of the ground,
and the vital-growing germ is in the
center OF the stem, just above this
joint or node, and is thus protected
from ordinary frosts. The cotton
plant, on the contrary pushes forth its
most vital points, the first node, or
Joint, with the seed leaves. Destroy
this joint, or node, and the plant can
not recover. This organic difference
is one of the chief reasons why we
plant cotton three or four weeks later
than corn. Our own experience taught
us that about four weeks should inter-
vene between the planting of the two
crops.
1t is also a matter of experience that
the thinnest land, that upon which the
tweed" will attain the smallest devel
opment, should be planted last. Oh
serving farmers know that on such
lands the tendency of the plant is tC
overload itself with fruit before it has
attained sufficient size to mature the
bolls. The result is suspension Of
weed development and the devotion Of
all the energies of the plant to thu
often unequal task of perfecting thu
early blooms. Then ensues dwarf
ing of the stalk and exhaustion o
its vitality, accompanied by disease
and often followed by a belatet
effort at late crop, to be caught b,
the frost. For these reasons we ad
wise the planting first the richer o
most highly-fertilized field, ending
by planting the old and comparativel,
exhausted and moderately-fertilize,
lands after the weather has becom
warm and settled and the soil full
warm and genial This will general
secure a prompt termination of tn
seed-if the ground be in good condi
> ton as to moisture-followed by
) rapid, vigorous and unimpeded growt
of the plants, enabling them to reach
: larger size and better development c
3 joints and limbs before they are 9
0 sufficient age to bloom and fruit free
Q ly These suggestions are not mer
I theories, but are the result of tn
writer's experience of twenty years a
: practical farmer, and we have n
Q doubt they may be corroborated by tn
d experience of many farmers.
r In planting cotton it is of importanc
d that the beds shall have been made
y sufficient length of time before plan
n ing to become somewhat "firmed" b
4 one or two rains, especially in ligh
l. sandy soils. We have several time
d utterly failed of stand when plan
ing on fresh, mellow beds has bee
d followed within few days by heav
Q rain. Where dry crust has bee
J. found on the beds n sharp-edged boar
or harrow should be first drawn Owe
c them so as TO give a fresh, mois
) smooth bed in which TO deposit Il
n seed. When the soil is in proper COZ
dition the opening seed furrow shoul
d not be over two inches in dept
and the seed be covered not deep,
than one inch, by passing q rattle
J, heavy board or block. We nevt
quite approved of the practit
e of covering the seed by the a
y tachment to the cotton planter, as
n does not usually sufficiently press Il
soil; and for the additional reason TIL
d we prefer to see the seed in the flu
n row, and be assured that there h
IS been perfect and uniform distrib
ton. A cotton-planting machine, wi
ID a covering attachment, is an excele
a implement in the hands of the pr
le prietor or a trustworthy and intel
a gent laborer; but it sometimes prov
N delusion If operated by careles
vt thick-headed negro, or-white man.
m If using high-priced, bought see
or such as have been carefully selecte
ly tits quite an item to use as few as M
n be necessary to secure continue
IN stand. The barrel seed roller is recol
b. mended for preparing the seed I
distribution II the seed be W,
es rolled, saving of from on