Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-02-15
FARMER AND PLANTER.
CULTURE OF COTTON.
The Cotton Plant of To-Day Fine In
stance of Evolution,

stance OF Evolution.
Probably in no other industry of
such magnitude is there so wide
chasm between its different votaries as
between the intelligent, advanced,
progressive cotton planter, who has
availed himself of the teachings Of the
cognate sciences and pursues his avo-
cation in the full glow of their re-
fected light, and his plodding, super
stitious, untaught and unteachable
neighbor. The cotton plant possesses
wonderful elasticity of development.
1t promptly accommodates itself to the
conditions which surround it. 1t re-
spends in larger and better production
to intelligent cultivation and judicious
selection and feeding. 1t retrogrades
in all useful qualities until it becomes
assimilated to its ignorant, thriftless
cultivator.
There is as much difference between
the improved cotton of to-day, on
which the number of bolls rivals that
of the leaves, and the long-jointed,
struggling varieties grown fifty years
ago, as there is between the rangy,
flat-sided Texas steer and the we'll
rounded, broad backed Shorthorn. The
improvement wrought in varieties of
cotton by judicious selection, high feed
ing and skillful cultivation has no
parallel in any other cultivated plant,
unless we find it in the potato or to-
mato. In breeding cattle we rely up
on the Divine promise that like shall
beget like" and to insure progress,
"breed from the best" The same
principles and practive have resulted
in the establishment of such prolific
varieties as the peerless" and others,
which present most striking contrast
with the old "Peeler" variety.
The type of plants which reproduce
from the seed annually may be rapidly
changed by selecting the best products
from plants approximating the type
desired Auxiliary to this has been
planting at such distance as will give
room for normal development. In con-
junction with these two other potent
factors have operated, viz: Perfecting
the physical condition of the soil by
thorough pulverization and the accu'
mutation of humus, and thereby in
creasing its power of absorbing and re-
tanning moisture. The needs of the
plant as well as those of the soil have
also been carefully studied, and the
food necessary to produce the maxi
mum development of plant and fruit
supplied All of the conditions sur
rounding the plant, physical as well as
favorable for its most perfect develop
ment. Variations resulting from sucl
favorable environments have beer
closely observed and utilized in estab
fishing the type desired.
These agencies resulted in improve
ment in the form and productivenes
of the plant, but have only PARTIAL,
effected the fiber. After establishing
n variety of sufficiently prolific habit
in the upland short staple specie
(Gossyplum herbaceum) the next ste
was to improve the tint by ybridizini
this with the long staple, or sea islam
(G. Barbadense.) This has resulted il
material improvement in the lengt'
and fineness of staple at the cost of
small reduction in productiveness
illustration of the improvement in tn
length of fiber we have only to CON
pare the ''W. A. Cook" variety, recent
ly established, with the Dixon" a va
riety of forty years standing. The in
provements have effected vastly il
creased yield in the short staple varit
ties, and corresponding enhancemer
in the value of the lint of the lon
staple upland.
There has been corresponding az
vance in the methods of cultivation, 6
well as in the implements used. III
extent of these improvements become
, obvious by comparing the old scooter
. stock, made on the plantation wit
Ratchet and drawing knife, having
shingle nailed to the beam to prever
covering the cotton while "siding" {
: "barring" it; and the most improve
3 adjustable iron beam stock with IL
g Terrill heel-scrape attached. Und,
Y the old system the roots of the plan
9 were so lacerated by the deep guilty
&, ton so as to seriously check produ
/ ton, even experienced cultivators co
r tending that the lateral roots of Il
: plant did not exceed one foot in lengt
4 Yet fully developed plants show Il
C roots nine feet in length, justif
! ing the modern system of fl
v and shallow cultivation, viii,
t saves labor and increases produ
e ton 10 to 20 per cent. over the old sy
g tenn of deep cultivation, which involv
y mutilation of the roots. The use
u wide heel scrapes instead of t
s scooter, the solid sweep and turn pic
h has not only increased the yield p
h acre. as stated but has diminished t
It cost of cultivation by reducing t
a number of burrows required to ma
IS the crop, and almost entirely dispel
d ing with hoe work.
IS The possibilities of cotton prod,
= ton have been and will continue to
l. limited by the failure thus far to S,
h cessfully Chop and "picli" by n
t. chinery. A chopper and cultivator h
It been invented, which does excelle
| work upon smooth, level lands, but
{ too costly and complicated to come ir
general use. The cotton harvester,
hibited last fall, gathers cotton rap
ly under conditions specially favoral
~ for its operation, but there are prac
. cal and insurmountable difficulties Y
- in its way. 1t can not be operated ,
- 70 til the whole crop has opened. T,
:" renders its general use impractical
= since, in some seasons, storms will
-. stroy the crop while waiting upon {
- harvester.
- The general use of fertilizers
II. shortened the harvesting season
IS Fastening the maturity of the crop.
- 1000, OOO-bale crop is harvested earl
- than 5000, OOO-bale crop was bef
=. ~ their introduction. The use of fer
' izers has advanced the area of prof
BILE cotton culture from so to 100 mi
r L