St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-04-07
FARMER AND PLANTER.
CULTURE or COTTON.

1 OS@t 0Ok W WI VIM
The Cotton 7lart Or To-Day . FI.s n
ssasce - Evsl1tioa.
Probably in no other industry o,
| sIch magnitude is there SO wide 1
chasm between its different vOtaries =.
between the intelligent. advanced
progressive cotton planter, who ha.
avaiIed himself Of the teachings of the
eognatc sciences and pursucs his avo
cation in the full glow OF their re
hected light. and his plodding. super
stitions. untaught and unteacha bic
ueighhor. The cotton plant possesse.
wonderful elasticity Of development.
II promptly accommodates itself to the
conditions which surround it. 1t re
spends in larger and better production
70 intelligent cultivation and judicious
selection and feeding. 1t rctrogradcs
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 hollis rivals that
OF the leaves, and the long jointed.
struggling varieties grown fifty years
ago, as there is between the ranyy,
nat-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
bcget like" and to insure progress,
breed from the best" The same
principles and practivc have resulted
in the esta blishment of such prolific
varieties AS the Peerless. and others,
which present most striking contrast
with the old "Pccler- 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 10 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
thorough pulvcrization and the accu-
mutation Of hnmus. 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
chemical. have thus been rendered
favorab BILE for its most perfect develop
mcnt. Variations resulting from such
favorable environments have been
closely observed and utilized in estab-
fishing the type desired.
These agencies resulted in improve
ment in the form and productireness
of the plant. but have only partially
effected the fiber. After establishing
a variety of sufficiently prolific habits
in the upland short staple species
(Gossypfun herbaceuml, the next step
was to improve the tint by by bridizing
this with the long staple. or sea island
&c. Barbadcnse.l This has resulted in
material improvement in the length
and fineness of staple at the cost of
small reduction in productiveness In
of the improvement in the
length Of fiber we have only to COM
pare the wv. A. Cook variety. recent
ly established. with the Dixon. a va
riety of forty years standing. The inn
have effected vastly in
creased yield in the short staple varie-
ties. md corresponding enhancement
in the value of the lint of the long
SUSIE 3upland.s
There has been corresponding adj
vance in {h4A NJ Of cal.iva ton, as
we'll AS in tfre Implements used. The
extent of these improvements becomes
obvious by comparing Mold ''scooter"
stock, made on the plantation with
and drawing katie. having a |
single nailed to the team to prevent
covering the -cotton,vhile siding" or |
barring. il: and. 1he za0st improved |
adjustable iron beam. stock with the |
rerrll heel-scrape attached. Under
he.04 system the roots Of the plants |
.&sE. fo-iscerased by the deep cultiva-
i'm sP as 10 seriously check produc-
ion- zen experienced cultiyators con-
endiI3 gs that the lateral roots Of the |
,lalt Ind not exceed one foot in length.
let fully developed plants show the
cots nine feet in length, justify
ne Che modern system of fiat
md !shaliow cultivation. which
ayes labor and increases produc-
ion 1U TO 20 per cent. over the old svs-
EN- of:deep cultivation. which involved
mutiiation of the roots The use Of
vide heel scrapes instead of the
cooter. the solid sweep and turn pillow
las not only increased the yield per
ere. as stated. but has diminished the
ost OF cultivation by reducing the
lumber Of burrows required to make
he crop. and almost entirely dispens-
ng with hoe work.
The possibilities Of cotton produc-
ion have been and will continue to Re
United by the failure thus far to sue
chop and pick by ma
hincry. A chopper and cnltivator has
cen invented, which does excellent
FORK upon smooth, level lands. but is
90 costly and complicated to come into
cncrai use. The cotton harvester. ex-
ibitcd last fall, gathers cotton rapid
: under conditions specially favorable
Dr. its operation, but there are practi-
al and insurmountable difficulties vet
I its way. 1t can not be operated un-
L the whole crop has opened. This
snders its general use Impractical
nee. in some seasons. storms will de-
.rpy, Che crop while waiting upon the
arvcxter.
The general use Of fertilizers has