Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-01-21
FARMER ANDPLANTER.
COTTON CULTURE.

IN our former HrtlcleS VIC ha'c "u-
vised the southern cotton raisers who
have either q semi-exhausted or nat
urally poor soil to contend with, and
which he desires to build up until one
to two bales can be harvested from
each and every acre, at least in favor
able seasons to lay off rows three feet
apart in both corn and cotton, planting
every other row in peas and giving
the corn and cotton the benefit OF
four and half or five feet OF soil, and
reserving but from 10 to IL inches for
the peas. If peas, corn and cotton are
each fed literally, the one to two bales
Of cotton per acre and so to 100 bushels
of corn per acre mark can be speed
lily reached. There is nothing on
earth to prevent it, and we
challenge the doubling Thomases
of the whole united world
to prove the contrary. We come now
to n consideration Of lands that are
richer, more fertile and productive
than those above described; lands that
are already we'll supplied with humus,
hence don't need the pea vines; lands
that, without the assistance OF fertll-
izers of any kind, will make from
three-fourths of bale to one and one
fourth, or one and one-half bales per
acre. 1t is on such lands as these that
fertilizers put in their best work and
are used with greatest profit 1t ID
A., f..,tili,n.o ha nCpH
In the greatest quantities. and, strange
aud unreasonable as it may appear to
the uninitiated, and to those who
have had no experience in their use,
the greater the quantity used (within
the bounds of reason and common
sense) the more profitable they become,
and the more satisfaction and gratlh-
cation is derived from their use. 1t
is on such lands that the two TO four
bales per acre become possibility,
and If our advice as to appropriate and
liberal feed, good distance mot less
than four feet by two, and never more
than one STALK in place. deep prep
aration, and thorough, frequent snail
low and comparatively level culture
is followed, it becomes not only pos
sibility, but other things being equal,
an absolute certainty. 1t is just as
sure us that effects follow causes, and
that is sure enough or should be sure
enough, TO please anybody and to con-
vince the most skeptical. In Missis-
sippi the yield on an average is about
one bale to three acres, and the cost OF
raising fully as much as if two or more
bales grew on single acre. Now the
question arises, can we afford to plant
and cultivate year after year three
acres of land in order to get what
could have been obtained from one
sixth of the amount? | for one
say no, and am determined not
to do it. l don't have to, and
will not. As previously stated
some Of our cotton is planted in rows
six feet apart, and thinned to two
three and four feet apart in drill, one
stalk in place. 1t is now august /
as high as my head, and gives promise
OF locking in the midddles in the
course of the next two weeks. There
is not a spindling stalk in the field
but every stalk is stocly, standing III
like a tree, and well formed from bot
tom TO top. Not single shape o
form has Shed as yet, and this in spit
of the fact that we are undergoing
serious drought that is parching VI
corn all around it, This cotton ha
had applied to it 40 pounds of Thoma!
Flag (phosphate) and 100 pounds of nj
trate OF potash per acre. On some o
the land used acid phosphate in lie
of the Thomas Flag, but see no pei
ceptble difference in favor of eithe
one or the other No nitrogen wa
used on this land, as there is alread
an excess Of it present, as evidences
by an excess of stalk or weed growth
The phosphate and potash wer
applied for the purpose of correc
ing this excess, to increase the frui
fulness Of the plant, and to force
into an early maturity. This cotto
) was not planted until the 18th day {
: May. For long time the season wa
cold and backward, and ever since
; turned warm, has been altogether TO
dry for any kind of farm crop. 1t
not planted in the fertile lands of tn
; Mississippi bottom, as might be SUI
posed by those unacquainted with I'll
geography of this country, but it Is
one of the oldest, poorest and mos
badly-worn counties in the state 40 {
50 miles from the bottom. What "
I claim can be done here can be don
! equally in any and every other sectic
5 of the cotton belt. There is no patel
upon the process. 1t is open alike
: all and within the reach of all, and d
? are cordially invited to participate,
give good and all-sutficient reasc
4 why they do not wish to do SO. v
a know it is practical for the reason TIL
e we are practicing it, and intend to co
] time SO doing as long as our meal
e will allow or until better plan is G
j. fered by some one else.-G. ii. Turne
. | L., H., ,.,,, mad Dnnnh