The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-21

plants will use up the moisture too rapid
ly. 1t is interesting TO note The difference
between cotton properly thinned and that
grown as some grow it. If left ten to fif-
Teen inches in the row, plowed deep and
ieft standing on high ridge, which soon
dries our, it grows up straight and TALL
forms but a few short limbs and produces
but few bolls.
Another advantage in giving cotton
good distance is that boil worms do not
seem to injure it so much. l cultivate
with whatever tools will do the work
best. Have never found anything that
will beat a heel sweep for nice work, es-
pecially in stumpy land. 1 prefer the
Peterkin to any variety 1 have ever
grown. Few people here manure cotton,
and none so far as l know use CONNER
clal fertilizer. l hardly think il will
pay to buy fertilizers at the present
price of cotton. 1 cannot see how there
can be much exhaustion of the land
from cotton growing, if the seed or its
equivalent is returned to the land along
with an occasional crop of COW peas or
crab grass. OF course crab grass is not
equal TO COW peas, but l do not think it
is appreciated as it should be- Here it
should be turned under in the fall If we
expect to benefit the next crop to any
extent live near an oil mill where
they use the meal 10 fatten large num-
bers of cattle every fan, and with no
bad results, so far as l can learn. Most
farmers here feed cotton seed to their cat
tie. 1 hear Of their losing a COW or two
in early spring, but cannot say that it is
due to cotton seed. There is still some
profit in cotton al present prices if a
man. grows it on his own land, cultivates
properly, and the seasons are favorable,
but | cannot see how the renter can
make a living ar hat rbat
make is one-fourth Arofit. If 1 was
renting land this would be the landlords
share, and the renter would come out
barely even.
If the people of the South could only be
made to see the necessity of producing as
nearly as possible everything they ..on-
sumo at home it would help them on to
success. We need more corn and oats,
more fruit and better gardens. If we pro
duce an abundance of the necessaries of
life the price of cotton may go as low as 1t
pleases and we cannot be starved out, nor
will we be compelled to sell the cotton to
get something to eat. Thus cotton would
be really the money or surplus crop Pro-
ducing an abundance of corn oats cId
wheat will help the Southern farmer in
many ways. 1t will enable him to lessen
the area in cotton and reduce the general
crop, thus tending to increase the price.
give him a better rotation of crops, nd
will be the surest preventive of nard
times. OF course, we do not wish. to grow
any crop that cannot be grown profitably,
but there are few cotton farmers who
cannot produce feed crops proitably; rot,
perhaps, for sale, but to save money at
home. We do not need to raise more cot
ton, but to grow more on fewer acres, de-
voting the rest of the land to other crops,
-
l. Thorough preparation of the land. 2.
Plant the best varieties of cotton. 8.
Plant early. 4. Keep ahead of weeds and
grass, by working cotton before they get
started. 5. Give good distance in the row.
6. Plow shallow in cultivating and leave
the land level. 7. Keep the plows going
until crop is all plowed after each rain.
8. Keep up cultivation till late in sum-
mer 8. DO not raise cotton to buy what
you can easily raise at home at less ex-
pense.
Montague County Texas.