The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-29

of the cotton lands I have seen In the
State require either surface or under
draining; and frequently both. Drain
lrg has had more to do with the sue
cess of E~dgecombe planting than any
one Ow the several causes Usually as
signed, and is the first great requisite
for the improvement OF the agriculture
of the State.
(By Hon. r.. r. Bridgers and his
Nephew, Col. John L. Bridgers.)
1907.
The word cotton seems to. have been
of Dutch origin. There are three
species of the plant of importance
and consequence to man, sea island
cotton, of long staple and silky tex
ture; the upland short staple, OF harsh
texture than the sea island and gos-
syphoum arboreum. Cotton was
known in the far distant past, in.
many sections of Asia; it was found
also in the western world, when dis
covered and exploited. 1t may be that
the first home of the plant was Asia.
and in the the misty past may have
been brought to this country by some
of the Asiatics who came to this
country, as there is good reason to
believe that portions of the western
hemisphere were not unknown to
those people. Wherever the origin of
the plant may have been. it is more at
III III II AooolIl (hd LII III
part of the world. The plant is per-
ennial and shrubby, but in cultivation
has become and is treated as an an
nual; WheE growing freelysand natur-
ally, it assume a pyramidal shape,
like a sycamore tree under similar
conditions. 1t will grow within SO de-
grees North and South of the equa-
torial line. 1t is most productive and
of best quality when grown in a sec
ton where the summer is long enough
for maturity, before the coming frost.
That climate is best suited to the plant
when there is sufficient warmth to de-
velop and mature the plant and suffi-
cient fall of frost to check any fur
Their growth, thus changing the plant
from a perennial to an annual. In
a climate where there is no fall Of
frost the plant Is a true perennial.
growing from year to year, and this
forms the species of G.. arboreum. The
climate of the cotton belt of the South
is ideal for the production of the plant.
In this belt are produced two spe-
cies, the island or long staple;
and the upland or short staple; this
belt extends from Southern Virginia.
Tennessee and Missouri to the Gulf
Coast, and Mexican border. Eastern
North Carolina successfully produces
cotton, though the eason is short
for the best growth and yield of the
plant. The cultivation of cotton first
came into notice in this country
about 1886, and about 1880 some of it
was exported to England. In 1890
the production of cotton had grown
to such an extent that some machine
had to be devised for removing the
lint from the seed. These were sever
al devises for the but the
practical and successful one was that
invented by Eli Whitney, and made in
1892. 1t is a singular fact worth no.
ting, that in the lis years since Whit
ney invented his cotton gin, there has
been no Improvement whatever Of the
principle upon which his gin operated;
of course there have been improve
ments and additions to the gin as a
machine.
The growth and production of cot
ton has developed far beyond the
widest dreams of those who first in
terested themselves in the cultivation
of the f1eecy staple. In our section,
and more particularly in Edgecombe
county, where some of the most prac-
teal and successful CT the pioneers in
cotton production dwelt anG develop
ed. we are concerned with the upland
or short staple cotton, which is the va
riety generally grown. The cotton Gull
tivaIors of Edgecombe We're so sue
cessful in their work, hat for years,
the per-ecre yield of lint cotton led
all the cotton belt, except n county
which had the advantage of a longer
season. From continued cultivation
two varieties have been developed,
and known among cotton farmers, as
long limbed variety and the short
limbed or cluster. There is much con-
tention among the farmers as to
which Is the most productive the limb
ed or cluster cotton. From experience
and the practice Of most farmers,
the limbed variety is most productive.
In the early stages of its growth the
cotton MA Mt &c very lender and jS
quickly susceptible to ~unfavorabie
weather conditions, after it has de-
veIoped a root system it soon becomes
a plant of great vitality and durabil-
ity, and can stand as much bad treat
ment and imposition as an unterriffed
Democrat. There is no plant Guilt
waited b ythe farmer that has he
power of recuperatiOn equal to that
of the cotton plant; it can be wosefully
neglected, and then with fair treat
rent recover and make fair yield. To
the cotton farmer it is like a faithful
dog, doing the best it can under
conditions. Owing to the crossing in
the field Of the two varieties spoken
of there are many types of the plant,
and often in an acre of cotton there
may be found as many as half a
dozen distinct types of the plant, short
iointed, long jointed. long limbed,
cluster, thin of limbs. clean timber.
spreading and uneven growth, tall and
slim and clear and compact growth.
This shows the strong predisposition
Of the plant to from a
standard tyue. AS the plant is SO read
ilv effected by Adjudication careful
and patient selection will produce a
! standard of almost any type; but TO
maintain the type the same care and
| patience must be persistent. and ever
Ia stinglv persistent. AS h~ybrodism is
produced by cross pollenizinatlon,
though the agency Of bees. the type
plants must be put at a safe distance
from the ordinary plants. CONSIDER
able time can be added TO the cotton
season by developing an early matur-
ing variety. all early maturing YarleteS
have small bolis and all late matur-
ing varieties have large bolis. Inc
balls are Of two kinds, roulu anu
short. as in the short limb or cl"Sfer
variety anH f@7
susceptibility OF Jne pant 70 ~NdrldIoh'
there is no doubt that the time OF ma
turity of the plant can be made Garner
the character of ths boil changed. the