Year: 1873

Believing that many oC our farmers will ile coming spring plant cotton sufficient to satisfy themselves as to the adaptabity of their lands to it. culture, and as to the prob able profitablcne-s of the crop, we quote from a letter written by George l.. Strong, one of the most experienced cotton cultyators in . California. The practical directions contained . in the extract may be of service to such as may desire Co experiment. We quote

 The character of the land selected for . planting should be moderately mOist-a soil from which the moisture is gradually and surely exhausted as the season progresses. Cotton k not voracious feeder like corn, and A damp, cold soil in wbich corn would flourish, is an unhealthy locality for the first named plant. The crops on the Mcrccd river, in Fresno and Kern counties, were all injured last year by excessive moisture in the soil. In other respects, the plant fourishcs on all soils, sands and clays alike.

 The land should be plowed early--in the absence of facilities for irrigatiOn-and plowed as deeply and thoroughly as possible, say from eight to ten inches. Alter blowing the finer the tilth to which it can be reduced by narrowing and dragging the better.

 The planting should be finished as carly as possible after the frosts of spring have ceased H work is through the use of the planter. Cot ton seed planters are made here at a cost of S25. With this implement one man and horse will furrow of and plant eight acres per day. A bushel of seed-thirty pounds per acre is an ample quantity.

 In eight or ten days after planting, the cot ton will be above ground. If weeds should spring up between the rows, they should b, exterminated promptly. For this work, tho best implement have discovered is Strong horse hoe. The Knox horse hoe is the best substitute. When in the fourth leaf, tho plants should be reduced to a stand by thinning them to one plant for every foot One plant for every foot in the row gives perfect stand" The rows should be four feet apart on good land on low, moist lands, the distance should be from four and bali to five feet. As long as weeds continue to come in the space between the rows, they should be exterminated by the horse hoe. It will not be necessary to use it more than twice in the same row. So, too, the hand hoe should be used to exterminate such as spring up in the drill, among the stalks. The work of thinning is executed by hand hoe, from six to seven inches in width. 4 man and horse will go over ten acres per day with the horse hoe; man will finish up about one acre per day with the hand hoe. This ends the work of cultivation, and costs from six to seven dollars per acre.

 If the planter possesses fgilitles for irriga- iion. the work of applying water should bc the first performed. If the land be thoroughly irrigated before blowing cotton may be sue oessfully planted upon it. If the plant should plainly indicate the necessity for it, then nc more should be applied at one time than sr ordinary rain would afford.

 In California picking is s simple process The requisites are a sack, a man or boy, and splace 10 stow the cotton. Ginning is alike simple: the gin is put up and set to work by the seller.

 Any one who understands the manage ment Of hay press can press cotton. Ar ordinarily strong hay press will answer for bsling, but cotton press is preferable.