260 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



mountains. Kern Lake bounds it on the southwest. Much willow and 

 Cottonwood timber grows here, enough for fencing and firewood during 

 all time. Live fence is soon formed by setting willow and eottonwood 

 poles or stakes along the small ditches, standing near together; in two 

 years this becomes a good protection to all kinds of live stock. Over one 

 hundred acres of cotton upon this island now under cultivation in one 

 field, which bids fair to produce well, some of which is nearl}' read)' to 

 pick; about forty acres of which was planted with Mexican seed — this is 

 not as forward as the Sea Island and Petit Gulf, obtained from the east. 

 The planting commenced in April, and on the tenth of May over one half 

 of tlie seed was in the ground; commenced hoeing or, " scra])ing," the 

 twelfth of May, with a full set of hands; the twenty-second, finished 

 planting with Tennessee seed; on the first of Jul}' the cotton stands from 

 six to twenty-two inches high and begins to " square," and a part hoed 

 the third time. The twenty-ninth of July, about fifteen acres irrigated 

 for the first time. Finished irrigating the twenty-sixth of August. Most 

 of the field was irrigated twice. 



The planting was experimented upon at various widths, which proved 

 that five feet Avas sufficient distance in width of rows, and from ten to 

 twelve inches apart in the rows. The soil should be moist, and the seed 

 planted about two inches deep, strewed along quite thick in the trench, 

 after being thoroughly wet one day, and then I'olled in ashes previous to 

 planting. The ground is best prepared in beds previous to plaTiting; a 

 board is fastened to a plough stock, after the fashion of a bull-tongued 

 plough — this is about eighteen inches in length, and notched on the 

 under side, so as to carefully and thoroughl}- cover the seed. 



The general expression has been that this cotton field looked as prom- 

 ising as that of the old cotton States. Eains usual!}' commence hei*e 

 about the middle of December, and frosts in November. 



The above named cotton field is upon new lands, mostly reclaimed 

 this season, cleared of willows, weeds, and brushwood, and broke up 

 with light single teams, that would turn from one and a half to two acres 

 each day; about six miles of ditch have been made upon 'the premises. 

 It is presumed that in another year, one fourth the labor and expense 

 will i^roduce more cotton than this j'ear's j'ield. 



This cotton came up very strong and broad in the leaf, and showed no 

 signs of disease. Good judges say a better and more profitable staple is 

 grown here than that bordering on the Mississippi Eiver. and can be 

 placed in market in better condition, as the fall rains do not commence 

 until the picking season is well over. 



The actual expense the first year cannot be easily estimated; but we 

 think after the land is once tilled, machiner}' and tools at hand, that it 

 would not cost the producer over five cents per pound. The system most 

 profitable in the United States is that adopted b}' the proprietors of 

 large plantations, and Avorked by families. We find Chinese labor to 

 be good, reliable, and the cheapest. 



At Three Rivers, Visalia, cotton was grown successfully last 3'ear in 

 small quantities, at an average yield of over five hundred pounds of 

 ginned cotton to the acre. This year planters have gone into the busi- 

 ness more extensively in that quarter. Considerable cotton will also be 

 raised about Los Angeles this season. 



A green worm, about an inch long, attacked the cotton plant, com- 

 pletely riddling the first leaf, covering about thirt}' acres. However, 

 they made their exit in a few days, and did not seem to materially injure 

 the stand. Ii is best that all the cotton be picked, ginned, and pressed 



