STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 267 



In the monlb of September the top of the cotton was cut off with a 

 large knife, one man cutting about three acres per day. It was found 

 necessary to check the growth of the plant, and hasten the niaturit}^ of 

 the bolls. The delay in procuring the Eastern seed made it necessary to 

 plant the Mexican seed iirst; but it was found that the latter required 

 at least six weeks longer to mature than the Tennessee. The Tennessee 

 cotton, although planted three weeks later than the Mexican, was heavy 

 with bolls by the time the latter was in blossom. Some portions of the 

 land which was covered by a layer of coarse sand — where the ground 

 had been flooded — was found to- produce the best plants. 



"We commenced the picking of the Tennessee on the second of Octo- 

 ber, but it did not open freely until the fifteenth of the same month. 

 On the tenth of September a heavy frost blackened the vines and mate- 

 rially injured the Mexican cotton, it being so much later than the other. 

 It was found that plants upon ground which was irrigated immediately 

 after a frost were but little injured. 



The whole amount of land planted in cotton was one hundred and 

 thirty-three acres. Of this, about twenty acres was put in to Sealslandj 

 and from five to ten to Mexican, leaving one hundred to one hundred and 

 ten acres in Tennessee, which latter was all in good bearing. The Mexi- 

 can plants grow very thrift}-, with large leaves, which shade the bolls 

 and delay their ripening. The first Sea Island opened the fifteenth of 

 October, but to the twenty-fifth of November we had picked only one 

 hundi^ed pounds. The plants make a stout growth, and fill well with 

 blossoms, but the bolls are small, do not open freely, and are evidently 

 out of their latitude. It probably could not be profitably raised in this 

 countr3^ We had but little of the " Petit Gulf" seed, but became satis- 

 fied that it and the " Tennessee Upland" were the only kinds adajjted 

 to our soil and climate. They make a quick and uniform growth, yield 

 heavily of pure white cotton, and if planted early in the season would 

 mature before any possible chance of frost. 



The winters here are very favorable to the gathering of the crop. 

 Eains are uncommon ; fogs hardly known ; the days bright, doing away 

 with any necessity of drjing the cotton. The soil and climate are favor- 

 able to the production of grains, vegetables, fruits, etc., and some of 

 these crops may be cultivated to advantage in connection with the 

 cotton. 



We propose planting one hundred acres of cotton the coming season, 

 and have strong hopes of inducing man}- others to plant smaller quanti- 

 ties, by ofl:ering the seed free and giving the use of the implements with 

 which we are now so well provided. We employ in gathering the crop 

 about thirty hands, and gin the cotton by horse power. 



As near as we can judge, one man can till ten acres of cotton. We are 

 now and from appearances may be picking for some considerable time, 

 and the amount raised per acre is, therefore, as yet, uncertain. The sum 

 of our experience may be considered to be : 



First — The low bottom and tule lands of the State, of which Tulare 

 County contains a large amount, are well adapted to the raising of 

 cotton. 



Second — That the " Petit Gulf" and the Tennessee seed are the safest 

 and most profitable, and should be planted as early as frost will allow. 



T/u'fd — That from the hardy nature of the j)lants but little skill is 

 required in the irrigation. 



Fourth — That the seasons are especially favorable to the production 

 and the harvesting of the crops. 



