COTTON 193 



one, and although the plants of the Sea-Island cotton that 

 year had not ripened their seed ; it being a perennial, and 

 subject only to be killed by frost, it started the next season 

 (1787) from the roots of the previous year, its seed ripened, 

 and the plants became acclimated. Many changes have 

 come over this seed since that time from difference of soil, 

 of culture, and local position; and above all, from careful 

 selection of seed. But it requires to be discovered, that what 

 is gained in fineness of wool, is lost in the quality and weight 

 of the product ; for in spite of a zeal and intelligence 

 brought to act upon the subject without parallel, the crops 

 are yearly diminishing ; until to grow Sea-Island cotton is 

 one of the most profitless pursuits within the limits of the 

 United States. 



C ~THE CULTURE. When the Sea-Island cotton-seed was 

 introduced in 1786, it was planted in hills prepared upon the 

 level field, at five feet each way ; but it was soon learned, 

 that of all plants that grow, it is in its first vegetation and 

 early stage the most tender ; liable to suffer by storms, by 

 wind, by drought, and by excess of rain. The quantity of 

 seed was therefore increased, and the plants multiplied, 

 until, as in most other cases, one extreme produced another., 

 For many years, however, among experienced planters, the 

 course is to divide their enclosed fields, into two portions ; 

 the one at rest, the other in culture. 



" PREPARING THE LAND FOR THE CROP? Early in Feb- 

 ruary, any hands not engaged in preparing the previous 

 crop for market, are employed in cleaning up the rested 

 fields, and either in burning off the fennel-weeds and grass 

 of the previous year, or in listing them in at five feet apart, 

 to serve as the base of the future ridges or bed. There is 

 much difference of opinion, upon the subject of burning or 

 listing in ; for myself, I am inclined to take the first opinion, 

 believing that the light dressing of ashes the field receives 

 from burning off, is more beneficial to the soil than the decay 

 of the vegetable matter, and renders it less liable to produce 

 what is a growing evil, the rust, a species of blight, much 

 resembling the rust or blight upon wheat, and which takes 

 place about the same period, just as the plant is putting out 

 and preparing to ripen its fruit. 



" RIDGING. The land being listed in short lines across 

 the entire field, at five feet apart, the operation of ridging is 

 commenced about the first of March. The ridges occupy 

 H 



