200 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



from frost is apprehended ; then harrow, and with a light 

 plow, mark the centre of the beds and sow at the rate of 

 two to five bushels per acre. A drilling machine might be 

 made to answer this purpose better, and save much time. An 

 excess of seed is necessary, to provide for the enemies of the 

 plant and other contingencies. If all the seed germinates, 

 there will be a large surplus of plants, which must be re- 

 moved by thinning. There is an advantage in mixing the seed 

 before it is sown, with moistened ashes or gypsum, as it 

 facilitates sowing and germination. It should be buried 

 about an inch deep, and the earth pressed closely over it. 



The cotton plant, in the opinion of Dr. Philips, is hardier, 

 even, than corn, when properly treated. He contends, and I 

 must say, with a great deal of apparent reason, that thick 

 planting is to be deprecated, arid that but two or three 

 pecks of prime seed should be sown to the acre. This 

 would expose each plant to the atmosphere, and give it op- 

 portunity and room to develop a strong stalk with abundant 

 foliage ; and he asserts, when thus grown, a frost that will 

 cut down corn, will leave the young cotton plant uninjured. 

 There is a great disadvantage in exposing the long, spindling 

 shoots, that have grown up among a crowd of others, to the 

 sun, wind and frost, when they are thinned out. A tempo- 

 rary check is thus always given to the plant, and frequently, 

 a permanent injury is sustained in consequence of it. 



The varieties of seed used for uplands are the Mexican 

 and Petit-Gulf, both of similar origin, but the latter is better 

 selected and has been kept pure. New seed which has been 

 brought from a distance, ought to be substituted for the old 

 as often as once in three years. The beneficial effects of 

 this practice would probably be enhanced by bringing it 

 from a different soil, and more especially, such as had grown 

 upon one of inferior quality to that intended to be planted. 



The Petit-Gulf, raised near Rodney, in Mississippi, is 

 universally esteemed the best seed, and it will frequently 

 yield from one to two hundred pounds more of cotton per 

 acre than the average of such as is produced elsewhere. 

 This difference has arisen, in part at least, from the great 

 care used in the selection and management of the seed ; 

 and it may be, and probably is, in part due to some peculiar 

 difference in soil or locality, that better prepares the seed for 

 an abundant yield when transferred to remote fields. 



The cultivation is performed with various instruments, the 

 bull-tongue or scooter, the shovel, double shovel, the sweep, 



