COTTON. 205 



ited to four acres to the laborer. The operation of weeding 

 commences as soon as we finish planting, because in our 

 flat and sandy soils the grass-seed springs with the first 

 growth of the cotton, and by the time we finish planting, 

 say the 1st of May, what we planted in March requires the 

 hoe. In the operation of hoeing and weeding, the land is 

 kept, as far as may be, at its original level, the beds neither 

 increased nor diminished, that the heavy rains which gener- 

 ally fall in August, may injure the growing plants, which 

 are then in full bearing, as little as possible. The young 

 cotton is thinned out slowly at from six to twelve inches 

 apart on the ridge, by the 10th of June. As soon as the 

 rains commence, which is about the last of July, it is wise 

 to leave nature to herself, and no longer disturb the soil. 

 Four hoeings, if well done, and the grass well picked at 

 each hoeing, is enough ; nor does any aftergrowth of grass 

 do injury. 



Manures and soiling stock. For ten years past, great 

 efforts have been made by the Sea-Island planters in ma- 

 nuring. Much of the alluvion of our salt rivers has been 

 collected, and sometimes placed directly in heaps through 

 the fields at rest, and at other times placed in cattle-pens on 

 which cotton seed and all waste materials are strewn, and 

 the cattle penned upon it. But what is preferred, is to pen 

 our cattle near the river at night, and cut salt-grass, which 

 covers these alluvion lands, and which is as nutritious as so 

 much clover. Great benefits will hereafter, undoubtedly 

 result from the use of marl. 



Amount of crop per acre and picking. It has been sta- 

 ted already, that 500 pounds to the acre, is about the medi- 

 um crop, which at 20 cents per pound (more than the actual 

 price for the last three years), is to the planter, $100 for 

 gross crop; and from this $100 dollars, is to be subtracted 

 bagging, freight, expenses of sale, clothing for his people, 

 medical attention, and too often provisions." 



The varieties of Cotton in the United States, which have 

 been cultivated with success in addition to those enumera- 

 ted, are the Rio, with a staple about three inches in length, 

 of a glossy, silky texture, brought from South America ; the 

 Egyptian, received from the garden of Mehemet Ali, and 

 grown in Louisiana 15 feet in height ; the Mastadon, lately 

 introduced from Mexico, firm in texture and quite produc- 

 tive ; the Chinese Silk Cotton, white, soft, fine and silky ; 

 the East India, growing to a height of 14 feet, and produ- 



