THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



CHAPTEK XLVIII. 



TEXTILE CROPS. 



COTTON is the leading crop of the Southern States, and 

 farmers in the South necessarily pay the most attention to 

 it. It is however, in general, so poorly cultivated, that it 

 scarcely pays for the labor bestowed upon it, and yields no 

 profit. The average yield is no more than 150 Ibs. per acre, 

 which brings no more than $9. in the market; while 500 

 to 600 Ibs. is easily grown by the best farmers, who follow 

 a scientific culture; manuring the soil and working it in 

 accordance with the true principles of culture; and in some 

 cases the yield has reached 1500 or 2000 Ibs. to the acre. 

 The system of culture through the cotton region is gener- 

 ally the reverse of economical; and nowhere else is the cul- 

 ture of farm crops pursued upon a less satisfactory method. 

 This system has grown out of the peculiar circumstances of 

 the Southern farmers for many years past; but the changes 

 which have recently occurred have reversed these conditions 

 so as to bring the necessities of the case so nearly to those 

 of other farmers, that the old system is rapidly changing for 

 a more modern one, and the methods of culture pursued 

 elsewhere are being adopted. These are a rotation of crops; 

 the culture of fodder crops and the rearing and feeding of 

 stock; the making and use of manure; and the use of all 

 the most improved implements. The best of the modern 

 plows are fast taking the place of the very imperfect bull 

 tongue; the Acme harrow is coming into use in place of the 

 common wooden or iron spike harrow; and cultivators, 

 mowing machines, grain drills, and reapers, are seen as in 

 other localities. All this must have a favorable result upon 

 the staple crop of the South; reduce the cost of growing and 

 increase the product of it; thus greatly adding to the profit 

 of the Southern farmers, and improve the condition of the 

 Southern States generally. 



