OP AGRICULTURE. 01 



in rough land. This is an advantage of much import- 

 ance with a crop so tender and small as cotton, at 

 this stage. From the first to the tenth of April is 

 early enough to commence planting cotton. 



CULTURE. 



As soon as the young cotton is up to a good 

 stand, and the third and fourth leaves begin to 

 appear, the operation may commence. All that is 

 now proposed to be done is a very rapid working 

 with the cotton scraper and hoes, reducing the crop 

 to bunches, soon to pass over, and return again, for 

 a more careful working. The grass and weeds must 

 be kept down, and the stand of cotton reduced. 



The second working should follow with as little 

 delay as practicable, the plows or sweeps, as the 

 season requires, should be pushed forward as rapidly 

 as possible, throwing or pushing back the earth to 

 the plant a process which is termed dirting or molding 

 the cotton. The hoes follow immediately, thin out to 

 a tand, leaving one or two of the most vigorous and 

 promising plants, freeing them from grass or w^eeds, 

 and drawing the loose soil well around them for their 

 better support. The young stalk is very tender, and 

 easily injured by bruises, and skins, from rough and 

 careless work. The cut- worm and louse are charged 

 with many sins which ought to be put down to care* 

 less working at this critical stage of the crop. 



The hoes have much to do in the culture of this 

 crop, and planters must be prepared to devote pretty 

 much all their time to it. It is difficult in a work 

 like this to say how often, and in what manner, this 

 crop should always be worked, when the character 



