24 SEVENTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 



the planters experienced the baleful effects of re- 

 strictions on commerce. From the superiority 

 of this cotton to that raised in any other country, 

 even from the same seed, the staple at first was 

 objected to as too long, and by one or two English 

 spinners it was actually cut shorter. 



When first planted the seed was placed in small 

 hills five feet square, but by some in holes made on 

 the level land that distance apart. Seldom more than 

 one hundred pounds were made to the acre, until 

 the system of having more stalks in the acre was 

 adopted. It may be remarked that the plough was 

 practically unknown to the first growers of long 

 cotton, and is still so here to a great extent, although 

 half a century has elapsed. 



Notwithstanding the facilities offered by the 

 woods everywhere for an abundant store of suitable 

 aliment, no effort at manuring extended beyond a 

 potato field, which never exceeds a quarter of an 

 acre of land to the hand. There were no rakes for 

 collecting leaves, nor carts specially designed for 

 carrying the vegetable offal to the cattle pen or 

 stable. 



Various were the gins constructed for cleansing 

 the cotton of the seed. The first was Eave's gin, 

 to be worked by animal or water-power ; next, 

 Pottle's, of Georgia ; Birnie's, Simpson's, and 

 Nicholson's gins ; next, Whitmore's, Farrls' and 

 Logan's. These were all modifications of Eave's 



