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the difference in the land, must have necessarily so much to 

 do in settling this question. The general rule must be, to 

 keep the earth loose and well stirred ; the early workings to 

 be deep and close ; and as the crop conies on and the fruit 

 begins to appear, let these workings be less close, and shal- 

 lower, keeping the soil soft and clean. It is of great im- 

 portance to work this crop late, and it should not cease until 

 the branches lock or the cotton begins to open. I do not 

 consider that it is necessary to pile the earth in large quantities 

 about the roots of the cotton, but think the tendency of all 

 the workings should be, to increase the quantity. 



The selection of seed is an interest not to be disregarded. 

 We bave been humbugged a great deal by dealers and specu- 

 lators in this article, yet we would greatly err to conclude 

 that no improvement could be made. We should, however 

 save ourselves from this sort of imposition-, and improve our 

 own seed, by going into the field and picking each year, 

 from some of the best formed and best bearing stalks, and 

 thus keep up the improvement. Great benefits may often 

 be derived, by changes of seed in the same neighborhood, 

 from differences of soil, and occasional changes from a distant 

 and different climate may be made to great advantage. 



The picking of cotton should commence just as soon as 

 the hands can be at all profitably employed; say as soon as 

 forty or fifty pounds to the hand can be gathered. It is of 

 great importance, not only to the success of the work, but to 

 the complexion and character of the staple, to keep well up, 

 with this work, so that, as far as possible, it may be saved with- 

 out exposure to rain. The embarrassments to picking when 

 once behind, and a storm or heavy rain shall intervene, ming- 

 ling it with the leaf, and tangling in the burr, are just as great, 

 as to get behind it in the cultivation of the crop, when much 

 additional labor will be required to accomplish the same object. 



