GOVERNOR HAMMOND'S REPORT. 27 



bags is universally known, and the Committee are astonished 

 that any other should ever be made now. 



Every kind of manure is valuable for Cotton,. Every kind 

 of compost, green crops turned in, cotton seed, and even naked 

 leaves listed and left to rot, improves this crop. When planted 

 on cotton seed, and sometimes on strong stable manure, it is 

 more difficult to retain a stand, owing probably to the over 

 stimulus of these strong manures. So, on leaves, unless well 

 rotted, the cotton will long continue to die, in consequence of 

 the leaves decaying away, and exposing the root too much to 

 sun and rain. These difficulties may be avoided, by a little 

 pains, and by no means justify the opinion entertained by 

 some, that cotton should never be planted on freshly manur- 

 ed land. The only question is the cost of the manure. A 

 great deal may be made on every plantation, without much 

 trouble or expense, by keeping the stables and stable-yard, 

 hog and cow pens, well supplied with leaves and straw. And 

 also from pens of corn-cobs ; sweepings from negro and fowl' 

 house yards, and rank weeds that spring up about them, col- 

 lected together, and left to rot. Whenever the business is 

 carried further, and a regular force is detached to make 

 manure at all seasons, and entirely left out from the crop, it 

 becomes the owner to enter into a close calculation of the cost 

 and profits. In many agricultural operations, such a course, 

 the experience of all countries has proved to be profitable, but 

 these operations partake rather more of the farming and gar- 

 dening, than planting character ; and whether the same 

 method will do for the extensive planting of short staple 

 cotton, remains, in the opinion of your Committee, yet to be 

 tested. If anything like an average, of past prices can be 

 maintained, it is certain that more can be made by planting 

 largely than by making manure as a crop. If, however, 

 prices continue to fall, and the growing of cotton be confined 



