40 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



because the cold checks the growth, and if cultivated in mud 

 and water, a similar result. Sore shin, I think, is caused by 

 injury from the hoe, and cultivation when land is wet. Some 

 seasons, both of these are worse than others. An early, warm 

 season, with sound seed, we are but little annoyed; thus 

 showing the fault is our own. I have never been annoyed 

 but one year, and then I had a very smart overseer, who got 

 ready to plant before he icas ready. 



4. Cultivation of the Crop continued. 



MR. EDITOR : There are many requisites to making a good 

 crop, and the most of them are within the reach of every 

 planter, whether he plants for the one, or the one thousand 

 bales. And, having tested many experiments, I hope I may 

 be of some service in drawing attention thereto. 



The use of manures has been so fully set forth by our 

 friend, Dr. Cloud, of Alabama, that it would seem a work of 

 supererogation to allude thereto ; yet, I may have some 

 friends who would be guided by me, and as they might not be 

 touched by the Doctor's able articles, I beg to say : As early 

 as 1817, in Chester District, S. C., when boarding with my ven- 

 erated friend, Mr. Harbinson, I saw the most marked differ- 

 ence as to yield of cotton, caused by manure, that I ever remem- 

 ber to have seen. In 1842 or '43, I tested stable manure and 

 cotton seed as a manure ; an unbelieving aged friend, as also 

 quite a number of young planters, were called upon to express 

 an opinion it was, that a 500 Ib. bale was the product ; 

 whereas, without manure, not one-half was growing, adjacent. 

 I do not believe any manure can increase the yield of some 

 of our western river bottoms, in that proportion ; yet, upon 

 thin land, I feel very certain that it can be done. I use cot 



