PREFACE. 



THIS book is a compilation. It makes no pretensions what- 

 ever to originality. All compilations must, from the very 

 nature of things, be imperfect ; therefore this book is imper- 

 fect. One of two plans I had to adopt, either to write an 

 entirely original work, or compile one from the writings of 

 others. Ha<.-I. adopted the former plan, I might, it is true, 

 have produced a more compact work, a more systematic 

 treatise, in a more uniform style ; but it is a question whether 

 I would have made so valuable a volume as the one I present 

 you. What might have been gained in the graces of composi- 

 tion, or the system of a well-digested treatise, might have 

 been lost in my want of experience in all the departments I 

 have presented you, to make a proper volume. It is quite 

 easy to fill a given number of pages, but to make those pages 

 useful and practical, is quite another thing. I thought it best, 

 therefore, because it would be more useful to cotton planters, 

 to compile the best authorities on the subject of which I treat. 



The difficulties of selecting from such a mass of writings as 

 I have had before me, and of so arranging the selections when 

 made, as to form of them a compact volume, will be appreciat- 

 ed by every one especially by those who have had ex- 

 perience in compiling j and yet I must be permitted to say 



