50 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



adverted to, it is necessary that the seed be dropped regularly 

 in the centre of the opening farrow, and with rather too pro- 

 fuse, than too sparing a hand ; and then, covered . carefully 

 quite over, without displacement, with the soil, though not 

 deep ; using the harrow, or one-horse double bull-tongue 

 plough for that purpose, after the Fairfield manner. If it is 

 very dry, the latter is preferable, from the fact that it leaves 

 a sharp ridge directly over the seed, thus preventing the 

 ground from baking ; and covering deeper, secures a suf- 

 ficiency of moisture for germination, and, consequently, a good 

 stand of cotton. 



There is some diversity of opinion as to the distance that 

 should be given to cotton. The greater the number of stalks 

 that can stand on any given quantity of land, without inter- 

 fering with each other, will make the maximum amount of 

 cotton of which that land is capable. The Committee therefore 

 suggest, that the rows of cotton be placed sufficiently close 

 to quite cover the ground ; or, in other words, that they be 

 placed closer or wider, according to the strength of the ground. 

 Thus, on poor land, the rows will increase so rapidly on any 

 given numbers of acres, as to make them approach much 

 nearer, in the amount of their production, to rich land, than is 

 generally supposed. 



The Committee will merely allude to the improvement of 

 land generally, by manuring or otherwise, as being intimately 

 connected with the growing of cotton as that subject more 

 properly comes within the province of another committee 

 of the Society, They will only remark, that to grow cot- 

 ton advantageously in this section of country, it must be done 

 on fresh or manured lands. And thus, they have, in a very 

 summary manner, disposed of the most important matters pre- 

 liminary to the cultivation or the management of the cotton 

 crop itself. 



