PRINCIPLES AND PHILOSOPHY OP CULTURE. 63 



ment abroad in the land, which requires just such detail of 

 fact ; because it is not possible, at least it is extremely im- 

 probable, that we succeed in improving and perfecting the 

 culture of any article of vegetation, until we make ourselves 

 well acquainted with its natural characteristics. Hence I re- 

 mark, that when we look upon the stately pyramidal appear- 

 ance of an improved cotton stalk, grown under favorable cir- 

 cumstances, we observe at once indeed, we are forcibly struck 

 with the distance proper in its arrangement upon the soil, which 

 is so clearly indicated. Again, we observe an uncommonly 

 large amount of foliage for an annual, besides some three to 

 four pounds of seed-cotton upon the stalks literally crowded 

 from its base, upon an area of some fifteen to twenty square 

 feet, to its apex, at the height of six feet. Now, in view of 

 these clearly established facts, the invariable effect of certain 

 well defined causes, I shall not suppose any planter so dull as 

 not to know what course to pursue, if he find that it requires 

 a given amount of grain to grow a pig to a given size in one 

 year, that to produce another such pig the next season, the 

 necessary amount of food or grain must be first supplied. 

 Without the food, the pig will be found at the end of the year 

 a landpike ; and so the cotton, without the geine and manure, 

 will be found, as is too common, the little Frederick ! Were 

 I to assume an affirmative position in this analogy, every 

 planter would reply instanter, and most indignantly too Sir, 

 you are behind the times ; our own sage Franklin, more than 

 a half century ago, in his friendly advice to Poor Richard, has 

 assured us, " that by constantly taking out of the meal tub 

 and never putting in, we shall soon find the bottom." Philo- 

 sophically true this good homespun, and sound doctrine; yet 

 plain and simple as be this doctrine, the cotton planter knows 

 it only in song his acquaintance with this golden truth is 

 theoretic entirely. His exhausted fields and dwarfish, puny 



