68 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



into the soil ; besides this tap root, however, we find on almost 

 innumerable quantity of fibrous or surface roots, diverging in 

 every direction, as long, in many instances, as the tap root 

 itself, and coming out, generally, from one-half to one inch be- 

 low the surface. This is a fact worthy of notice, with which 

 every planter may, if not already aware of it, acquaint him- 

 self early the next season. This may appear to some persons 

 a very simple and a very trivial investigation, yet I find in it 

 a most satisfactory solution of the immense injury which the 

 cotton plant sustains, from the multifarious policy of the coun- 

 try. I remark, then, as the plant comes forward, so the tap 

 root (where it exists, though an unnecessary appendage in 

 our climate), sinks deep into the soil, while the fibrous or sur- 

 face roots multiply and shoot in every direction ; hence, I say, 

 " as early as possibly convenient," after the plant is up, 

 " plough out the middles well, the wide way, having first run 

 around the plant with a scooter-plough." The main object in 

 this operation, is once more, before the surface roots have come 

 out so far as to sustain injury, to thoroughly loosen the soil, 

 and again commingle it with the manure. The plant being 

 now thinned down to two or three stalks in a place, and a 

 small quantity of soil, molded about the hill, is left in this 

 most favorable and growing situation. In the course of some 

 fifteen to twenty days, when we return to work it again, it 

 will be found to have come forward rapidly, standing from 

 twelve to fifteen inches in height, and finely limbed. If we 

 now take the trouble to examine a hill or stalk, we shall find 

 an amount of earth included within the circuit of these fibrous 

 and soil roots, as they penetrate all parts of the loamy mold, 

 in pursuit of the luscious geine (like a flock of sheep fresh 

 upon a rich pasture), that will weigh more than a hand can 

 tote. With these facts before us, let us turn our attention for 

 a moment to the practices of the country, at this stage of 



