182 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



ficient quantity of healthy food, yet the rot did not appear. 

 If any soil shall produce healthy pabulum, it should be fresh 

 land. My experience is, the disease is a little worse on fresh 

 land than old land. I cannot see why the disease has not 

 made its appearance before now, if this theory is true. Many 

 planters say, a change of seed a short distance is beneficial. 

 In this I agree ; but I prefer a change from a northern latitude, 

 and a district that is not infected, for the following reason : 

 The best latitude for cotton has been considered that of Vicks- 

 burg. The latitude has gradually been going further north. 

 The crop of our country from 1840 to 1850, excelled, per acre, 

 that of Yazoo or Holmes county. Since 1850, up to the 

 present time, we have retrograded, while they have increased 

 the boll-worm has disappeared, and the rot is scarcely known. 

 The picture is truly discouraging. We may obey the man- 

 dates of the Scriptures, " What thou doest, do with all thy 

 might," and yet be but little better off" than " One that pro- 

 vide th not for his household." 



NEBRASKA. 



