COTTON SEED AS A MANURE. 227 



face around the stalk to' remain uncovered until wind, rain 

 and sun dissipate its fertilizing properties. My own impres- 

 sion is, that its influence is felt for five years, independent of 

 an increased quantity of vegetable matter returned to enrich 

 the land. If the season proves suitable, by this plan of man- 

 uring in the drill, one may realize a hundred per cent, in the 

 yield of corn ; and the succeeding year, if planted in cotton, 

 in reversing the beds, this very manure is thrown on the bed 

 where the seeds are sown, enabling the plant to reap early 

 benefit at a period, as generally acquiesced in by planters, 

 when it requires more support than at any other, in order that 

 its early growth and healthy condition may enable it to escape 

 the ravages of lice, with which the plant is never attacked until 

 enfeebled by cold or some other injurious cause. We are urged 

 by many to manure exclusively for cotton. From such I 

 think differently. The past year, ten acres were in cotton, 

 where a hundred bushels of cotton seed were given to the 

 acre, placed in the water furrow, and bedded upon them. The 

 result was an increased growth, and moderate increase in 

 yield, but not enough to justify such an expenditure of this 

 valuable manure. The same year fifty acres were planted in 

 cotton that had been grown three preceding years in corn and 

 peas, manured each year with cotton seed, as advised, but 

 none on it the year it was in cotton. The corn stalks had 

 been cut up, and with the pea vines, regularly turned under. 

 The land in both cuts was well cultivated, and seasons alike. 

 The soil of the ten acres was good, of a mulatto color, whilst 

 that of the fifty acres was poor and hilly, with clay near the 

 surface. The difference in the yield was fifty per cent, in 

 favor of the fifty acre cut. This year I have ten acres planted 

 in cotton with a hundred bushels of seed sown broad-cast and 

 ploughed in ; also, fifty acres, planted in cotton, which was in 

 corn and peas the past year, manured with a hundred bushels 



