384 



COTTON-WOOL. 



Appendix. which must be in the rainy season, ought to be regulated 

 by the same circumstances v/hich regulate the planting of 

 the seed at first, and that the subsequent management, in 

 this case, will also be the same as has already been pointed 

 out in the case of the plants from the seed. 



It would be a great advantage, if every third, fourth, or 

 fifth year at farthest, the plants were to be grubbed out, 

 and their place supplied by means of fresh seed brought 

 from a distance. This would prevent the cotton from 

 degenerating, which it never fails to do when it has been 

 propagated in the same ground for many years without a 

 change of seed; and would, of course, preserve its quality 

 and maintain its reputation in the European market. 

 Great care should be taken to prevent a mixture of the 

 different kinds of seed in planting: each kind should be 

 kept perfectly distinct. 



The process called switching, or beating the dirt out of 

 cotton by means of sticks, ought if possible never to be 

 resorted to. The necessity of having recourse to this 

 expedient, which can only arise from previous negligence, 

 ought to be obviated by the means already pointed out; 

 it deteriorates the quality, and consequently lowers the 

 price of the cotton. 



In the gathering and hand-picking, and even ginning of 

 cotton, great use may be made both of young children 

 and infirm people, who are incapable of exertion of any 

 other kind. 



