82 



Remarks on the Cultivation of Cotton. 



[July 



besides a good crop of grain to be reaped annually from the same 

 ground. 



With respect to cleaning, it may be observed that the long 

 staple cottons are easily separated from the seeds usually, and 

 it is best done by the roller machine, which does not injure its 

 delicate fibres. The short staples, on the contrary, are very diffi- 

 cult to clean, and for them the saw gin will be found by 

 far the most economical method of proceeding, their fibres being so 

 strong as not to suffer, or but slightly, from its rough operation. Our 

 country white cottons, especially the finer sorts, are allied to the long 

 staples, and like them are seriously injured by the saw. The nankin or 

 red cotton, a short staple, and perhaps some of the coarser whites, will 

 bear it well. For freeing fine Bourbon I would recommend caution in 

 its application, as I think there is much reason to fear its doing harm, 

 and if used at all, should have a slower motion than in cleaning short 

 staples. 



The following suggestions for an experimental enquiry having been 

 written before these memoranda were even thought of, will account for 

 the occasional repetitions which I have not thought necessary to change. 



An opinion has long prevailed among cotton cultivators, that the 

 plant must not be removed from the spot on which the seed germinated, 

 nor even the soil be hoed or loosened to such a depth as to injure or 

 interfere with its delicate fibrous roots, under the supposition that such 

 removal or injury will certainly destroy the plant. This opinion being 

 contrary to all analogy with the rest of the vegetable kingdom, and at 

 •variance with some well known facts, such as the ploughing of cotton 

 fields when the plant is a month old, to clean the ground and thin out 

 the superfluous plants, currently practised in this country, it is desira- 

 ble to ascertain whether or not it is altogether founded on speculation. 

 As a question of vegetable physiology it is interesting, but, in an agri- 

 cultural point of view, it becomes one of great importance, especially to 

 this country, where the cotton cultivation is so dependent on the regular 

 periodical changes of the monsoons, as materially to interfere with any 

 deviations from the usual routine of culture we may wish to adopt not 

 having reference to these changes. 



For example, the seed is usually sown after the first burst of the 

 monsoon is over, and long before the plants are full grown the dry 

 weather has commenced, and is far advanced when the crop time ar- 

 rives, whence, owing to the previous operation of protracted drought 

 and heat, vegetation is arrested previous to the plants attaining their 

 full size and strength, to resist the united influence of these agents. 

 In this comparatively stationary condition they begin to blossom, and, 

 there being no regular succession of new shoots to keep up the supply 

 of flowers, soon cease bearing, and give but a small return for the pre- 



