Aug. 1, 1865.] THE TECHNOLOGIST. 
THE DUBLIN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 41 
The exhibitor planted his cotton in two different ways, of which it 
may be interesting to append a short account : one called the ( trench ' 
system, the other the ' plough' system. 
" As soon as the autumnal rains begin to set in, the ground is 
ploughed two or three times, according to circumstances, but before the 
soil has become too moist ; this operation is repeated several times until 
the month of March, taking advantage of the dryer days, so that all 
the weeds may be thoroughly destroyed, which is rendered more certain 
by finally hoeing the ploughed surface. 
" No change has been made in the form of the plough used in Sicily 
since the time of the Romans ; the depth reached by which is about a 
foot. The exhibitor has, however, introduced on his estates the plough 
with a voltorecchio share, and also the harrow, and reports that he has 
found them very serviceable. 
" Having prepared the ground in the manner described, the cotton 
is sown about the middle of April. A third part of the seed is placed 
in water and subsequently rubbed lightly with a mixture of pulverized 
sheep's dung and ashes, in order to strip it of the down still adhering 
after the operation of ginning. Two furrows are made between which 
the sower throws the cotton seed broadcast, the same as is practised for 
eorn. It is at once covered up by the ploughs which follow the sower, 
but meanwhile, a boy, who walks between the two ploughs, throws into 
the furrows, at intervals of three feet, ten or a dozen dry seeds, in 
addition to the former ones. The expense of sowing comes to about 
8s. 6d. per acre, 136 lbs. of seed being employed for the purpose. Such 
is the method adopted in soil sufficiently tenacious to preserve the 
humidity essential to the germination of the seeds. 
" In the dryer and more porous volcanic soil a different course is 
followed. At the end of April, furrows are made, distant about twenty 
inches apart, and seven inches deep. The labourers having made the 
furrows, each provided with an earthen pot of water, containing the seed, 
first water the furrows and then throw in the middle about fifteen seeds, 
fixing them firmly in the ground by pressing them down with the back 
of the hand, and then covering them up with loose and moist earth. 
This method of sowing is more expensive than the former, costing 18s. 
per acre, but it only requires 120 lbs. of seed. 
" When once the plants have come up, fresh seeds are sown wherever 
these are deficient, in all cases adopting the plan ol makino- furrows 
even in the fields sown in the first instance with the plough. 
" By the time the little plants have got four or six leaves they are 
thinned, leaving the strongest ones at proper intervals in the fields 
sowed by the plough method, and in the other case groups of three or 
four plants, and rooting out all the rest. 
" The cost of performing this work is about 2s. per acre ; the plants 
are then hoed up three times at equal intervals until August, at a cost 
of 7s. 2d. 'per acre. 
VOL. vi. E 
