76 
SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR 
science, but has given the most convincing results in our 
own practical experiments. 
In fact, we hold that if once properly and impartially 
tried, it will never be given up again. — E ds, So. Cult. 
PBEPABATION OF LAND, AND CULTIVATION OF 
COEN. 
Dr. Cloud — Dear Sir: — Allow me to make you a very 
polite bow, for “cordial welcoiiie of a ‘A Rustic’ to the 
columns of the American Cotton Planter;^' and permit 
me, further, to thank you for your commendation of my 
plan of rotation. It is truly gratifying to know that the 
simple plan I have adopted for the preservation of my 
land, meets with the approval of one so well qualified as 
yourself to express an opinion in such matters. It en- 
courages me to persevere and redouble my efforts ; and, 
with the approving smiles of Providence, I hope, in ten 
years, to be able to show a little farm as productive as in 
its virgin state, worth double its original cost, and having 
produced a remunerative crop every year for that space of 
time. In my former communication, I promised you a 
detailed statement of my mode of preparing land, planting 
and cultivating special crops. I now seat myself to fulfil 
that promise, and (although out of season) will first com- 
mence with Corn. 
You will bear in mind that my plan of rotation is never 
to plant corn on land two years in succession ; it invari- 
ably follows cotton. The method I have adopted, as pre- 
senting fewer objectionable features than any other I have 
ever tried — taking into consideration the nature and 
character of the soil, climate, latitude, &c, — is this: After 
having threshed down all the cotton stalks, breaking them 
to pieces as much as is possible, with stout, heavy sticks, 
I start long, narrow and nearly square-pointed bull-tongue 
plows to running in the old water furrow, between the 
cotton beds, running three times in each old water furrow, 
breaking the ground for a space of 12 to 15 inches, and 6 
to 8 inches deep, very effectually. After finishing the 
field in this manner, it is then crossed at right angles, 3 
feet apart, and the corn is dropped in the intersections of 
the furrows, 5 or 6 grains in the hill, and is covered by 
throwing 2 furrows upon it, one from each side. As 
soon as the field is planted, the middles of the rows are 
broken out with the same long and narrow bull tongue 
plows, and a wooden-toothed harrow run over the beds to 
clear it ofclods and level the ground. My corn is usually 
planted from the 1st to the 15th of March, the distance it 
stands apart in row and drill is 4 by 3 feet, one stalk in a 
hill. When the corn is up to a pretty good stand, the 
bull-tongues are started to running around it the narrow 
way — and alter finishing the field, turn back and run 
around it the wide way. Both these runnings round are 
done close to the corn and deep. In 10 or 12 days, my 
bull-tongues are again started, this time running 4 furrows 
in a row, and still close to the eorn, the hoes following, 
cutting up any weeds or grass that the plows could not 
reach, and bringing the corn to a stand. If, in the course 
of 10 or 12 days, the ground should become packed by a 
heavy fall of rain, or young grass begin to make its ap- 
pearance, a triangular iron-toothed harrow should be run 
once in a row, the narrow way. This will loosen up the 
ground and kill all the grass, unless you let it stand too 
long. In 10 to 15 days more, the corn will have attained 
size enough to receive its last thorough working, and be 
laid by; and this work of laying by, is the most impor- 
tant operation of the whole process of making corn; upon 
its good or careless performance, depend the future yield 
of the crop. My rule is to run next the corn and not very 
near, with a light sweep, and plow out the middles with 
bull-tongues, deep and thorough. This working must be 
completed at farthest by the 20th to 25th of May, or by 
the 5th of June. 
I sow my Peas in the middles, between the corn — drilb 
ing them thinly and evenly, and covering them by pass- 
ing twice in a row between the corn, with an iron toothed 
harrow. This last operation completes all the workings 
of the corn crop; the ground is now in a fine pulverulent 
state, and almost perfectly level ; nothing more is requisite 
than to pass over it with the hoes, and cut up stray weeds 
and branches of grass around stumps and the roots of trees. 
I do not claim for this simple plan superiority over 
every other; it has proved the best I have ever tried, and 
I shall only ask for it a careful trial, and if success does 
not crown the efforts of the one trying it, he had better 
sell his land and emigrate. A Rustic, 
[in American Cotton Planter. 
THE RAPE OR COLZA— A NEW CROP FOE THE 
SOUTH! 
Editors Southkrn Cultivator — In a late number of 
the Soil of the South, the cultivation of Colza, as a field 
crop, has been described and recommended. 
In the June number (1855) of your valuable periodi- 
cal, I have already described and recommended the Rape 
as an excellent vegetable. Having, however, formerly in 
Europe, been largely engaged in the cultivation of Rape 
as a field crop, and differing in many important points 
from the manner of cultivation, as given in the Soil of the 
South, I hope you will allow me a small space in your 
columns for further illustration. 
The botanical name of the Rape is Brassica napa, of 
which there are several varieties. Colza is said to be 
a variety of Brassica campestris, the difference, however, 
between Colza and Rape is very slight, if any at all. The 
name. Colza, is a corruption of its German name, ^^Kahl- 
saatf (cabbage seed), the cabbage tribe, to which it be- 
longs, being called “Kahl” in the German language. The 
whole botanical difference between these two plants con- 
sists in the Rape having more smooth leaves, those of the 
Colza being a little hairy. 
Like the whole cabbage tribe, the Rape or Colza requires 
a very rich and highly cultivated soil ; but when proj.erly 
managed, and on suitable land, it is by far the most pro- 
fitable crop a farmer in Europe can raise. 
It is, indeed, surprising that this important crop has not 
yet met with a proper attention of intelligent American 
agriculturists. 
The description ofits cultivation, as given in the above- 
mentioned communication, is the Belgian method, which, 
however, in my opinion, is not so well suited to Ameri- 
can agriculture, particularly in the South. Transplanting, 
cutting with a reap- hook, and flail threshing suits well 
ennough for small estates in Belgium, and I admit that 
transplanted Rape is the most productive ; but what a 
Herculean task for a field of fifty or a hundred acres, par- 
ticularly in America, where manual labor is so expen- 
sive. I will, therefore, proceed to describe its cultivation, 
as performed in Europe on the most extensive scale. I 
admit it lacks the Belgian nicety, but is certainly the most 
profitable way. 
The Rape or Colza grows in its highest perfection on 
rich alluvial soil, just such as we here call “ River 
Swamp,” or “Hammock” land, which, however, must not 
be liable to inundations. When raised on upland, this 
must be well manured. In both cases, the soil must be 
thoroughly broken up and finely pulzerized by repeated 
plowings and harrowings. The Rape seed is sown in 
Europe in the month of July and beginning of August,, 
and on the richest land a sihort crop, as, for instance, flax^ 
