SOUTHERN CULT IV AT OR. 
the preparation of land before planting, but also in ar- 
ranging the rows in planting and in cultivating the crop 
throughout it is needful to remember that “circumstances 
alter cases.” 
The distance of the rows apart should be proportioned 
to the quality of the soil. Land that will produce with a j 
fair ordinary season from 15 to 20 busliels of corn per j 
acre should not be wider in the rows than from 2^ to 3 1 
feet, when planted in cotton ; and 3i feet is generally wide , 
enough for the best of upland. In this estimate of distance j 
between rows I speak only of those cotton growing re- ' 
gions which have come under my experience and obser- 
vations, to wit : the middle and upper portions of Caro- 
lina and Georgia. Farmers are often too hasty to embrace 
new theories and hazard their success, because they are 
easy and have succeeded well somewhere and with some 
persons ; but farmers should always consider the'.r where- 
abouts and circumstances, lor “circumstances do alter 
cases.” 
These are thoughts, Messrs. Editors, which have sug- 
gested themselves to my mind from reading the CnitivaUrr. 
and if you deem tliem worthy of notice you may give 
them a place in your paper ; if not, I am still 
Yours, &C., CUKROKF.E. 
, Cave Spring, Ga , 1857. 
THE CUETURF. OF COTTON, 
Ah Essay delivered hef&rc the Beech Island {S. C.) Fanners' 
Club Jan'uary, 1857. 
BY H. L. MAYSON, KBQ.. 
Mr. CriAiRMAX — The subject for discussion to-day — 
the culture of Cotton— is one of the greatest importance to 
every Southern man, inasmuch as from Cotton we derive 
our principal wealth, as well as our political existence. 
There is no other crop that we can raise by which we 
can acquire the same amount of wealth, or by w'hich we 
can successfully keep in check the conflicting party strife 
of our country. Cotton has become indispensable to the 
happiness and comfort of mankind ; and should the South 
abandon its culture for five years it would produce such a 
revolution in the Manufacturing and Commercial world 
as was never before seen. Thousands of operatives in ! 
factories that now' find employment at least sufficient to 
procure their daily bread, would he thrown out and forced 
to find some other means to obtain a living, and in too 
many cases would fail to obtain work, and thus be reduced 
to stai vation or crime; while millions of money now profit- ! 
ably employed in its manufacture would become useless, I 
and factory buildings, reared at the cost of thousands, j 
stand idle or be left to decay and ruin, and the civilized i 
world reduced to an extreme never before known for an j 
article of cheap clothing; w'hile misery, want and deso- { 
Idtion would spread over the entire gloiie | 
But, sir, all this time the South could be free from any ! 
of these evils, by simply raising merely a sufficiency for 
her own use, and having that manufactured at home, and 
allowing none to be exported, either to the North or Eu- 
rope. ! 
But, sir, as thisdiscussion is only, or at least particular- ^ 
ly, intended to benefit the members of this Club, 1 will j 
confine the remainder of my remarks to the preparation 1 
of the soil and the after-culture of this plant on such j 
kind as is generally cultivated by the members of this 
Club, namely: light sandy soil. 1st, the preparation of 
the land : I incline to the opinion that an 8 inch shovel 
is the best plow to use in laying olF with ; the rows should 
be from 30 to 36 inches wide; this should be done if pos- 
sible, in January, or, at farthest, by the 15th of February; 
after your rows are run off put in your manure, and follow’ 
up with an Allen Plow, throv/iug two furrows to each 
row; you can then let them remain till aboufthe middle 
of March, when you should finish out the bed with the 
same plow (the Allen). About the 1st of April com- 
mence planting ; open your beds with a small Tongue 
Plow; if the land is not too dry, roll your seed and sow'- 
covering with a board or harrow ; as soon as your cotton 
is well up, run round with a three toothed harrow and 
follow after with the hoe, chopping out— this is a very 
important working and should be well done, for if well 
done and all the young grass removed you will after- 
wards have but little trouble in keeping your|rrop clean. 
The second working with the “Sweep,” following with the 
hoe and bringing to a stand, and also replant missing hilk 
— this work should be done carefully, as the plant is very 
delicate at that age and liable to the “sore shin” by being 
bruised with the hoe The balance of the culture maybe 
done with the hoe and sweep. Seventeen acres is suffiel' 
ent for the hoe. 
I have no experience with manures, except stable or 
barn-yard — do not know how guano and the other foreiga 
manures wdll answer. 
I should have said, in the proper place, that if the land tr.- 
tended for planting has been lying out or stubble, it will be 
necessary to first break it well and thoroughly. Cotton doe.s 
not require deep culture, nor does it want much dirt 
thrown to it, as the one injui'e its roots, and the other 
often destroys the stand when young, and if farther ad- 
vanced injures tlie bottom forms. 
A PEEA FOR THE CHINAS. 
Editors Southern Cui.tivator — Startle not, dear read- 
er, I am not going to inflict upon you a dissertation oc. 
those long legged things that have afforded Mr. Burnkajc 
so rich a theme for the display of his wit('?), but I pro- 
pose to say a word in the defence of the much abused 
Pride of India, or “ChinaTree,” {Mclia Avedaraeh ) The 
Cochins can do their owm crowing. 
I am apprised that this tree does not rank as highly ae 
it formerly did, as an ornament for the grove, and I ant 
equally certain that no very great taste is displayed wk-ei:’ 
we notice those to which preference has been given over 
the Chinas. A gentleman is settling a new place — he 
must have shade trees, and these must be maple, beech, 
elm or v.'ater oak, of course no other will do, because it’s 
not the fashion. Vfell, he pays a man a pretty good psioc 
to put them out for him, and in six or seven years behold 
his grove. Do tiiey resemble tlie trees formed by nature! 
Do you see that beautiful taper from the root to the (op ! 
or do you not rather see a diseased trunk, surmounted by 
an unsightly knot, from w^hich sftring out many irreguk.c 
branches, giving the whole thing the appearance of a tow - 
headed boy, whose hair has not been combed from his 
infancy. 
To have a fine grove, you must plant the whole tree, 
no matter whetlier large or small ; take it up and set it out 
properly, and it will be sure to live, but put the whole 
tree. 
But I started to say a word in defence of the Chinas. 
The great objection urjjed against this tree is iis fikhmest. 
If this is indeed an objection, I cannot see w’hy it doet 
not apply with equal force to all trees, for all must shed 
their leaves, and while others drop theirs gradually, the 
China is sooner through, and hence your cleaning uji 
sooner done. It should be remembered that every leaf, 
stalk and berry that fills from this tree is a valuable ma 
nureforthe garden. The China is never infested with 
catterpiilars and other noxiou.s insects, an advantage that 
can be claimed for no other tree. But the great advantage 
of this over other trees is its rapid growth. From the 
seed in a few years you have a fine, and if properly ma.'i- 
ased, I would add, a beautiful tree. 
