VoL. IL AUGUSTA, GA., MAY 15, 1844. No. 10. 
® 0 in m u n f c a 1 1 c n s . 
For the Southern Cultivator. 
CULTURE OF COTTON. 
I propose, Messrs. Editors, to communicate 
to the reader of your public-spirited and valu- 
able paper, the mode of preparing the land, and 
of cultivating the cotton plant, which has ap- 
peared to me, from experience and observation, 
the best adapted to our southern climate. And 
here peimit me to remark, that 1 have long be- 
lieved the system of deep plowing so general- 
ly pursued throughout the country, not only un- 
necessary for seeming an abundant production, 
but positively destructive to the fertility of the 
sod. The labor it requires might be dispensed 
with, because unprofitable. The evidentdeteri- 
oration of the land under its operation, should 
induce the farmer to abandon it, and to adopt 
one more congenial to his true interest, 
I am aware that I shall be opposed to deep- 
rooted prej udices. B ut let every system be kind- 
ly received, and soberly etamined — rejected, if 
found to be practically unwise; and when ex- 
perience has proved its utility, adopted. I am 
convinced that much unnecessary labor has been 
bestowed in the cultivation of cotton ; from a 
mistaken opinion, that, even in soils naturally 
free and light, there must be a continued suc- 
cesion of deep and heavy plowings until the 
plant has arrived fully to a state of maturity. In 
the sea coast districts of South Carolina, whem 
long staple cotton is raised, and the hoe culture 
alone pursued, the production to the acre is not 
exceeded by any other section of country where 
the plough is almost the only implement of hus- 
bandry. Which fact has convinced me of the 
truth of the position I take. Another important 
result from this, what may be termed superficial 
cultivation, is, that there, fields now yielding a 
profitable investment have been under culture 
from the earliest settlement of that State, whilst 
the mw Wesh already presents to the eye of the 
traveller exhausted lands and deserted habita- 
tions. 1 am not, however, an advocate of the 
hoe culture to the entire exclusion of the plough. 
The two systems may be harmoniously united, 
and if the result of the year’s labor, in the outset, 
be not fully equivalent to the production extort- 
ed from the soil by theevisceraiing system; the 
results of a series of year’s will amply compen- 
sate, by diminished expenses, abridged labor, 
and an improved country. 
Supposing the field to have been thrown into 
ridges by the cultivation of a preceding year: 
the first preparatory to a new crop, is to open 
between them a tolerable deep and wide furrow, 
A^ith a broad shovel-plow of theordi nary con- 
struction. Into this should be placed, with the 
hand, the stalks of corn or cotton, if there be any 
of the growth of the previous year. The super- 
ficial soil, with w'hatever vegetable matter there 
may be upon the ground, must be drawn down 
with the l oe, and formed into a narrow list. An 
acre of land not stiff and unyielding may be thus 
prepared by two hands as the labor of a dayis 
w’ork. Over this list the manure intended for 
the ensuing crop must be strewed, and the 
ground will then be in order, for the freeborn or 
twisted shovel-plow; by either of which a new 
bed or ridge can be thrown up ; thereby effec- 
tually covering the manure, and leaving a sin- 
gle furrow between the new ridges. The whole 
ground is thus thoroughly broken up, and pre- 
pared lor the seeds. Planting intrenches open- 
ed by the scooter plow cannot be effected with- 
out the danger of exposing to the surface a por- 
tion of the vegetable matters deposited beneath : 
arid is moreover objectionable, from the diffi- 
culty of having the plants thinned out to the pro- 
per distances. Drilled collon is never 'properly 
filled, SiH this must necessarily depend, for the 
most part, upon the judgment of the field hands, 
whese object is to accomplish the most in the 
shortest time. A very cheap instrument has 
been contrived for obviating all the objections 
applicable to trench planting. This is a dibble 
of a very simple construction, and may be made 
by any jobbing carpenter. Take a piece of 
scantling, of light yellow pine, 8 by 2^ inches 
add 4 feet long. About 10 inches from one of 
the ends taper it off, on each side ; giving it the 
form of a paddle, with a handle of a convenient 
size for being grasped. Bevel the square end, 
bylines drawn 2* inches therefrom, and let the 
edge at the bottom be somewhat rounded — 
brought down to f of an inch. For a sliding- 
guage, to regulate the chops made by the Dibble 
for the distances which may be required in plant- 
ing land of different qualities, cut a groove in 
one of the sides, inches wide, and 1 inch 
deep, with such an inclination, that the lower 
end of the gnage, at the distance of 2 leet from 
the centre of the dibble may be in a line with the 
bevel edge. Provide for the guage a lath 1 J by 
1 inch, which should fit the groove closely, and 
of any length which will mark the various dis- 
tances m plantage ; to be secured in its place by 
small nails easily drawn. The mode of operat- 
ing with this instrument will be obvious. In 
a comparison, as to relative speed, with the 
scooter, the latter is undoubtedly preferable. 
Under every other view however the prefer- 
ence must be reversed. Let the experiments 
be made, and I have no doubt this single instru- 
ment will supersede every implement heretofore 
used in the planting of cotton — corn as well as 
potatoes might be planted with iu 
The cron should be partially thinned as soon 
as the plants are fully up, the lop of the 
ridges weeded, and dirt drawn around them — 
wdth the hoe. When this work has sufficiently 
advanced, the surface of the ground between the 
rows of cotton must be cleared of the weeds and 
grass which may have vegetated. This is ea- 
sier, more effectually, and quicker done with the 
solid sweep or bal-wing-plow than by any other 
implement of culture. It is of a triangular 
shape; the extreme cutting points being about 
20 inches apart. Its weight does not exceed G 
lbs ; and ftom its construction it cannot be made 
to penetrate but a little below the surface; is 
light of draught ; and unde: the guidance of a 
skilful hand, may approach the tender stems of 
the younger cotton xviththe safety and efficiency 
of the hoe. Three courses with this will be 
amply sufficient to put in good order the entire 
space of ground between the rows of cotton if at 
the distance of feel. It is decidedly the oiost 
valuable implemenffor superficial culture that 
has yet been contrived. 
This then comprises the whole process of cul- 
tivation —until the plant has arrived at a growth 
which excludes the use of the hoe by its extend- 
ed ^branches. The sw'eep should continue to 
stir the ground by a single, course until the ad- 
vanced state of the season renders that work no 
longer necessary. By this system, the use of the 
plow is abandoned after the preparation of the 
ground for planting. It is a system applicable 
to all descriptions of soil. It requires that the 
land be thoroughly broken upon before i he seed 
has been placed in the earth; and under this 
condition only can it be pursued successfully. 
It lessens the labor of the field hand; and re- 
lieves the horse of that continued exertion of his 
strength which the system of deep plowing 
unavoidably requires. The cotton, when plant- 
ed, is placed at such distances as the judgment 
of the farmer has determined the best adapted to 
the nature and quality of his land. Tnere is 
here nothing left to the discretion of the field 
hand. Under such a system, I have no hesita- 
tion in affirming that lands not liable to injury 
by hearty showers will be improved by continued 
cultivation. By it, all the /egetable matter on 
the surface is effectually secured for the benefit 
of the growing crop. It wmuld present the cheap- 
est and least laborious plan of enriching the 
soil; and if commenced before the ground has 
lost Its original fertility, it obviates the necessity 
of annually supplying it with manure. 
I may at future time give you my views on 
the culture of corn. 
Claiborne, Ala. A Subscriber. 
