118 
CULTIVATION OF COTTON.—NO. III. 
a cut of the stocking of one, in Voi. II., old series, 
of the American Farmer, for Sept. 1, 1820. 
The scraper is an implement I have tried to 
have constructed, so as to shave off the bed each 
side of the cotton plant, leaving 4 inches or less of 
the former surface for the hoe-hands to clean. I 
think the difficulty in those formerly used was, 
want of weight to steady them. 
Our usual scraping is after the plow, then a turn¬ 
ing plow goes ahead with the bar next to the row, 
throwing the earth from the plant to the middle 
of the row, and in consequence of having to run 2 
or 3 inches deep, we dare not run near the plant, 
owing to the bed crumbling down, and the dan¬ 
ger of covering the plant, by the earth falling from 
the plow. I am as particular in this part of our 
labor as is possible, superintend in person all the 
day, requiring of the hand to chop through the row, 
leaving one or more stalks, and cleaning the side 
of the plants next to hand, then another stand, of 
a stalk or more and so on, thus leaving cotton-plants 
about the width of the hoe apart; if the same 
hand cleans the whole row, he will come back on 
the other side, cutting up all but one stalk in each 
bunch, and cleaning the row next him as before. 
I usually put two on a row, the best hand chops 
through the row on his side, the other reduces to 
a stand a single stalk, and cleans the remaining 
side; I have now really a double stand, that is, 
twice as many stalks as I design to remain, think¬ 
ing it prudent not to reduce to a stand, as casual¬ 
ties and carelessness may by chance destroy a 
stalk or two; and being not over 2 or S inches 
high, and 10 to 12 inches apart, they do not injure 
each other. When I use the scraper, there is so 
little hoe-work, that each hand is required to clean 
the row at one time, by chopping through to him¬ 
self, sweeping off the side of the plants, then with 
a push of the hoe he cleans the opposite side of 
the stalks, and reduces to a single stalk at the 
same motion. Our usual work is 3-4 of an acre 
per hand; but with the scraper and earth in the 
same condition, from one to one and a quarter of 
an acre is as easily done, this is when the crop is 
got into in due time, which I make a point of do¬ 
ing as soon as I have what I consider a full stand 
up, never waiting for height or age of it, and only 
when too cold. On referring to my farm-book, I 
find I commence reaping from 15 to 20 days after 
sowing, owing to the season, and whether earlier 
or later sown; if the seed be sown early, it is the 
longer period, the earth being cool, and the sun 
not powerful enough at this season to warm it. 
As soon as I can return for other business, say in 
10 to 15 days at the outside, I throw earth to the 
plant with the bull-tongue plow, running near and 
deep, and with any ordinary attention the plant is 
moulded well with fine, light earth; the sooner 
this can be done the better, the light earth serving 
to protect the stem of the plant, the furrow to drain 
off moisture and loosen the earth, and to give 
warmth. The plant being thus stimulated, if the 
weather be not too cold, will resume its green col¬ 
or if it has turned yellowish, and commences grow¬ 
ing ; the last half of cotton requiring working, and 
if rain falls about this time, it may not be possible 
to get into it earlier than 10 days, but at all events 
we should do so, some 5 days before hoe-hands go 
into it to clean with the hqe. The hoe follows 
this moulding with the bull-tongue, levels the 
earth around the plant, and cuts up what grass and 
weeds there may be present. This working will 
take us into May, when our heavy rains are over, 
and when the plant begins to grow off; if I find 
the earth to crack, or be hard, I follow the hoes in 
a few days with the shovel-plow; if the plant will 
bear it, the large shovel, if not the small one next 
to the plant, aud break out the entire middle deep 
and thoroughly. This is the only time I ever plow 
deeper probably than 2 inches after pitching my 
crop, and I do not use the turning plow after bar¬ 
ring off. If the earth be light and mellow, I use 
the double shovel-plow; three furrows moulding 
the plant, and sweeping the entire middle. 
At this second working I r educe to a stand, leav¬ 
ing the stalks about 20 to 24 inches in ordinary 
land; on the richer land from 2 feet to 30 or even 
36 inches. After this working I keep the earth 
stirred with a cultivator or sweep, or double shov¬ 
el, or harrow, keeping the bed of the row or drill 
free from weeds and grass, throwing a little earth 
at each working to the plant, but not enough to be 
called a ridge. 
I give the crop as many and as frequent stirrings 
as I am able, seldom less than three or four with 
the hoe and plow each, making it a point to keep 
the plows in advance, unless an unfavorable season, 
when the earth is rather wet to ploAV, or grass has 
grown too fast, I then reverse it. The object in 
keeping plows and hoes several days apart, is to 
give a chance for grass to die, so that what has not 
been killed or covered by plows, can be cut out 
with hoes. 
I endeavor to have my land in good order before 
planting; plow as deep as my horses can pull the 
plow, and commence to clean my crop before grass 
has got started, and by frequent stirring keep the 
crop entirely under my control. I have tried all 
the plans (except Dr. Cloud’s, and intend to give 
that a trial) of planting and cultivating cotton, and 
think I can make as much on the same land with 
those implements that merely stir the surface, as 
others do with the turning or shovel-plow, and can 
with the same labor certainly cultivate more. I 
can not perceive any labor will be saved on the 
same space of land by manuring, as the same acre 
will require the same work; but the plant by be¬ 
ing warmed with the manure will grow off faster, 
and if the crop can be ever doubled on an acre it 
will require only half the number of acres for cul¬ 
tivation. 
I may err, as we all are subject to error, especi¬ 
ally in being wedded to our peculiar mode of prac¬ 
tice ; but I think all practical planters will agree 
with me, that the first and often the second work¬ 
ing of cotton must be slow and tedious, even should 
the planting be in May. It is impossible that the 
plant should grow off, until the fine roots, or spon- 
gioles have formed around the top roots to nourish 
the plant; in the mean time the fibrous rooted 
plants are growing; we must therefore work early, 
and every one who has followed hands, knows 
there is little dependance on covering grass it must 
be cut up. I therefore think we must scrape. 
