TOPPING COTTON. 
77 
as single calves, I think it would be worth know¬ 
ing. One of my neighbors quite lately informed 
me that he had a pair, but supposing the female 
would not breed she was slaughtered, when it 
was found that she was in calf. 
Joseph Cope. 
Kirkleavihgton, Pa ., 20th of 1st mo., 1844. 
TOPPING COTTON. 
The December No. of your ever-welcome paper 
came to hand this day, and among its useful arti¬ 
cles, my attention is clrawn to that from C. McD., 
of South Carolina. I must first thank him for the 
kind manner in which he has alluded to my arti¬ 
cles on the culture of cotton, as published in your 
work, and acknowledge to all whom it may concern, 
that I do indeed feel happy in having done some 
good ; of having somewhat returned benefits for the 
very many Ihave received from farmers and farming 
papers. The amount of knowledge I havegained 
by personal experience is too limited to benefit any 
one; I am therefore indebted to books, papers, 
and men, for all I am able to retail second hand. 
Mr. McD. refers to the topping of cotton, and says 
he does not recollect that 1 touched on the subject. 
I did not; not that I thought its advantage at all 
questionable, but partly oversight, and partly be¬ 
cause it was so seldom resorted to, that I feared 
to fee considered as recommending anything ques¬ 
tionable, thereby injuring the utility I hoped to 
accomplish in the articles written for your paper. 
In the summer of 1832, I think, Mr. John 
Thomas, of South Carolina, visited me, and among 
other practical lessons, he urged on me the utility 
of topping cotton—declaring that it would well 
repay for the lime, whether it were cotton that 
would yield only 500 lbs. of seed cotton, or of that 
which yielded 2,000 lbs. To make his declaration 
as strong to others as to myself, I here state, that 
this gentleman at the date mentioned had some 
200 hands, was a cotton-grower, and had cultiva¬ 
ted it for some 20 to 30 years; on the rich lands 
of the Con^aree, as well as higher up the country 
on Broad river ; he was an intelligent man, and 
truly a warm-hearted southerner—he is now no 
more. 
In consequence of his urging me to try it on a 
small scale, as this country was new to both of us, 
I did so, and have had cause to follow it up ever 
since—sometimes neglecting at the proper time, 
from pressing occupations, or the season. I kept 
no memorandum of the difference, though I com¬ 
menced farming, by keeping notes; but I am con¬ 
fident if followed up, that it will be beneficial two 
out of three years; and on most lands, will not 
injure the third year. I give my reason why it 
may not benefit every year. If the season is wet 
after the time of topping, say from the 25th of 
July to the 5th or 10th of August, there will shoot 
up water sprouts, which will shade the under 
bowls so as to prevent them opening well; it will 
make a heavy top crop of bowls, which will cause 
the stalk to bend down, and if any wind comes 
with the rain, the stalk can not regain its upright 
position. If the season has been very dry, the 
cotton will pretty much cease growing by the time 
of topping, and will not then be advantageous, un¬ 
less done earlier—which, if I ever have another 
chance, I will try. 
Topping is advantageous for the following rea¬ 
sons : the forms or squares, and small bowls, will 
not be cast off so readily, the upper bowls will 
mature sooner, make less leaf to be falling on the 
cotton, and the top bowls, principally, will be 
larger than otherwise. Last year I topped cotton 
on the first day of August—this year I did not top 
at all, owing to the wet season. I would not top 
cotton during a wet year, till I had more knowl¬ 
edge on the subject, for fear of the water shoots, 
but would not hesitate if a dry one. 
Benefit of Manure for Cotton.— -I have not 
seen marl used, but I can satisfy any one who 
doubts the effect of manures for cotton, and of cot- 
ton-seed especially—that no man ought ever to 
think of leaving a level farm, the house and friends 
of his childhood to seek rich lands. This year 
has been more favorable for thin lands, than usual; 
but whether for stiff clays is rather doubtful; and 
whether my manured land did better on this ac¬ 
count, I know not—but here is the result. My 
orchard lot contains 24 acres, in which are ^ an 
acre in grass, £ in a flower garden, and near in 
roads and gin-house ; I therefore say there are 23 
acres in cotton, 9 of which were manured with 
cotton-seed, and about one with barnyard manure. 
From the 23 acres I have gathered an average of 
1,138 lbs. per acre. The poorest land on the 
place, and the poorest portion was manured; a 
part of the unmanured, say 4 or 5 acres, could not 
have averaged over 700 lbs. per acre. This field 
has been in continued cultivation since 1828; has 
on it some 270 peach-trees, 3 years old; 50 small 
pear, apple, and cherry, with some 30 large peach- 
trees ; besides, two rows of morus multicaulus, 
forming an avenue to the house. If the trees 
were deducted, there would not be over 21 acres, 
which would give me 1,150 lbs. on an average; 
with enough more, if gathered, to make 1,300 lbs. 
Another field that is high and dry, gently undula¬ 
ting, cleared in 1833 or ’34, and is much richer 
land, will not give me that average, and was at no 
period of its growth as good, as was the manured 
portion. 
Pleasures and Advantages of Remaining at 
Home. —Let any man “cypher” up the cost of 
moving—the cost of land—the cost of building— 
the cost of clearing—to say nothing of the depri¬ 
vations in a country where farms are to open— 
the loss of dear associates—our school-mates—and 
the time required to prepare for making money, 
and I venture on it, no sane man will move. I 
want to see many from those old countries here: 
not that, Indian-like, I wish them to suffer because 
I have, but that I want a thicker-settled country, 
and more demand for land. Yet with all this I 
would recommend them to improve at home where 
they now are ; husband their resources; study the 
economy of manures, improved agricultural im¬ 
plements, stock, seeds, and the best rotation and 
management of crops. 
Would that man merit aught but opprobrium, 
who would urge his fellows to sever every tender 
tie that binds him to “ Home, sweet home to 
