CULTURE OF SEA-ISLAND COTTON. 
245 
This seed came in small parcels from the Bahamas 
in the winter of 1785. It gradually and slowly 
made its way along the coast of Georgia, and 
passed into Carolina, from the year 1790, to 1792. 
The winter of 1786 in Georgia was a mild one, 
and although the plants of the Sea-Island cotton 
that year had not ripened their seed; it being a 
perennial, and subject only to be killed by frost, it 
started the next season (1787) from the roots of 
the previous year, its seed ripened, and the plants 
became acclimated. Many changes have come 
over this seed since that time from difference of 
soil, of culture, and local position; and above all, 
from careful selection of seed. But it requires to 
be discovered, that what is gained in fineness of 
wool, is lost in the quality and weight of the prod¬ 
uct; for in spite of a zeal and intelligence brought 
to act upon the subject without parallel, the crops 
are yearly diminishing; until to grow Sea-Island 
cotton is one of the most profitless pursuits within 
the limits of the United States, (a) 
The Culture .—When the Sea-Island cotton-seed 
was introduced in 1786, it was planted in hills 
prepared upon the level field, at five feet each 
way ; but it was soon learned, that of all plants 
that grow, it is in its first vegetation and early 
stage the most tender; liable to suffer by storms, 
by wind, by drought, and by excess of rain. The 
quantity of seed was therefore increased, and the 
plants multiplied, until, as in most other cases, one 
extreme produced another. For many years, how¬ 
ever, among experienced planters, the course is 
to divide their enclosed fields, into two portions; 
the one at rest, the other in culture. 
Preparing the Land for the Crop .—Early in 
February, any hands not engaged in preparing the 
previous crop for market, are employed in cleaning 
up the rested fields, and either in burning off the 
tennel-weeds and grass of the previous year, or in 
listing them in at five feet apart, to serve as the 
base of the future ridges or bed. There is much 
difference of opinion, upon the subject of burning 
or listing in; for myself, I am inclined to take the 
first opinion, believing that the light dressing of 
ashes the field receives from burning off, is more 
beneficial to the soil than the decay of the vegeta¬ 
ble matter, and renders it less liable to produce 
what is a growing evil, the rust, a species of 
blight, much resembling the rust or blight upon 
wheat, and which takes place about the same pe¬ 
riod, just as the plant is putting out and preparing 
to ripen its fruit. ( b) 
Ridging .—The land being listed in short lines 
across the entire field, at five feet apart, the op¬ 
eration of ridging is commenced about the first of 
March. The ridges occupy the entire surface; 
that is, the foot of one ridge commencing where 
the other ridge ends, and rising about eight inches 
above the natural level of the land, thus presenting 
a surface almost as smooth, and almost as deeply 
worked as a garden-bed. This ridging is carried 
on but a few days ahead of the planting. The 
ridge, if the operation has been carefully done, is 
from 2 to 2\ feet broad at top; it is then trenched 
on the upper surface with the hoe, six inches wide, 
and from three to six inches deep, depending upon 
the period of planting. 
Planting .—In the beginning, if the seed is 
covered more than two inches with soil, the soil 
will not feel the influence of the sun, and the seed 
will not vegetate later; that is, in April up to the 
first of May, you must give from 3 to 4 inches of 
covering to preserve the moisture, or there, too, 
you fail from an opposite cause, the wind and 
burning influence of the sun drying the soil too 
much for vegetation. In most countries, after 
sowing the seed the roller is applied; but in cot¬ 
ton-planting, in our ridge-husbandry, the foot in 
covering the seed and pressing down the earth 
well supplies its place. 
Quantity of Seed per Acre .—A bushel of seed 
is generally sown to the acre, I believe half a bush¬ 
el is better; for where the evil comes, whether the 
worm, or wind, or drought, or wet, there is no se¬ 
curity in the many; but on the contrary, where 
they come up thin, they soon grow out of the way 
of injury from any enemy. 
After-Culture .—The cultivation of Sea-Island 
cotton is carried on by the hand-hoe, and the quan¬ 
tity always limited to four acres to the laborer. 
The operation of weeding commences as soon as 
we finish planting, because in our flat and sandy 
soils the grass-seed springs with the first growth 
of the cotton, and by the time we finish planting, 
say the first of May, what we planted in March 
requires the hoe. The land is kept in the opera¬ 
tion of hoeing and weeding as far as may be, at 
its original level, the beds neither increased or 
diminished, that rains which generally fall with 
beating power, and in redundant quantity, in the 
month of August, may as little as possible injure 
the growing plants, which are then in full bearing. 
The young cotton is thinned out slowly at from 
six to twelve inches apart on the ridge, by the 
10th of June. As soon as the rains commence, 
which is about the last of July, it is wise to leave 
nature to herself, and no longer disturb the soil; 
four hoeings if well done, and the grass well pick¬ 
ed at each hoeing, is enough: nor does any after¬ 
growth of grass do injury. 
Manures and Soiling Stock .—For ten years 
past, great efforts have been made by the Sea-Isl¬ 
and planters, in manuring. Much of the alluvion 
of our salt rivers have been collected, and some¬ 
times placed directly in heaps through the fields at 
rest, at other times placed in cattle-pens, on which 
cotton-seed, and all waste materials are strewn, 
and the cattle pounded up on it. But what is pre¬ 
ferred, is to pen our cattle near the river at night, 
and cut salt-grass, which covers these alluvion 
lands, and which is as nutritious as so much clover. 
Many planters now employ laborers to cut the 
grass for horses and cattle, from the first of May 
till the last of November, the task required is 
generally a cord of grass to the hand ; and this 
quantity will answer for 10 horses, or 15 head of 
cattle, for the night, Benefit has resulted from 
this course in the ratio of the extent to which it 
has been persevered in. The last year, Mr. Ruffin 
discovered that all South Carolina was underlayed 
by shell-marl, at various depths ; from my own 
observation, and inquiries from others, I find the 
same thing exists in Georgia. Great benefits will 
result from this, I have no doubt, hereafter, de- 
