158 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
facility we have every reason to believe it will, from demonstrations 
which have already been made! On my part, I promise you that I 
will use every effort in my power to aid in developing this subject, 
and as I am practically acquainted with the culture of the beet on a 
pretty large scale, so soon as I can obtain the right kind of seed, 
and the necessary information as to the process of making the sugar, 
will ascertain the result of a trial. 
In our conversation on the subject, if I am not mistaken, you in¬ 
formed me that the kind of beet of which the sugar is made, is man¬ 
gel wortzel, or scarcity root; but it .appears by a letter addressed by 
Mr. Iznard to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, which you 
have, no doubt, seen, that the variety of beet cultivated for sugar, is 
the white beet, (Beta Alba.) I mention these circumstances as I 
wish to obtain the seed of the true kind as early as possible, and am 
desirous that there should be no error. Having said much more 
than 1 intended on the subject of beet sugar, I will not tax your pa¬ 
tience by extending my observations on the other subject adverted 
to. Permit me to say, however, that nothing can be more correct, 
profound, or judicious, than the remarks contained in that article. I 
have long thought that the combinations there spoken of, were es¬ 
sential to constitute a good cultivator. An immense amount of la¬ 
bor is saved in agriculture by a union of art, manual skill or dexteri¬ 
ty and science; the products of the earth are yielded in tripple fold, 
to the individual who has a thorough knowledge of all the elements 
that operate upon, and enter into, the various products upon which 
he bestows his care and labor, and who knows when, how and where 
to bestow what physical strength is necessary to produce a given re¬ 
sult. I have long thought also, that the knowledge of agriculture 
should constitute a distinct branch of education in all our principal 
institutions of learning. The truth is, agriculture is the basis of near¬ 
ly all the wealth in this country ; it enters largely, directly or indi¬ 
rectly, into every department of business, and it is the business of 
those who constitute the great majority of the freemen of the United 
States; and there is every motive for giving it the highest rank 
among the various occupations which nourish, and sustain, and 
adorn civilized life. 
I enclose five dollars, which you will be kind enough to hand to 
the editor of the Cultivator, with a request that he will send me the 
numbers agreeably to his terms. H. HAWLEY. 
CULTURE OF COTTON. 
J. Btjel—Dear Sir —Having recently become a subscriber to 
your very valuable publication the “ Cultivator,” and deeming it 
highly incumbent upon each subscriber, to contribute his “ quota” 
of agricultural information towards promoting the end of your pub¬ 
lication, I send you the following as the most generally adopted mode of 
cultivating cotton in North Carolina. The land is “bedded,” or 
broken up as soon after picking out as possible, (the earlier the bet¬ 
ter) with a plough drawn by two horses. The beds are from 3h to 
4 feet wide. After the earth has settled, and become somewhat 
indurated through the influence of rains and the sun, a double horse 
harrow is applied to the ridges, succeeded immediately by a smaller 
one, which reduces the land to a perfect state of pulverization.— 
Next follows the “ marker,” drawn by one horse, which makes a 
small trench on the middle of the ridge, in which the seed are 
strewn by hand. The seeds are rubbed, previous to planting, in 
ashes and water, which process embodies three distinct advantages. 
1. It enables each seed to assume a separate position when sown. 
2. It acts as a stimulant upon the plant—and 3d. It checks the ra¬ 
vages of that destructive insect the “ cut-worm.” The seeds are 
covered very lightly, say from 1 to 1 \ inches, by means of a small har¬ 
row of 6 or 8 teeth. Next m order is the process of “shaving,” 
which consists in applying the weeding-hoe to each side of the cot¬ 
ton on the ridge ; after which the bar of a single-horse plough is run 
at such a distance from the cotton as will not disturb its lateral 
roots, by which, all the grass that is taken from the vicinity of the 
plant is entirely covered in the middle of the alley or water-furrow. 
About 8 or 10 days subsequent to this, (the grass being completely 
dead) a triangular harrow is run upon the list formed by the two 
furrows thrown from the cotton, and two furrows thrown to the cot¬ 
ton, by means of a small plough. I forgot to state above, that im¬ 
mediately after “shaving and barring,” the cotton is chopped through 
by the weeding-hoe, at intervals of 8 or 10 inches, and the most 
promising and luxuriant stalks selected, leaving from one to two in 
a hill. Next follows the “ flirting process,” as it is termed, which 
by some is done with the hand, by others with the hoe. The for. 
mer mode is too laborious, and far from being the most effectual and 
expeditious. When the cotton has attained a considerable height, 
the bar is run very shallow, and the plough is run deep, when the 
mould-board is turned to the cotton, to prevent “ fring.” The cul¬ 
tivation then is perfected by alternately “ barring” and turning the 
mould-board to the cotton, immediately followed by the hoes, for the 
purpose of more effectually dirting the cotton, and uncovering those 
branches which the mould-board may have covered. Some of 
my neighbors “ top” their cotton ; they think it causes the plant to 
expand more, and form more pods. I should like to see in your 
next number a description of the “ Cultivator,”* which you recom¬ 
mend to your readers, as entirely superceding the necessity of the 
plough and hoe in the cultivation of Indian corn, together with a 
detail of the best method of cultivating that article-! 
With unfeigned respect, I am yours, 
North Carolina, lsf Nov. 183G. AGRICOLA. 
SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 
Sir —Much has been said on the different breeds of Sheep, and 
much more is required to induce farmers to improve their flocks.— 
I am perfectly satisfied from personal observation, that an erroneous 
system is pursued in the management of these valuable animals, and 
am thoroughly convinced that the generality of farmers do not know 
their true value ; but in directing their attention altogether to the 
fineness of wool, such as that produced from the Saxony and Meri¬ 
no, (and in these cases being generally governed by the quality 
without a due regard to the quantity,) they seldom take into consi¬ 
deration the carcase, which should be the most profitable, and in a 
good breed of sheep will prove so. Though I am not sufficiently 
sanguine to believe my opinion to be infallible, still I think I may 
advance some ideas, that better judgment can improve and excite 
its endeavors, where it is now silent. Should I succeed, the benefit 
the farmer will derive from it will afford me ample recompense. 
In the first place, I cannot see why the Saxony and Merino sheep 
are more generally kept than any other breed, their quality of mut¬ 
ton being, hi my opinion, far inferior, and their carcase lighter and 
more shapeless. I have asked many farmers who raised them, what 
was their inducement for doing so, and have found no other reason 
assigned than the fineness of their wool. They generally keep 
their wether sheep five or six years, as they produce the greatest 
quantity and the finest quality, though they seldom cut more than 
three or four pounds, and often less than two and a half, and this 
comprises their chief profit. They frequently lose them, in conse¬ 
quence of their weak constitution, and their inability to stand the 
hard winters. If I am mistaken in these sheep, I shall be much 
obliged to some experienced breeder of this kind, to correct me, and 
advance the credit they deserve, and do justice to their good quali¬ 
ties. 
I think the South Down is a more profitable breed. Their quali¬ 
ty of mutton is very superior; they feed much faster, but more in¬ 
side than out, and are of a more hardy nature, if not bred too fine. 
I conceive the Hampshire Downs to be more profitable than the 
South Downs, and of a stronger constitution. They will produce 
more mutton and wool, and about equal in quality. 
The Bakewell or Cotswold sheep, I value more highly than either. 
They will produce more wool and mutton than any other sheep, and 
feed faster, (i. e. fatten sooner,) the quantity will make up the defi¬ 
ciency in quality, and give them the decided preference. On these 
sheep a man can exercise his judgment, as they possess every point 
sheep can, when good ones and well bred. 
There is as much difference in the same breed of sheep as be¬ 
tween two distinct breeds, and it requires a farmer’s most attentive 
judgment in every point, to enable him to select a good ram. There 
is more nicety in selecting tliis animal, than the farmer generally 
imagines, and if done injudiciously, his flock is certain to degenerate. 
If the male is not well bred, his stock is sure to be uneven; in some 
instances, when the ewe is well descended, her lamb may prove 
good, but the descendants of that lamb, if put to an ill-bred sheep, 
are certain to grow worse, and I am sorry to say, this system is too 
frequently pursued. It would be much better for a farmer to give a 
high price for a well bred sheep, than have a poor one for nothing. 
Let them be influenced by this spirit, and they will find the benefit 
* See notes to correspondents. 
t Having already published two articles of our own on this subject, p. 37, 
vol. 1, and p. 2, vol. 2, we beg leave to refer to them ns affording an exposi¬ 
tion of our views oi. the cultivation of corn.— Cond. 
