COTTON.

No product of the soil is more useful than this. To this country alone

we give the highest value to Indian corn. But, in usefulness to the

whole world, corn must yield the palm to cotton. It employs more hands

and capital in manufacturing, and enters more largely into the clothing

of mankind, than any other article. The history of cotton and the

cotton-gin, and of the manufacture of cotton goods, is exceedingly

interesting. The eminence of Great Britain as the first commercial

nation of the world is due, in no small degree, to her cotton

manufactures. And the influence of this great staple American product

upon all the interests of this country, social and political, civil and

religious, is universally felt and acknowledged. The cotton-fields of

the South, at certain stages of growth, and especially when in bloom,

present scenes of beauty unsurpassed by any other growing crop. It does

not come within our design in this work to give a very extended view of

cotton culture. This business in the United States is confined

principally to a particular class of men, known as planters. They

cultivate it on a large scale, having the control of large means. Such

men seek knowledge of those of their own class, and would hardly

condescend to listen to an essay on their peculiar business, written by

a Northern man, not experienced in planting. And yet an article, not

covering more than ten pages of this volume, might be written,

condensing in a clear manner all that is established in this branch of

American industry, as found in the publications of the South. Such an

article, well written, by a man who would be regarded good authority,

would be of vast pecuniary value to the South. Whoever carefully reads

Southern agricultural papers, and "TURNER'S COTTON-PLANTER'S MANUAL,"

will see a great conflict of opinions on the subject, and yet a

presentation of many facts, that one thoroughly conversant with soil

culture in general would see to be true and important. The embodiment of

these facts and principles in a brief, plain article that would be

received and practised, would add value to the annual cotton crop, that

would be counted by millions. What better service can some Southern

gentleman do for his own chosen and favorite region than to write such

an article? We give the following brief view of the whole subject, not

presuming to teach cotton-planters what they are supposed to understand

much better than we do, but to throw out some thoughts that may be

suggestive of improvements that others may mature and carry out, and to

lead young men, just commencing the business of planting, to look about

and see if they may not make some improvements upon what they behold

around them. This will not fail of being interesting to Northern men,

most of whom know nothing of the cotton-plant, or the modes of its

cultivation. It is interesting, too, that some of the most essential

points are in perfect accordance with the great principles of soil

culture throughout the world.

There are three species of cotton: tree-cotton, shrub-cotton, and

herbaceous cotton. The tree-cotton is cultivated to considerable extent

in northern Africa, and produces a fair staple of cotton for commerce;

being produced on trees from ten to twenty-five feet high, it is not so

easily gathered. The shrub-cotton is cultivated in various parts of the

world, particularly in Asia and South America. Growing in the form of

small bushes, it is convenient, and the staple is fair. But these are

both inferior to the herbaceous cotton. This is an herb growing

annually, like corn, a number of feet in height, more or less according

to soil and season, and producing the best known cotton. Under these

species there are many varieties: we need speak only of the varieties of

herbaceous cotton. Writers vary in their estimates of varieties; some

say there are eight, and others put them as high as one hundred. This is

a question of no practical moment. The sea-island cotton, called also

"long staple" on account of its very long silky fibres, is the finest

cotton known. Its name arose from the fact of its production in greatest

perfection on the low, sandy islands near the coasts of some of the

Southern states. It does well on low land near the seashore. The

saltness and humidity of such locations seem peculiarly favorable to its

greatest perfection. It yields about half as much as the "short staple"

called Mexican and Petit gulf cotton, and known in commerce as upland

cotton. But the sea-island, or long staple, sells for three or four

times as much per pound, and, hence, is most profitable to the planter,

in all regions where it will flourish well. The Mexican is very

productive on most soils, and is easily gathered and prepared for

market. There are quite a number of other varieties; as, banana, Vick's

hundred-seed, Pitt's prolific, multibolus, mammoth, sugar-loaf, &c., &c.

The sugar-loaf is highly commended, as are some of the others named.

They have had quite a run among seed-sellers. Most of these varieties

are the improved Mexican. It is well to get seed frequently from a

distance; but any extravagant prices are unwise. Improvement of

cotton-seed is an important part of its most profitable culture. While

much said about it by interested parties is doubtless mere humbug, yet

there is great importance to be attached to improvement of seed. This is

true of all agricultural products, and no less so of cotton than of

others. Two things only are essential to constant improvement in

cotton-seed--_selection_ and _care_. Select from the best quality,

producing the largest yield, and maturing early; pick it before much

rain has fallen on it after ripening; dry it thoroughly before ginning,

and dry it very thoroughly after it is clear of the fibre, before

putting it in bulk. Cotton-seed, without extra care in drying, has

moisture enough to make it heat in bulk, by which its germinating power

is greatly impaired. It is this, and the effects of fall rains, that

causes seed to trouble planters so seriously by not coming up: this

makes it difficult to obtain good even stands, and causes much loss by

diminished crops. Care in these respects would add many pounds to the

acre in most cotton-fields of the land.

_Preparing the Soil for Planting._--On all land not having a porous

subsoil, plow very deep; it gives opportunity for the long tap-root of

the plant to penetrate deep, and guard against excessive drought. The

usual custom is to lay the ground into beds, elevated a little in the

middle, and a depression between them, in which excessive moisture may

run off; also to increase the action of the sun and air. The surface of

the soil to be planted should be made very fine and smooth. This is true

of everything planted--it should be in finely-pulverized soil; it comes

up more readily and evenly. Soil left in coarse lumps or particles gives

the air too much action on the germinating seeds and young plants, and

retards and stints their growth. Deep plowing guards alike against too

much or too little moisture. Too much water has room to sink away from

the surface and allow it to dry speedily. It also forms a sort of

reservoir to hold water for use in a drought. The seed should be planted

in as straight a line as possible, from three and a half to five and a

half feet apart one way, and from fourteen to twenty-five inches the

other, according to the quality of the land, and the growth of the

variety planted. Rich lands will not bear the plants so close as the

poor. Many are great losers by not securing plants enough on the ground.

Straight lines greatly facilitate culture, as it can mostly be done with

the plow or cultivator. Turning land over deep, just before planting, is

the best known remedy for the cut-worm; it is said to put them back

until the plants grow beyond their reach. The best planters generally

cover with a piece of plank drawn over the furrow in which the seed is

dropped. It would be far better to roll it, as some few planters do; the

effect on the early vegetation of the seed and rapid growth of the young

plant would be very great, on the general principles given on "Rolling."

The object of cultivation is to keep down the grass, which is the great

enemy of the cotton. Plowing the last thing before planting aids this,

by giving the cotton quite as early a start as the weeds or grass.

Cultivate early, and the grass will be easily covered and killed. Always

plant when it will come up speedily and grow rapidly; this is better

than very early planting, and certainly much better than very late. Thin

out to one in a place, as early as the plants are out of danger of

dying. Gathering should commence as soon as bolls enough are in right

condition to allow a hand to gather forty pounds per day. It is better

and cheaper than to risk the injury from rains after the crop is ripe.

MANURES.--Perhaps this is, at the present time, the greatest question

for cotton-planters. The application of all the most approved principles

and agents of fertilization would do more for the interests of the

cotton crop than anything else. Cotton-plantations are sometimes said to

run down so as to render it necessary to abandon portions of the land,

and select new. Instead of this, land may not only be kept up with

proper manuring, but made to yield larger crops from year to year. The

following analysis of the ash of the cotton-plant will indicate the

wants of the soil in which it grows:--

1. Potash 29.58

2. Lime 24.34

3. Magnesia 3.73

4. Chloride 0.65

5. Phosphoric acid 34.92

6. Sulphuric acid 3.54

7. Silica 3.24

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100.00

This analysis shows that the soil for cotton needs much lime, bones or

bone-dust, and wood-ashes, besides the ordinary barn-yard and compost

manures. All the preparations and applications of manures specified in

this work, under the head of "Manures," are applicable to cotton. The

usual recommendations of rotation in crops is, perhaps, more important

in cotton culture than anywhere else. Judicious fallowing, on principles

adapted to a Southern climate, is another great means of keeping up and

improving the land. This is also the only effectual means of guarding

against the numerous enemies and diseases of the cotton-plant. The

health of the plants is secured, and they are made to outstrip their

enemies only by the fertility and fine tilth of the soil in which they

grow. This is confirmed on every hand by the correspondence of the most

intelligent planters of the South. Let cotton-growers go into a thorough

system of fertilization of their soils, and attend personally to the

improvement of their cotton-seed, by selection, as recommended above,

and the result will be an addition of one eighth, or one fourth, to the

products of cotton in the United States, without adding another acre to

the area under cultivation. When this comes to be understood, men of

small means will cultivate a little cotton by their own individual

labor, as the poorer men do corn and other agricultural products, and

thus improve their condition. The above suggestions are the conclusions

to which we come, from a thorough examination of what has been published

to the world on this subject. We recommend the careful perusal of "The

Cotton-Planter's Manual," by Turner (published by Saxton and Co., New

York), and increased attention to the subject, by the intelligent,

educated, and practical men with whom the cotton-growing regions abound.