DIGITAL ARCHIVE of SLAVERY to FREEDOM at MONTICELLO   (beta)

Cotton.

1000. hills of cotton will yeild from 10. to 15℔ of the common kind

the Nankeen cotton yeilds near the double, but it comes later & with more risk from frost.

a cotton warp & hemp filling make the best linen for negroes.

where cotton is to be divided with an overseer, it should be done weekly as it comes in

Hemp & flax.

Dr Logan does not approve of sowing flax with clover.
he does not think flax a great exhauster.

an acre of flax will make 50.℔

nothing will come immediately after flax except turneps.

ground once in flax takes 5. or 6. years before it will bring flax again.

hemp. plough the ground for it early in the fall & very deep. if possible plough it again in Feb. before you sow it, which should be in March.

a hand can tend 3. acres of hemp a year.

tolerable ground yields 500.℔ to the acre. you may generally count on 100 ℔ for every foot the hemp is over 4.f. high.

a hand will break 60. or 70.℔ a day, & even to 150.℔.

if it is to be divided with an overseer, divide it as it is prepared.

seed. to make hemp seed, make hills of the form & size of cucumber hills, from 4. to 6.f apart, in proportion to the strength of the ground. prick about a dozen seeds into each hill in different parts of it. when they come up thin them to two. as soon as the male plants have shed their farina, cut them up, that the whole nourishment may go to the female plants. every plant thus tended will yield a quart of seed. a bushel of good brown seed is enough for an acre.