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Method of Clearing Land and Planting Cotton in the Bahama Islands which are situated between the Lattd of 21 & 25 North- Longd 70 to 77 West
Cut down the underbrush and spread it as equally as possible over the Land.- then fall the large Timber and lop off the branches; when Sufficiently dry, let the fire run thro' it, after which, heap up what remains and burn off a Second time - when the Land is sufficiently Cool and moist, dig holes about three inches deep in rows two feet apart, by 4 feet wide, in which drop 5, 6 or 7 Seeds - when all are up and about Six inches high, thin them leaving only 3 or 4 of the strongest and healthiest plants in a hole; when a foot high, thin them again leaving only one or two in a hole, at same time draw up the earth about the Roots and top them, which is done by pinching off an Inch of the Top with the finger and thumb, to cause them to branch and prevent their running up too Spiral - when the Cotton is three or four feet high, Top again with a pruning Knife or sharp Cutlass cutting off the ends of the branches to give it air and prevent its running up too Spiral, in which Case it never bears so well as when properly pruned- When ripe forgathering it should not exceed 5 to 5½ feet high - then the weight of the Pods will bring it within the reach of a midling Size person- After the Crop is gather'd, the broken and dry'd branches should be trim'd off. - an active person can gather from 40 to 100lb of Cotton per Day, and can Gin (with a foot Gin) 30 to 40lb of Clean Cotton from the Seed -
In Weeding, a Quarter of an acre is a Common Task per Day. -
When the Land will admit of it Cotton should be planted in regular rows by a Line, whereby the air & Sun has more power, and it is easier attended throughout the process of Sewing - Weeding, pruning and gathering. -
otton is generally pack'd in Crocus Bags called Cotton Bagging - 4½ Yards Sewed up, makes a Bag of Six feet pack'd - The mode of filling, is by Sewing the mouth of the Bag to a Strong hoop which being suspended thro' a hole under a Scaffold, an Able Man is placed therein, who not only treads the Cotton with his feet, but rams it down with a Wooden pestle, untill it is made to Contain 200 to 250lb of Clean Cotton free from the Seed -
In the Bahama's, Cotton is planted either