The cotton harvest, or picking season, began about the latter part of August or first of September, and lasted till Christmas or after, but in the latter part of July picking commenced for “the first bale” to go into the market at Memphis.  This picking was done by children from nine to twelve years of age and by women who were known as “sucklers,” that is, women with infants.  The pickers would pass through the rows getting very little, as the cotton was not yet in full bloom.  From the lower part of the stalk where it opened first is where they got the first pickings.  The season of first picking was always a great time, for the planter who brought the first bale of cotton into market at Memphis was presented with a basket of champagne by the commission merchants.  This was a custom established throughout Mississippi.  After the first pickings were secured the cotton developed very fast, continuing to bud and bloom all over the stalk until the frost falls.  The season of picking was exciting to all planters, every one was zealous in pushing his slaves in order that he might reap the greatest possible harvest.  The planters talked about their prospects, discussed the cotton markets, just as the farmers of the north discuss the markets for their products.  I often saw Boss so excited and nervous during the season he scarcely ate.  The daily task of each able-bodied slave during the cotton picking season war 250 pounds or more, and all those who did not come up to the required amount would get a whipping.  When the planter wanted more cotton picked than usual, the overseer would arrange a race.  The slaves would be divided into two parties, with, a leader for each party.  The first leader would choose a slave for his side, then the second leader one for his, and so on alternately until all were chosen.  Each leader tried to get the best on his side.  They would all work like good fellows for the prize, which was a tin cup of sugar for each slave on the winning side.  The contest was kept up for three days whenever the planter desired an extra amount picked.  The slaves were just as interested in the races as if they were going to get a five dollar bill.

* * * * *

Preparing cotton for market.

The gin-house was situated about four hundred yards from “the great house” on the main road.  It was a large shed built upon square timbers, and was similar to a barn, only it stood some six feet from the ground, and underneath was located the machinery for running the gin.  The cotton was put into the loft after it was dried, ready for ginning.  In this process the cotton was dropped from the loft to the man who fed the machine.  As it was ginned the lint would go into the lint room, and the seed would drop at the feeder’s feet.  The baskets used for holding lint were twice as large as those used in the picking process, and they were never taken from the gin house.  These lint baskets were used in removing the lint from the lint room to the place where the cotton was baled.  A bale contained 250 pounds, and the man who did the treading of the cotton into the bales would not vary ten pounds in the bale, so accustomed was he to the packing.  Generally from fourteen to fifteen bales of cotton were in the lint room at a time.