The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-04-18
From thGCarolina Planter.

ton, and proves SO protltableas the Oat.-'
In District like this, which is extremely
broken. and rolling independent of its
value for food, it forms an important item
in the improvement of our lands---and no
system of husbandry can be considered
good in which this crop dose not hold a
prominent place. Our climate not being
adapted to the growth of clover, a grass
above all others which has contributed to
the food of stock, and to the fertilizing of
those countries to which it is adapted, it
becomes us of the upper districts, who are
disposed to remain in Carolina, and to
leave an inheritance to children worthy
of the name, to cast about our attention,
and see if we cannot discover crop that
will approximate to clover, as nearly in
value as spossible: in doing so l know of
none which comes as near answering that
purpose as Oats. By Iudicious rotation
with Corn and Cotton, lands which were
much quilted and considerably exhausted,
are gradually improving, and have no
doubt that with other auxiliaries, as hori-
zontal ploughing and ditching, that they
will be brought back to their original fer
tility in fifteen years: and when the system
IS adopted in time with fresh lands, 1t will
prevent their ever becoming exhausted.
The plan which | have practiced with
regard to Oats, is. this: when a field of
Corn or Cotton is to be put in Oats have
the stalks cut or whipped down, and pla-
ced in the washes that may have been
formed the previous year. If the land is
in order I commence sowing the first
week in January and ifit is broken or
rolling, the Oats are ploughed in deep and
without any water furrows. Deep
ploughing is essentially necessary to the
Oat crop---it acts as preventative against
the frost of winter and the drouth of sum-
mer---and the absence of water furrows
leaves the land in better condition to re-
sist the heavy spring rains. until the soil
is bound by the roots of the plant.
And the next improvement will be the
use of the harrow after ploughing. /
usually sow bushel of seed to the acre,
and think it is mistaken economy to sow
less, as when the Oats are thin on the
ground the insterstices are apt to be filled
with weeds, which do infinitely more in
Jury to them than thick planting would do.
But every planter must Judge of the guam
tity of seed to be sown, as stiff clay lands
Will require greater quantity than light
sandy soils
The average crop with me, in ordinary
years, is from fifteen to twenty bushels per
acre, and in fine seasons from twent-fve
10 thirty bushels. One hundred pounds of
Oats in the straw (of common height0 will
yield when threshed, from bushels to 2
bushels g. peck, and will weigh about25
bs. per bushel. l usually cut only the best
spots Of Oats, leaving the poorer to be
eaten down by Stock. And here, MIR:
Editor, is another valuable property of
his crop, that lean Cattle and hogs sud-
icnly disappear after the Oat harvest
and if we are to become raisers of our
own meat, this grain must be our main
stay, as it is even valuable as green cropI
or spring grazing. Up to the period of
the Oat harvest, / would say that the land
lad gained nothing; but then if the Oats
nave been planted in the manner de-
;cribed, the little gullies that were forming
lave been removed, and the land placed
n a condition to receive all the benefit
rom the subsequent growth of grass, and
his is the great advantage resulting from
he Oat cuiture---and without the interven-
ion of this crop our lands would deteri-
rate rapidly under succession of Corn
md Cotton crops, both from washing and
rom the slight returns made to the soil
W those two plants. My Oat fields t,
Isually lie out one year before they arc
gain brought into culture---cxperencc
eaching that it is just as easy to put them
n order with two coats of grass on them ,
S one; the first being thoroughly rotted {
efore the period for breaking up the land
ccurs. The ordinary rotation with me,
) Oats, Cotton, Corn, and 50 on or twoi
rops OF Cotton or two of Corn succeeded 7
" oats---thus an Oat crop intervening
very third year: this system has worked
veil with me my oldest lands which
ave hadithe benefit oft, showing evident