Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-03-20
a9rtruIturaI.
From the Laurensville Is. CO. Herald.
manurine fsands,..No, 5.

but as there may be more than one Late
Beginner" among your readers, l have
concluded first to finish the subject OF
manures by saying few words on the
most profitable way of applying them to
our lands. But before / begin, | wish to
make my Acknowledgements to "Late
Beginner" yourself, and others, for your
kind appreciation Of my labors. This is
some encouragement, and think | began
to need it.
In old countries, where lands are dear,
and rent and taxes high, the most ap.
proved mode of applying manures is to
scatter them broadcast; but there the
whole farm is manured once in every ro.
tation. In Laurens, and in fact through
out the cotton region, l think the best
practice is to strew them in the drill fur
row for cotton. They then lie undisturb-
ed, by our frequent plowings, and are not
SO much exposed to the action of the sun
and winds, as they would be if applied
broadcast They are, therefore, not so
liable to waste, or to be washed away.
In our latitude the summers are too short
to mature cotton fully; and by putting
the manure in the drill we concentrate its
energies upon the young plant, and give
it vigorous start-and every practical
planter knows the importance Of giving
it bold start.
A friend of mine, living high up in
Spartanburg, and whose lands are rich,
informed me that he could not raise cot.
ton, except by manuring highly, and that
then he could raise one thousand pounds
per acre. This is a fine illustration OF
the effects of manure in pushing it on to
early maturity.
l commonly lay off my lands with a
scooter, drop the manure in the furrow,
and cover with two twister burrows. Ma
ny object to this, as covering the manure
too shallow, and leaving it liable to be
disturbed in opening the bed for planting
they prefer opening deep furrow with
a shovel. | am persuaded they are mista-
ken in this. | wish to mix the manure
with the earth that is in contact with the
seed, in order that the young plant, when
it comes up, may feel its influence at once,
which it cannot do when it lies deep
below.
Again-the rains, as they descend in
the soil, dissolve the salts in the manure
and carry them down, and of course be.
low the reach of the young roots. 1t is
true the roots, as they extend, may reach
it at last; but we lose, in great degree
its early warming and invigorating effects
which, in the cool weather of Spring, cot
ton so much needs. So much for the
mode. prefer giving the compost ma
nure to my cotton; First because it is
the most important crop: Second, be,
cause cotton needs it moro than any other
crop to push it on to early maturity, be.
fore the frosts of autumn; Third, be.
cause I think it less liable to burn cot,
ton than corn. in dry weather; Fourth, be-
cause wheat is more uncertain and not so
valuable crop; and lastly, which may
not be so certain, because I believe it i'm.
proves land more than with corn, or per.
haps with any other crop.
Many prefer putting their manures on
the poor, CALLED spots, where there is but
little or no soil. | believe this to be not
the best economy. In lands exhausted
by cropping, and not washed away, there
is often much inert humus or mould
here manure does good, not only by the
food it furnises directly to the plant, but
indirectly, by decomposing the inert hu.
mus, and thus supplying additional nour'
ishment. Besides, these soils are more
porousy are warmer, and retain moisture
better than such spots as have their tor
soil washed away. would say that the
amount of manure that would add one
hundred pounds to the product of the
CALLED spots, would add two hundred
pounds to the product of soils that are
merely exhausted-not washed away. II
this be so, any one can cypher the differ,
ence of profits for himself Still, | would
not discourage reclainning CALLED spots
near the homestead. They offend the
eye, they are near the compost heap, and
less distance is travelled to work them
and gather their products.
One word more and have done.
"Late Beginner" says, Gin his neighbor-
hood may be seen number of pyramids
in honor of Franklin" &c. Irejoice to
hear it; but they must be demolished,
and, like all earthly honors, vanish. Now,
in all this month, us tho time to put your
compost manureS into the cotton beds.
Let it be done evenly and carefully; and
though those monuments, to my honor,
may so soon pass away, yet, in my ram
bles in the summer, trust and believe /
shall see them revived in the coming cot
ton crop, waving its rich foliage and star.
like blooms, to delight the eye and glad.
den the heart of others as we'll as of
FRANKLIN.
WORK FOR MkRcH.-This should be a
busy month to the farmer. Manures il
not already carted out where likely to be