Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-04-01
nIanuring i'm the Hill Or Drill.

AS we suppose most of the broad cast
lmanuring, INTENDED for this season, is al
ready done, we will devote few thoughts
just as you are getting ready to plant to
manuring in the hill and drill. 1t is to
be regretted that our means at command
do not allow, us to minister to the wants
of our fields with a more liberal hand
But with so much surface to cover, as
our Southern plans of planting seem to
require, it is almost impracticable to do
all which the wants of the soil may de.
mand, or our judgment might dictate, as
right. He, therefore, may be set down
as provident, who has provided literally
for administering, even in broken doses,
to the wants of the coming crop. An
excellent manure for corn, and one more
or less at command ON every farm, is
cotton seed. We think the best plan for
their use on this crop, is to drop them at
the time of planting upon the top Of the
corn, and cover all at one operation. The
corn will come through them, and they
are fine protection against frosts or ex.
cess of rain, and can never be removed
by working, as they are apt to be when
laid upon the surface. A very small
handful imparts great benefit to the crop.
If stable or compost manures are to be
used, they ought to be well rotted, es.
pecially on sandy lands. This also
ought to be dropped in the same furrow
with the seed corn, but not on it, but
very nearit, and covered up also. Some
persons choose to drop this manure upon
the top of the hill Much of its berefits
must be lost by exposure to the sun and
rains before covering, and much again
must be displaced in the first working.
Those manures are both good for cot
ton, but we think should be deposited
much deeper in the earth than for corn.
The roots of corn run much nearer the
surface in seeking their supplies; the top
root of cotton is the main feeder Of the
plant, and strikes deep into the earth for
its food. There it should be deposited,
not alone because it is there demanded,
but because the action Of the sun upon
the manure thus deep in the ground, is
much less injurious in its effects upon the
fruit of the cotton plant. 1t often hap
pens, in the precariousness of the season,
that by an iniudicious use of hot or
strongly stimulating manures, the weed
is made to grow most luxuriantly, when
little reverse of the seasons will throw
off most of the fruit. This may be
avoided to very large extent, by de.
posting such manure SO deep as to be
out of the reach of such influences.
These precautions apply mainly to stable
or strong compost manures. Yet we
advise all manures intended for cotton to
be deposited deeper than those for corn,
as better suitiug the habits Of the plant,
and protecting against the scorching sun
Of August, the month in which the fate
of the cotton is generally settled. We
do not say much about the quantity to be
used, as you will be in no danger of do.
ing too much. A handfull of stable ma.
nure, or Of cotton seed either. dropned
at distances of two feet in the bottom Of
deep furrow, to be covered up in form
ing the bed, will do much benefit. Let
the opening furrow for planting be over
the manure, and sow the second in the
drill, and the young roots will soon find
these supplies, and before timing time,
the plant will begin to show its keeping.
We might talk about other manures, but
as these constitute the stock mainly Of
the country, we deem it useless to say
more.-Soil of the South.