Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1855-02-14
Work for February,

THE following admirable hints, on the
work necessary to be accomplished by far
mers during the present month, we pluck
from The Soil of the South" The re-
mark upon the time of planting corn, viz:
"to plant when you are ready" strikes US
as beinr very sensible. There is nothing in
the cultivation of corn crop that tells more
dsci,ively upon its fate than ample, careful,
complete preparation. In clay lands espe-
cially does this assertion hold good, and
more especially, if those clay lands be at the
same time bottom lands We have known
the best of corn crops made upon low
grounds with one and half workings after
the planting Of the seed. Before planting,
it was worked twice at least, and very thor
oughly. Corn planted thus, grows off cheer
ingly, makes RAPIDLY, suffers less from drouth,
aud, in nine cases out Of ten, gives more
abundant yield. The same will hold as to
clay up.lands. And we do not see why it
should not be equally true OF sandy uPlands.
At the same time, however, that we would
urge ample preparation, we would also ad-
vocaie as forward planting as possible. The
distinction we mean to draw is only between
late planting with first rate preparation and
early planting with very slack preparation.
The former we think preferable in all cases
on bottom land. and in almost every case in
uplands. unless it be where the corn crop
follows neatly cultivated cotton crop.
But heed the remarks OF the "!Soil of the
South"
By the first Of this month, the fields should
all he in order for the plow-logs piled and
burned, fences all repaired, small grain all
sowed, plows all in motion. Now is the
time TO put your ground in good condition
for Cropping. Work slighted now will have
to be done over, and not we'll done at that,
hereafter.
1t is wonderful saving of time and trou-
BILE TO have every thing in complete order
for doing good work, before the seasons
blowing is commenced. See that plow
stocks, plow hoes and plow gear are all
in good trim in the beginning, and little
pains will then keep them So Better post
pone the commencement Of your operations
for 4 few days, and get every thing in order,
than be compelled to stop plow after you
have begun, to attend to some neglected job.
See that every plow boy has his gear well
fitted to the mule and provide him with
curry comb. and require him to use it. The
plow team should he in goodgaer to start
with, and if we'll cared for, it Should be in
good order when the crop is laid by. 1t is
not so much work, that kills up our mules,
as inattenlion. Let each plow boy have his
particular mule, and make him responsible
for its treatment And make him response.
bic for his plow and pow gear also. Provide
him with place for keeping them, and see
that he keeps them in place.
"Corn is generally planted, in this latitude,
during the latter half Of this month. The
general impression is, that the sooner corn
is planted. if it escapes the frost, the better
the yield. Our observation has been that
corn planted about the fifteenth or twentieth
OF the month is rs likely to escape the frost,
as that planted betweei. the twentieth and
the last. No matter. however, whether early
or late planting is the better, don't plant till
you are ready to commence The difficulty
which we have most frequently observed in
corn planting is, that we are apt to give it too
little distance One stalk to every sixteen
square feet, that is, four feet each way, is
close enough on the upands of this country.
If the corn is drilled, the rows should be
about five and half feet apart, and the corn
should stand three feet in the drill. 1t may
look like throwing away land, but more corn
will be made thanif it is planted closer. Even