The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-04-11
LANCASTER H, SOUTH CAROLINA MORNING. APRIL f. 1885,

year after year, paying crop of cotton,
without greatly impoverishing the land
that produces it, is one that very few have
yet solved. That it can be done, we have
not the least doubt; but until the genera
ton Of anti progressionists passes away,
we have no hope Of seeing it. Ultimate
iy it must come, or Cotton culture will
have to be abandoned; for with the vast
yearly increase Of our population, it will
not take long to exhaust and wear out all
the available new lands in the Union.-
We would say, then: Do not try to "covsr
too. much surface" with this crop, but do
well whatever you attempt Better 40
or SO acres well cultivated, than 2 or 3
hundred merely scratched over. Plant
only the ''improved" varieties, and re-
member that one bale of fine, long staple,
carefully handled, and properly ginned,
will bring as much money as two bales Of
indifferent, specked and foul dog tall"
Continue 10 set out Sweet potatoes
both "oetts" and "draws." Ridges for
sweet potatoes should not be thrown up
until you are ready to plant. Plow the
ground deep and well, and harrow finely,
before ridging up. Plant melons, pump
kins, squashes, &c. Sow Mllet, Doura,
and common Corn for fodder, in drills,
once every fortnight or three weeks, until
late in the Summer. You cannot make
the ground too rich for these forage crops,
so do not be afraid to put on the manure.
TIE VEGETABLE GARDEN.
Whatever you have been prevented
from doing last month by unfavorable
weather, or other causes, must now be
attended to, promptly, or it will be too
late. The young weeds, "nut grass" &C.,
will now begin to dispute possession Of
tue ground with your early vegetables,
and unless you attack them vigorously,
and keep them under, they will be sure TO
get the start Of your crop.
Set out early cabbages, peppers, To-
matoeS, egg plants, &c. Transplant let
tuce. Force your young vegetables into
vigorous and rapid growth, by repeated
applications of liquid manurcs; to prepare
which, use 4 quarts Of well rotted stable
manure, quarts Of hcn-housc manure,
gallons Of chamber-ley, and quarts of
finely pulverised guano, to one barrel Of
rain water, keeping the barrel covered,
and the liquid well-stirred up. Saturste
the earth around your plants occasionally
with this compound from the rose Of a
watering pot, early in the morning, or
late in the afternoon, not allowing the Ii.
quid to fall on the plants. Plant water.
melons muskmelons, cucumbers, squash
es, DC. Plant pole beans, such as the Ii
ma, or butter bean, &c, four feet apart
each way. Also, bush or dwarf beans
may be planted now, dropping them from
two to four inches apart in the drill. Sow
n full crop of okra in rich, welI.draineG
spot, in beds or ridges 4 feet apart; drop
ping four or five seeds in each hill, and 8
feet apart on the ridges. When well up
thin out to single plant, leaving the most
thrifty. Keep the earth around then
well worked, and haul little soil arounG
the stems Of the plant from time to time
The dwarf" or Prolific Okra is the finest
variety we know. 1t needs no topping,
and often produces over 100 pods on one
stalk. Sow red cabbage, for picking
Sow Cauliflowers and Broccoli early thi,
month, for a full crop. Sow, also, in warn
borders, in the open ground, tomatoes
peppers, DC. Sow radishes, in deep
light soil, every three weeks. for success
sion. Sow citrons, melons and the small
glass melons, for preserves. Cultivatt
these as you would the water or musk
melon. Plant Gherkins in the middle o
this month, and cultivate like cucumbers
Plant all abundance of tie different Gull
nary herbs, such as parsley, savory, mar
jorum, fennel, &c.
THE ORCHHRD.