The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-02-28
From the Soil Of TIE South.

be sure you are Ready, then 60 Ahead"
Years ago, we heard successful planter
remark, that he could easily cultivate all
the land that he could plant. Extravagant
as this may at first appear, yet when prop
erly understood, it is not at all unreasonable.
This gcntlemans idea of planting did not
consist simply i'll opening fnrrow for tho
seed and covering them, but it embraced.
as 1t should do, thorough preparation of
the soil for crop, before seed was ever
put in the ground, and thus understood.
it will be very evident, that it is not so easy
matter to plant larger crop than can be
properly cultivated. One of the great Sc
crets OF good and easy cultivation of a crop.
Is to have the land on which is to be plan
ted, aceH prepared before the work of plant.
ing commences. No matter what the de-
scription Of the soil may be, or what kind
OF crop is to be cultivated, thorough pre-
par;';ion before hand, greatly facilitates the.
labor OF making the crop. If deep plow-
ing is to be done now is the time to do it:
1t close blowing is to be done, now is tho
time to do ii. Better be delayed for week
or two i'll planting, if the land can not be
thoroughly prepared in less time, than TO-
hurry the planting before the fields are
ready for it. The rapidity with which the.
crop will grow off after it comes up, and the
facility with which it can be cultivated af-
forwards, will more than compensate for tho
delay which has been incurred in planting
1t. The experienced plow,nan will readily
appreciate the advantages of this system.
Its chief recommendation is, that it throws.
the hardest labor Of blowing npon the mule.
and the hand, at season of the year when.
they are both better able to stand it. Good:
blowing now will save, not only in the:
number of furrows, but the depth of the.
burrows. necessary hereafter in cuItivating.
the crop. We have frequently heard plan,
ters, after the crop has been Ibid Jy COM
pairing the amount Of plowing which each.
has done in cultivating it. One has, ina
some instances done twice rs much as the.
other, and it not unfrcqucnt1y happens that
he who has done he least blowing in the.
cultivation, has made the largest yield to-.
the acre. The difference, upon enquiry.
turns out that one did most of his work
before he pnt his seed in the gorund, willie
the other has endeavored TO repair the con-
sequences Of neglect in this particular, by a
great deal of work in cultivating the CROP.
Let us therefore reraet and urge upon our.
reader, if you intend TO do any good plow--
ing this year, do it before you commence
to plant. DO not leave your land to he
broken afterwards, but have this a0eN done
now, even though it throws you Lehinds
your neighbors in commencing to plant.
They may seem in the hcginning to have.
the start Of you, but you will find before
summer comes on that their advantage was-
iIusory. Your crop will soon overtake~
theirs, in its growth, and you will keep your
fields clean of the grass, with nearly half.
tho labor which they find necessary.
The foregoing remarks apply also to.
every other species OF preparation which is.
necessary in making the crop. Ectter,taR,.
time now to do any and every job which is,
anticipated about the plantation, than post
pone it for an idle day that may occur
hereafter. There are not many idle days,
on cotton plantation after the corp comes
on, and anything which must Le done at.
all, had better be done now, if possible,.
than defer it. When the work Of cultiva.-
ting the crop commences. that demands,.
and should receive the undivided attention.
Of the planter. Make good beginning, anda
it will be found generally in crop. making,.
to ensure good ending. With slight.
modification Of Davy Crockett's celebrated.
maxim, we advise our readers to abe sure,
you are ready, then 60 ahead."'
The Plantation Garden.-The same.
amount of land planted in anything else,.
would not do so well, as an acre or two,
devoted to Plantation Garden. The num-
Der of vegetables cultivated. need not be-
large, for there are not great many veget--
bles Of which negroes are fond. Cabbaee.,
snap beans, squasbes and onions, are gener-