Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1858-07-17
HINTS FOR THE MONTH.


crop steadily to encourage the develop.
|ment and retention of forms and bolls.
Shallow, surface culture, with light
sweeps, followed by the hoe, will be
found the best method, in all cases. Do
not allow the grass or weeds to get foot
hold either in the row Or middles-wage
a steady and relentless warfare upon
them during the month, after which
they will not give you much trouble.
Where Corn is not laid BY" it will
be web to give it constant sur face soork-
ing until prevented by the spreading Of
the blades across the rows. Allow no
weed to appear in yonr corn field-both
weeds and corn cannot flourish ON the
same ground. Do not use the turning
Iplow among your corn after the first two
workings. 1t breaks and tears up the
young rootlcts, and does far more injury
than good. At the last working, SOW
Cow Peas broadcast, and cover with a
Iswcep, cultivator or harrow. Plant
Pumkins, in every second or third hill,
and when well up, thin to one plant in
hill, and work carefully.
Cow Peas should now be sow1 broad
east for hay, at the rate of bushel or
six pecks to the acre. Scatter over the
surface evenly, and cover lightly with
turning plow; OR, first plow your ground
deeply, sow your seed, and drag it with
a harrow. Cow Peas intended for seed
may be sown in drills, three feet apart.
Pumkins may be planted as seperate
crop. Prepare the ground as for water
melons; hills 10 feet apart. When
well up, thin to one or two strong plants
In hill, give these a sprinkling of Plas-
ter or Gypsum "a small handful to each
hill) when the dew is on; loosen the
earth, carefully breaking the crust, with
out disturbing the plant and then let
them run. The after-work consists in
shallow surface culture, and the destruc-
ton of weeds, until the vines cover the
entire ground.
Pulling Fodder, we have often condemn
ed heretofore, and considered it !" behind
the age" in all respects. It should be
discontinued by all enlightened and econ
omical planters. We confidently offer
the following substitute:
Corn Fodder.-Break up very deeply,
apiece of rich land, harrowit finely, and
with broad shovel plow layit off in
drills three feet apart. In these drills
scatter corn at the rate of 40 or 80
grains to the foot, and cover with hoe,
rake, board or harrow, drawn length
wise along the drill. When well up run
around it pretty close with long rooter,
and repeat after 10 or Is days. In the
course of 10 or Is days more break out
the entire middles with the rooter, and
finally lay by with the shovel plow, run
ming up and down in the same furrow,
midway between the drills. On good
land, prepared and worked in this way,
the yield viii be from 8 to s tons (some-
times even 10y of excellent fodder per
acre. This is as much AS can be pulled
from 20 to 30aacres, in the common way,
at one tenth Of the labor Pound for
pound. il is as good, if not better than
pulled fodder, as it contains the entire
JUICE and strength Of the plant, which,
N tne other case, has gone to the forma-
s,oa O the year or grain. The loss of
ana injury to the grain, by depriving
icoln ssalks of their leaves before all
lsr,wah mas ceased, is fully equal to the |
salne OF the fodder pulled. We, there |
''ore, desire that our readers should aban-