Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1858-02-24
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:farn(ers' GoIunllr.
From the American Cotton Planter and Soil.
PLANTATION WORK FOR FEBRUARY.


1t is matter of tue first Importance to conf
mence plowing early; have the work done
thoroughly and deeply, and the stalks, both
corn and cotton, of last year, buried deeply in
tho soil, beyond the reach Of the subsequent
culture of the crop. As insignificant Us this
work may appear to those who are in the habit
Of burning their stalks in advance Of the p!ows,
allow us " assure you, that in practice, you will
find it pays well After cutting or knocking
down the stalks, or pulling them up, when large,
have your rows laid off in the water burrows Of
the previous rows, with good large two-horse
plow, deep and open, then with your inferior
hands, have the stalks laid along straight and
evenly in those burrows, and bed On them. This
is the exact food, in part, for the stalk Of your
intended crop, already in great part ao>imilated,
and all ready, as the process Of decay takes
place, to be appropriated by tue growing plant.
If you have arranged your fields under the sys-
tenn of level culture, that we so earnestly urged
upon your attention last month, you will not
hesitate for moment, to commence ploughiug
at once; the subsequent heavy rains, tuat will
fall during the latter part, perhaps OF this month.
and in March, will, instead Of washing and
baking your land, as it did when YOU plowed
up one hill and down the other, serve to fertil-
ize and the better prepare it for producing fine
crop. Land plowed deep and level is never in
jured by rain water falling on it, it is frequently
injured, however, when not plowcd level, by rain
water running off it or over it.
Planters should never lose sight Of this car
dinal truth in plantation economy-that every
advance they make, approximating perfect
preparation of the soil-thoroughly drained
broken deep, well puircrized and highly fertil-
lied, multiplies to That extent the certantic> o
a rich harvest. To acc Jmplsh this, few con-
ditionS are absolutely necessary, though strictly
within the means OF every planter in the coun-
try, save perhaps the important subject Of the
proper and thorugh drainage Of land. This,
the planter is very well able to 10, after he has
once familiarized himself with the principles Of
the system Of drainage. This in; oriant subjec:,
too little practi>ed in the planting States, and
but imperiectly understood by the great body
OF planters, proceeds upon the obvious princl-
Piles of first cutting off the supply of water by
ditchins, that renders low, damp places too moist
for cultivation secondly, bitches so arranged as
to cut off the flow of water that would other
wise pond on land from moro elevated locah-
ties, etc.
PLows AND PLowING.-On the subject Of
plows and plowing, we ask the especial atten-
alton economy is dependent almost entirely OH
the plow. Thus you perceive there can scarce
ly be too much Importance attached to the plow.
a good plow drawn by good team, and held
by good p!ougllman, not onE; develops the
hidden treasures of the soil, (itS productive fer
tility,) but it may be so used is to prevent ell
tirely the washing Of the soil, and furthermore,
which is perhaps, its greatest advantage, may
be made 10 counteract, almost entirely, the dis
astrous extremes Of druugLts, either way, which
the planting interest of the country depricate>
every year, more or less. The on remedy in
our climate, in the absence of irrigation, for these
sure and certain evils-drought from dry wealth
er or drought from too much wet, is to be found
in the use Of good, the best of plows, connected
with level culture.
We tondly hope, and we expect to see the
day, when there will be uchmprovemcnt made
in our plows and our system Of plowing. US tu
enable Us to plow our lands in preparing them
for the crops thirty-sx inches deep The value
of the plow in the performance vi such work,
cheap and practical, will be appreciated; land
too, thus wrought, will te appreciated, and u
remuneratipg crop every year from land so
treated, is one OF the things that may he relied
on. We are quite aware that there is an opin-
this position, its truth however, when developed
in the progressive improvement of the age, will,
like the glorious sun unclouded, shine none the
less bright.
OATS.-Sprng oats should be soN'n during
this month, and in the performance of this work
we would again almonisL our planting friends
against the iniolicy Of sowing the grain first on
the unbroken surface, to be plowed under with
the trash and litter Here is tue difficulty; one
third of the grain, at least, never comes up, il
the land be well plowed, is it should of course
be; and another third is so crippled and stunned
in getting up, through the deep cover, amid trash
and sod, as to be weakened and afflicted by the
"black blast" ere it natures.
First plow up your land well with good turn
plows, and before any rain falls On il, SOW your
oats and harrow them in smoothly and nicely !;
all your seed will come up quickly, grow oil
vigorously. and you have no "blast'
SWEET PorAToES.-Prepare and led your
sweet potatoes the first dry, warm spell of wealth.
er that comes on during this month. Spread a
pretty heavy coat OF compost manure Oil the
surface Of the ground intended for the bcd-say
five feet wide b., the length that will furnish YOU
plants enough-Cig up the lane! deep with good
long grub hoe, then rake smoolhe and pulvcrizcd
and lay down your potatoes, the best 70 have,
nearly touching throughout the entire surface.
This done. cover the potatoes with some light,
well pulverized compost, then throw on this three
to four inches Of soil, dug up immediately around
the bed. which bitches and drains off the be,!
efectuay, giving it partially the advantages Of ii
hot bed. This should he protected at FIRST, till
about the middle OF March, b. boards or brush
from the hard rains rabbits and chickens The
land intended for the potatoc crop shoall be laid
out and thoroughly prepared: by deep p!owil;.
and manuring, that it may be ready, (wlcn the
slips come up on the bed lay simply throwing
up the ridges to receive the slips.
Corn PIANTl;G.-Solne planters, rather than
spend the time preparing the land bvrlowng
and nanuring. prefer to plant corn during this
month. There is, however. no advantage in il
whatever; it certainly dwars the stalk ana add,
nothing TO the size or certainty Of the car tits
much better TO spend the time in properly pre-.
parin. tie land, and commence Planting after
the first Of March, which is Il snail Job when
everything is ready il. however, it b. done a
all, the seed corn should bc coierrL v,r shallow.
Everything should be put in conn plcle uricr
during this month for planting the crop, 80 that
when that work commences there shall be no
unnecessary delay in fixing and mending up.
Have all the tools Of the plantation repaired and
put in complete working order-the plows, hoes,
harrows and every implement connected with
planting. Overhaul YOUR plantation gear, and
see that the haimes, collars, backJandS, hahn
strings and trace chains are all in good Fix and
read; for work. Your seel corn should not he
negle; ted till the day o: planting: it should be
shuckel out, selected carefully, shelic,l and put
III barrels beforehand. Thus prepared. as every