The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-04-23
From the Western Democrat.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.
MR. EDIroR:-WilI you allow me spa ce
in your columns for few practical sugges-
tions 60 the farmers of Mecklenburg and the
neighboring counties: Il is Of the impor-
iaace not only to them but TO the country, that
they should produce as large crop as pos
sible-and the SEASON has been SO far very
unfa,orable. The farmers in this region do
not generally prepare their land sufficiently
BY fall aud winter plnwing. and especially
by deep blowing, 10 induce the soil TO put
forth its lull strength on the corn crop. But
owing to the unusual quantity OF rain dur
ing the past winter, and the spring so far,
there has been no preparation at all by most
farmers. Aud in addition to this. the ground
has been kept saturated with cold water. by
the unusual quantity OF northeast rains,
and the extreme cloudiness Of the weather,
We have had much less than the usual guam
tity Of sunshine, and 50 the temperature Of
the soil is much below the average for this
season the grain therefore will not germi-
nate readily. large replanting will be ne
cessary, and that which does get above
ground will be stunied and dwarfed in its
growth. The question is. under these con-
diiions, how to produce the largest crop.
Before making he proposed suggestions to-
wards an answer 10 this question, | must
call attention to another condition not pecu-
culiar 10 this season. II is generally appre-
hended that we shall have dry summer. on
account Of the great. amount of rain WHICH
has already fallen since, ss IS supposed, the
same quantity nearly may be expected TO
fall every year. This prevalent notion OF
an equal annual quantity Of rain is not true.
There is for every loo atty Of course an annual
average which for this region is about forty
fise inches; but one year the whole quantl-
ty does not reach thirty inches, and another
| Il rises 10 seventy five. So that although we
have had already fall Of some fifteen inches,
one -lhlrd Of the annual average, yet we may
still have more than the average quantity
Tor the remainder Of the year. The appre-
hension, therefore, which IS so common, OF
dry season, is, so far as founded on thi- hy-
pothesis, groundless. But the distribution Of
Ihe rains through the different seasons OF The
year is a matter OF quite as much conse-
quence ss the quantity. II the corn crop
does not get rain during certain critical
period of us grow th Tor three or four weeks,
/ il will fail, no matter what quantity may fall
before or afterwards Now, the distribution
of the rain is not uniform over any large
| district, but varies often from one nelghbor-
houd 20 another, as every farmer knows.
The country Is sub-diyided into small dis.
tricts, limited by the yarious features ol
the surface that Is by water courses, high
ridges, watersheds dividing river systems
&c.
Along the dividing ridge between the Ca.
tawba and Yadkin, running through lredei
and Mecklenburg, the distribution OF the
summer rains is such as 10 endanger at least
eyery third crop to The extent of twenty
20 fifty per cent. By a series Of obserya-
tions continued through four years at David.
son College, have found that the corr
reaches its critical stage from three TO tiyG
weeks too soon. And by planting with re-
ference 10 this observation for three year.
past full crop has been secured, while
there was partial failure IN the neighbor'
hood two Of those years.
The suggestions then which would MAKE
TO the laimers Of this section, and 10 other
similarly situated, are obvious. They arr
intended 10 meet the conditions maintained
viz cold, wet soil, as vet unturned, an'
the probability Of "dry SPELL when th
grain Is usually in its forming stage and mos
needs moisture. | would say TO the Far
mers, then. do not be in haste to plant you
corn. bu, lay your plans for planting fror
four to SIX weeks later than usual. Emplu
this time in turning over the soil 70 as grea
. depth as possible, in order 10 admit III
air and sunshine, 70 dry and warm and pul
. yerize aud fertilize IL, and at the same tim
prepare II to retain the moisture Of ou
scanty summer rains. List up your land
}. throw IL into ridges, with two-horse plow
In this way large surface is exposed, an
greater depth secured for the roots Of u
: plant, which enables il better to resis