Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-14
agricultural department,
From the Southern Cultlvator. T,
WORK POR THE MONTH.

From the Southern Culivator.
WORK POR THE MONTH.
Break up the land for corn and cotton very deep
and close, using the subsoi plow after the scooter
or turning plow, so as to stir 1t down to Its very
foundation. Under the top soil, just below where
the plow ordinarily reaches is, in many instances,
and indeed generally, stitt lmpsnetra5le, hard
further and crcumscrbes the pasture for the roots
of plants This can be broken up now while soft
ened by the winter rains; yet, on no account must
you bring it to the surface, but see that it is thor
oughly Broken up beneath. 'sReconect," says
Chambers, ''how your plow, the last year, dragged
through the few inches of broken earth, lying loose
and dry as a bed of ashes upon the surface, while
the point of the plow scraped as on pavement,
over the hard earth beneath. Parched by the hot
burning rays of the sun above, with no open pores
from beneath, inviting or permitting moisture, the
little rootlets searched in vain tor nourlshment and
supplies the plant withered, the fruit persisted,
and all is laid to the drought" Now is the time,
by proper depth of culture, while the ground is
softened to prevent these consequences Of defect
i've breaking up in the preparation of your soil.
All stubble lands, and those which have been
thrown out to rest, should have been already bro
ken up, that their vegetable matter may be decom-
posed, and the clods and hard Jumps pulverized BY
the action of the winter and spring frosts. Stiff
lands cannot be made mellow and friable, except
by tiLage during late autumn and winter. Neither
can proper depth be obtained, except by plowing
and snbsUilias il, winter and early spring
Spring Oats may now be sown--no matter how
soon. Deep preparation of the soil, which is most
always neglected in the case Of this CROP as use
full to it as to any other and would prevent half the
failures which now occur when the spring Is dry.
1t is much better to SOW the winter oat in the fall,
as it is rarely killed by the severity Of the season,
and the product is much more sure as it is mature
before the drought A little Pacific or other Gu
ano or good Superphosphate will increase the yield.
Put in largely, as they come early, and Will save
buying corn.
ffParsnips and Carrots are to be grown for stock
this is the proper time of sowing Sown later than
the early part of March, the crop will be OF no ac-
count. We think Sweet Potatoes and Turnips
more profitable.
Do not let a mania for cotton planting make a
fool of you again, and prevent putting In boun-
tiful crop of corn. Corn has no tax on it. The
tax on cotton is so onerous that were fulcrop and
low prices to come again, its payment would ruin
the already crippled planter. Injurious also to the
freedman, in depressing his wages, it is not at all
likely that his radical friends will repeal it. 1t be-
comes us then, to cultivate more largely the untaX
mems labor, in devoting near half as much ground
to Cotton as he formerly did with the same noml-
nal force; for if he does he will have to throw it
out, or not half tend it as was the case last year.
1t would yield more profit where near railroads, to
plant even less, and spend the money in making
and purchasing manures, both for cotton and corn
When you cannot manure, throw out all your poor
worn out lands, and use only the best. A half
crop of cotton will bring in more money than tull
one, and to try to plant full crop Of cotton this
year, would compel the purchase OF all our food tor
another year. The facilities and rates Of transpor-
tation will not begin to justify this. Plant then,
pared ground, so as to prevent by the early matu-
ring of the crop, and by full supply Of moisture in
the soil during its periods of growth, the casualties
to which it is subject, under other conditions IN
our summer droughts.
Do not forget at this season, the proper care OF
stock. Remember, too, that to certain extent
"shelter IS fodder that animals protected from
the storms and seventies of the season, keep in
good condition on far less food, and will yield more
milk and wool, and do more work than those de-
prived of comfortable roofs to protect them. Re-
member, also, that there is no profit in keeping
any animal whatever, unless kept in thriving con-
dition. An animal is machine for converting for
age and grain into meat, milk, wool and work. Just
as a steam engine is machine for converting fuel
and water into power. To get power out OF the
engine, the supply of coal must be liberal 1t will
not do to put tie fuel needed for one, under two
boilers, as neither Will do quarter work. So with
animals well fed and cared for, they are profitable
ill-fed and neglected. they are useless or nearly
so, for all purposes A well fed cow will yield twice
or three times the usual quantity of milk our plan
ters obtain - so with the work derived from well
fed horse, OK, or mule.
Fences, dc. Continue plantation repairs put
ting the fences, gates, buildings, and implements
in proper repair, cleaning up hedge rows, and get
ting all things ready for service before the pressing
demands Of the crop are upon you.
Manurfng Now is the time to haul out and
dispose of all your compost and lot manures There
is no operation on the farm that begins to pay like
this Do not, then, grudge the time required, and
the labor employed in this slow and tedious opera
ton. Gather from every quarter the materials for
increasing your coming harvest. Wherever they
may be accessible, commercial manures should be
freely employed. 1t will pay. Cotton Seed, if
partially rotted, should be used late, as their vir-
tues will soon be exhausted. If used fresh, they
ought to be applied so soon as to prevent their
sprouting. AS to farm manures, when hauled to
the field, they should bo Immediately mixed with
the surface SOIL or if laid in heaps, covered with
coating of earth. 1t always pays to work over ma,
nures in the yard, throwing them up in heaps, and
covering with rich mould, letting them he in this
state to ferment until needed for application. They
act like nitre beds, and the supply OF fertilzing
matter is largely increased from the atmosphere
Gather from every source, leaves, trash bedding
material, swamp muck, and other material, for in
creasing the plantation supply of manures as the
most important business Of the farmer.