Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-08
Hints for May.

From the Southern Cahivator's chap
ter on Farm Work for May," we Gull
the annexed hints, and hope they will re,
ceive due consideration from our agricul-
tural readers:
Oats, Rye. Wheat, and other small
grains, in some places, must be cut the last
of this month, or early in June. and the
ground afterwards manured, deeply bro
ken up, and planted in Corn, Cow peas,
or sweet Potato "draws.'
Early in the month, in the best ofyour
corn, plant between the hills the Corn
field bean, which will afford snaps all
summer, and the white sorts when dry,
are a good winter vegetable.
Pumpkins and winter squashes may
be planted on any unoccuped ground. 1t
must be of good quality, or hills prepar-
ed for them by digging deeply and pro-
viding a rich compost.
Cow Peas, to make hay, may now be
sown broadcast or drilled, in well manur-
ed and we'll plowed land. Corn should
also be drilled, to cut green for forage.
1t will require about three bushels ofseed
per acrc-sow thickly in broad, deep
drills, three and half feet apart-use
all the manure you can spare, and cut the
corn for your stock as soon as it tassels.
Lay eff your patch in rows, and SOW at
intervals Of week or ten days, SO that
it may be cut in succession. Millet and
Chinese Sugar Cane may be sown in the
same way; and in the present scarcity OF
forage, forage is always scarce will be
found of the greatest value.
Chinese Sugar Cane, as a Syrup crop,
may still be planted, and should be put
in extensively, as heretofore directed. Il
will surpass common corn in yield, on
The same land, and properly appreciated
and managed, is one of our great re-
sources.
A great many seem disposed to give
up Sorghum culture, but it is mistaken
policy. The prices of cane sugar and
molasses are so high ct present. and like.
Iy to continue so, that it will be found
sound economy to continue TO manutac
ture enough syrup for home Use. Cooks
Evaporator, and the new modes of dc.
fecation now employed at the West, pro.
duce syrup superior in quality TO what
we supposed possible. We have seen
nice coffee sugar made from the juice OF
one of these varieties Of lmphee. Don't
give up the crop.
Sweet Potato slips should be planted
very extensively everywhere A gvy
deep, wide furrow, plentitully filed with
manure, upon which throw mellow and
somewhat broad and fiat bed-rake light.
ly the surface OF the bed, make good
large holes and set your" draws so that
the bottom leaf is just above the ground.
If the roots of the "draws" up to this
leaf are grouled,,a' or dipped in bat
ter made by stirring woods earth and a
little fresh cow manure in rain water,
and then a gill of water poured around
each "draw" in the hole, covering this
moisture up with dry earth on the sur.
face-they will ''grow off" without any
check, as will also Tomatoes, Egg Plants,
Cabbages, or any other vegetable we are
in the habit of waiting for "a rain to trans
plant. In dry weather it is best to set
out plants by this plan, after four or five
O'Clock in the evening, so that they may
have the benefit of the night dews. If
very hot. the more delicate plants may
be shaded with shingles. A handful of
pine straw or similar "Eaulch" may be
dropped lightly on each plant before the
sun becomes scorching the next day.. If
short of good draws" you may extend
your crop of sweet potatoes, by using
cut-vines from your earliest paintings of
the tubers. Insert the root deeply in the
ground press the earth about it, and draw
fine earth about the stem, so as to cover
all but the roots.
If Millet and Chinese Cane are already
vigorously growing, or put in at once in
rich and well prepared land, you will be
able to get several cuttings during the sea-
son. But if you wait to sow until hot
weather, the growth will'be weak, languid
and unsatisfactory. The weeds will now
begin to claim your particular and con-
slant attention Nip them in the bud"
do not let them ges foothold-cut
them down without mercy, or they will
be sure to choke out destroy your crops.
Now. at the outset, 10 ths time 70 choke