Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-02-13
sgMlner, 91epM=tr'tent,
Prcm tho Feb. No. of tho Southern oultiva.or.
Work for the Month.

a.,
plo. after the scooter or turning plow,
so rs to stir it down to its very founda-
ton. Under the top soil, just below
where the p!ow ordinarily reaches is, in
many instances, and indeed generally, a
stiftimpene:rable, hard pan," which pre-
vents the water from descending further,
sntl circumscribcs the pasture for the
roots of plants. This can be broken up
now while softened by the winter rains;
yet, on no account must you bring it to
the surface, bat see that it is thoroughly
broken up beneath. Recollect," 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 OIL a 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 for nourishment or sup
pies-the plant w,hered, the fruit perish
ed, and all is laid to the drought" Now
is the time, by proper depth of culture,
while the ground is.soficned, to prevent
these consequences of defective breaking
up in the preparation Of your soil.
All stubble lands, and those which have
been thrown out to rest, should have been
already broken up, that their vegetable
matter may be decomposed and the clodS
and hard Jumps pulverized by the action
of the winter and spring frosts. Stiff
lands cannot be made mellow and friabie.
except by tillage during late autumn and
winter. Neither can proper depth be
obtained, except by blowing and subsoi!-
ing III winter and early spring
Spring Oats may now be sown-no
ra..t,er how soon Try the New Bruins.
" OK variety. Deep preparation of the
soil, which is almost always neglected in
the case of this crop, is Ms useful to it a>
to any other, and would prevent half the
failures which now occur when the spring
is dry. |; is much better to SOW the win
ter oct in the fall, as it is rarely killed by
The severity OF the season, and the pro-
duct is much more sHe, Us it is ,naturcd
before the drought, a little Pacific o:
other Guano OF good Superphosphate will
increase the yield. Pat III largely, as
they coale early, and Will save buying
corn.
ii p..rsi,ips and Carrots arc to be
grown for stock. this is the proper time
of sowing. Sewn later than The early
bart Of March the crop will be Of no ne
count. We think Sweet Potatoes and
Turnips more profitable.
Sow Lucern the latter part ofthemonth
Make the ground deep and fine, enrich il
thoroughly, throw it up in lo~ beds.
twenty inches ssurder. on which plant
your seed, covering shallow, about half
an inch, with ane SOIL 1t will do to cut
once or twice this season, and five or six
times the next year. This is good crop
Wheat fields in good condition. can
still be sown with Glover. The only dif:
iiculty is, that crao grass is more trouble
some than if the closcr was fall sown;
and it is not so secure against the sun.
February sown clover did finely last year,
notwithstanding the drought.
Corn planting commences this month
in the climate oflower Georgia, and when
early planted, makes almost invariably
the best crop. If you are buying corn
better send few dollars to any of th,
Northern Seedsmen advertising with US
for little King Phillip or other best
early field corn. 1t will cost you three
to five dollars per bushel. Plant early.
on rich land /; the stalks in the rows about
Is inches apart. You will have roasting
ears and ripe corn before yon know it.
Plant Of this only enough for summer
use DO not let a mania for cotton plant.
ing make a fool Of You again, and pre-.
vent putting in d bountiful crop Of corn
Corn has no tax on it. The tax on cot.
ron is SO onerous that were a full crop
and low prices to come again, its payment
would ruin the already crippled planter.
Injurious also, to the freedman, in dc
pressing his wages, it is not at all likely
his radical friends will repeal it. 1t be.
comes US then. to cultivate more largely
tae untaxed crops. Moreover, no maj,
is safe with freedmens labor, in devoting
near hslf as much ground to Cotton as he |
formerly did with the same nominal
force; for if he does, he will have to
throw it out, or not half tend it rs 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 full one
AMI to try to plant full crop this year
would compel the purchase of all our
food another year. The facilities and |
rates of transportation will not begin to
Justify this. Plant, then, plenty of corn.
aud plant early and on deeply prepared |
ground, so as to prevent, by the early
maturing 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 droughta.
Do not forget Mt this season, the prop
er care of stocks. Remember, too, that |
to certain extent, "shelter is todder"-
that animals protected from the storms
and soverities of the season, keep in good |
condition on far less food, and will yield |
more milk and wool, and do more work
than those deprived of comfortable roofs
to protect them. Remember, slso, that
there is no profit in keeping any animal