The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-07
j. L. POWER, Sec.


Work for April.
We cannot better occupy our edito-
rial space this morning than with the
following practical suggestions to the
farming community, whose branch of
industry deserves to be fostered and
cherished especially, because it is the
foundation of all other industrial in
forests in our country. Thus far the
season has been very unfavorable for
farming operations, and the corn crop
in consequence Of the unusually back
ward spring has been delayed at least
"a month, but there is yet time to re
gain all that has been lost by the prac-
tice Of the virtues of patience, forti-
tudc and industry:
"CoEN-ThOugh the cotton plant
ing season is at hand, do not fail to
put in plenty Of corn All lands in
tended for cotton, that are imperfcctly
and roughly prepared, had better be
devoted to corn and other crops The
necessarily high rates we are now pay
ing for corn, admonish US to plant a
large crop of this great staple Make
our own corn cheap and abundant
Corn will render labor cheaper and
easier to obtain. Cotton is a great
crop, bat we have yet to see the plan
ter that from small beginnings has
made himself fortune, who has con
fined his agricultural operations to the
production e. cotson.l The thriving
planters Of our acoelJptance, while
they made cotton q, Oh product,
looked sharply a.se tf-Srops, and
somehow did it to,,s hout seeming
to make little if ans less of the staple
than their flhors. Besides cotton
to soil, thu = s. SLY managed to have
plenty Of fam, heat, peas, potatoes
au,s bacon for home consumption, and
s. their carefulness to make a sure
- . Of this, ordinarily had some.
present interest Of the planting States
10 make wheat, corn or bacon for eX-
port, but we do believe they should
produce enough for home consump-
ton The time spent in hauling corn
some miles~from the depot, would do
a good deal towards producing it at
home Add to this the fact that on
most plantations, about corn enough
to run them can be made, without any
material interference with the prOduc-
ton of cotton, and then the other fact,
that the man who makes both corn and
cotton has, in bad year, two chances
to escape utter failure; for, if his corn
is made at home, he has that sure,
while. if planter depends on cotton
TO buy his corn, and the cotton crop
fails he is 'dead broke" having no
resource-neither corn nor cotton.
Make corn, then-produce everything
in the way of food and forage needed
to keep up your place, and let the cot
ton sold, above what is required for
the wages of the hands, represent the
net profit of the estate.
Then manure heavily-plow deep
use the best and heaviest seeds You
can obtain. And let your after-cul-
ture be of the most thorough charac
ter-worlung close and deep at the
early stage of the crop, but very shall
low when the roots extend, so that
they may be unbroken. Indeed these
few things constitute the whole sys-
tenn of corn growing; deep breaking
up, especially under the row-plant
inc the corn below the general level
plenty of manure applied-thorough
early working and frequent shallow
stirring of the surface, during the
growth of the crop, with seraper and
sweep.
CorroN-If you are sure You have
cot enough of corn and other crops
planted, to supplyyour wants-making
aliberal allowance for the uncertainty
of the seasons, then plant cotton. No
other crop produced for sale. If prop
erly managed, will draw so little from
mother earth. There are instances Of
level lands, which with no other ma
nuring than resting the land every
second or third year, and the return of
all the seed and plant to the soil, in
which the last crops picked were much
better than the first We have Mr..
Dickson's word and example, to prove
that cotton plantation can be so
managed that its productiveness will
increase each year, and the annual in
crease of the crop viii pay heavy
profit on the money expended in fertil
izers. And, mark it, this way of mana
cling cotton plantation, after little,
Is the only one that viii pay with any
certainty.
In planting cotton, it is a great
thing to have the ground in proper
order at frst-the beds straight, if the
surface admits, or if not, without alb /
rubt curves. Take time, then, TO have |
the soil well prepared, even if you /
plant fewer acres. The harrow will be I
found useful in pulverizing the surface
of the beds, when rough and cloddy.
While is very important to get an
early stand, it is better secured by a
thoroughly prepared soil, than by has
ty untimely planting. Read the articles
on cotton in this and preceding num-
bers"
The next Mississippi Press Conyen-
ton viii be held in Brandon. on
Wednesday, the 1st day of Nav. The
Masonic fraternity intend giving a
splendid ball the first night, and the
good people of Brandon are preparing