The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-04-08
From the Southern Cultivator.
Work GOE. Ihe 3zOnIh Of April.

The question Of how much cotton
should be planted this year, will be
settled in a few weeks. The only ad
vice we have felt at liberty to offer our
readers has been, make ample prepar.
ations for provision crop, and after
that, plant as much cotton as can be
well noaalured, we'll culticated, and
nicely picked ont next fall. Even
when cotton co Amands good price
it is doubtful policy to rely on foreign
supplies of food-the crops of the
North West may be short, or European
demands may draw off the surplus
Moreover, to use a homely but express
sive adage, it is not we'll Ito have all
our eggs in one nest"-the season may
be very poor one for cotton, but very
good for grain. a farmer should d.
versify his crops-at least up to the
point where they begin to clash with
each other. One Of the most serious
objections to the cotton crop, is its in
compatibility with other crops. From
January to January, its calls are al
most incessant-e specially is it difficult
to manage small grain in connection
with it. Whilst, therefore, we have
no disposition to join IN an indiscrim-
mate cutlery against cotton, we should
be exceedingly glad to see the cotton
crop brought within legitimA ate bounds,
and other crops advanced to their
proper dimensions in comparison with
it. In the language Of Bishop Pierce,
I'VE protest against the cotton screw
stretching out its long arms, as if it
would take in all the farm" Another
very important consideration, which
we hope our readers will not forget, is,
that farmers who raise cotton to buy
provisions, are very often compelled
to force sales Of cotton at ruinous
prices. Witness the experience Of
l667-one Of the most disastrous years
in the history of cotton planting at the
South, and much of that disaster due
to the very circumstance now under
consideration.
But to come more Immediately to
the matter in hand Cotton is now to
be planted, and fortunately we have
simple, cheap and capital Cotton
Planters dow Law" for in
stance-which will distribute any
quantity of seed one may wish, in a
straight, narrow drill, leaving it in
most admirable condition for the first
working. Success depends so much
upon the first working being properly
and rapidly done, nothing should be
which may facilitate it. For
those portions of the South where the
season is rather short for cotton, the
dickson" variety is probably best
adapted. We trust other and still bet
ter varieties may yet be produced, and
we would urge upon our readers in.
creased effort in this direction. What
we need most, is early MATURITY, cou-
pied with fine staple.
The impression is general, that in
consequence of the political troubles
in Cuba, sugar and molasses will be
scarce and dear. Our friends in
Louisiana and Texas, where the sugar
cane tiourishes, have an admirable OBJ
portunity for making money. Would
it not be we'll for those living in less
favored regions, to SAGE some naoneu
by planting Sorgho pretty largely.
Our correspondent, DR.. w. A. Hari-
son, of GreenvilIe, S. c., tells US of
great Improvements recently, in puri-
tying the syrup, and making sugar of
Sorgho. Other accounts of similar
import have reached US. We should
be glad to learn more Of this natter
what the Improvements consists in, etc.
As soon as the cotton planting Is
over, the first working should be given
to corn. Don't delay, but push rapid
ly on, so as to be ready for cotton, by
the time it is up. Run around the
corn with a small plow, and if you
have time, break out the middIes thor
oughly. If the corn is young, as it
ought to be at this working, there is
no danger of injury from breaking the
roots. If you have not time to break
out middles, run over with a harrow
or cultivator, and kill the young weeds
and grass. Remember the expert
ment given in the December number of
1868, about soaking corn seed in lime,
mixed with water, to prevent bud
worms, and try it, and see il the result
there given, was an accidental circum-
stance or not. What an impulse would
be given to agriculture, if each one of
our farmers would make only one care
til experiment, guarding all sources
OF error-leaving no point for doubt.
A case of domestic scandal was under dis
cussion at a tea-table- ~Well. let us think