The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-19
WHEELING W. Va FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 10, 1869.
Early Sowing n Means of Escaping
the DrOuth.

1t begins to be understood, now more
fully than ever, that early planting is
the way to take advantage of drouth.
The drouth usually occurs in summer,
mostly midsummer, and the early rains
will so advance the crop that it will oc-
eupy and shade the ground, and form a
sufficient growth to reach maturity. If,
In addition, the ground is made mellow
deeply, but especially on the surface,
and if the soil is we'll drained, there can
be little doubt of at least fair yield in
good soil. This is so with the grains
and the early ycloVer early Plastered, and
with potatoes and root crops. Potatoes
cannot we'll be planted too early. No
fear of frost while in the ground, as they
are put in deep, or should be, say SIX
inches, the frost not being able to pene-
trate that depth at that time, and if it
does, is not likely TO hurt the tuber, as
the frost will gradually draw out, and
thus save it. There is difference in
seasons; but even a wet or good grow
ing season is not drawback on early
planting. In drouth (and that is the
rule) it certainly is an advantage, and
it is sometimes the only means in Sc
we're dry weather in summer to save a
crop. Potatoes, oats and barley, you
cannot well get them out too early. The
past few years have demonstrated this,
but particularly the past season. We
have noticed with good deal of inter
est the early. putting out of grain. Oats
that were sown on the first mellow soil
generally the mellowest-were, uni
formly, a good crop, early, bright, and
good berry. The late sown were uni
formly a failure. Rust struck them,
there was light straw, and light berry.
The drouth did this, as it was very Sc
we're, commencing when the late oats
were sown and continuing pretty much
till they were cut.
So it was with barley, and so with po-
tatOes. The late growth of the Garnet
and Peachblow was somewhat owing
to the late rains and late growing of
these roots, as they will grow the whole
season through. The early Goodrich
vas fair crop. The few planted late
were failure. The very earliest plant
ed Peachblows, Garnets, Goodrichs,
California Reds" Prince Alberts, and
all were a success. We never saw any
better potatoes than such a medley of
them planted on the first bare soil when
dry enough, the earliest of any planted.
We were surprised to see the load after
load that was drawn from the field, and
all sound, and most of them large.
Now, here we have an example. 1t
was the early planting that did this.
The drouth could not be more severe,
and it began early, soon after spriHg
sowing was done, catching some of the
hggards.
On the other hand we have noticed
specially, that the late planting of the
early sorts was uniformly failure.
Here is case so clear that it cannot
be misunderstood.
AS to the grass, that was very fine the
fore part of the season, in consequence
of the long, warm rain, which devel-
oped the latent germs, and gave us a
fine stand of grass. 1t SO covered the
ground, shaded it, that the growth was
not much arrested by the drouth, the
grass drawing all the while from the
deep fountains of the great rain of the
spring; so it seemed.
1t was the clover, however, that did
the best. This grew unimpaired to ma
turity, and was a thick, heavy crop
not coarse, but rather fine, dense and
erect 1t was cut quite early, and con-
tinued it's second crop uninterruptedly.
This the grass did not, but the clover
did. In all directions we could see this.
The tufts rose, and continued to rise till
they occupied the ground for a second
crop. This removed, there still were
the tufts putting forth. Then the rains
taking hold, there was seen, October II,
the densest and highest covering, not
only of clover, but of all the grasses.
The drouth only held back, or checked
for while the crop, the rain taking up
the growth of the early moisture, con-
tinued it; and then we have the result.
We think we cannot sufficiently draw
attention to this early putting out of
the crops, corn excepted. That needs a
good start; and later planting is requir-
ed to give it this. But most of the
grains, tubers and root crops, should be
put out as early as the season will al
low. Much can be done to secure this
if we SO think and arrange accordingly.
Late fall or winter blowing will prepare
the ground for this, and if the soil is
dry or well drained, as it should be,
there is no difficulty in getting ont our
crops i'm time. +. G..