The Van Buren press., 1869-09-28

tues NhS NhiSOi " VIZ VH k|fN" a ~"
be requested to publish the same.
Mr.. EDITOR: In the above proceed
ings of the Crawford County Agricultural
and Mechanical Association it has been
requested that you publish the essay of
NJ. F. Locke, Esq, in your paper, which
| herewith inclose you, and in behalf of
the association in compliance with the
resolution adopted.
j. b. OGDEN, Sec'y.
To determine and properly understand
the varied interests contemplated by this
organization, is the duty of an Agricul-
tural and Mechanical Association. To
properly, and to the best advantage, ap-
portion and sub-divide each class Of i'm
postant occupations within the premises
anticipated, by the organic rules Of this
society. is of equal moment And to ex-
cite determined and unyielding disposi
ton on the part of the members of the
same to learn to demonstrate in their re-
speetive persons and upon their own
premises, the truth or falsty Of every
new or untried plan, invention or sug-
gestion, that the same may become in our
history and experience either fixed fact
or known failure, should be our aim.
And in keeping with this plan of ope
ration, allow me (while ] reglet that the
task has not been assigned TO one ofrper
judgment and more experience) to give
lew such material and practical sugges-
tons, in this connection, as are held to
be worthy of consideration, and upon
which the Investigations of the assccla
ton are requested and the impartial opin
| ion or the same asked for.
1t is, in the first place, suggested that
the agricultural interest is the paramount
interest OF this country; that the farmer
pushes the lever which moves the car OF
prosperity, freighted, as it is, with the
united interest OF all and that, as a con
sequence, whatever retsrds the farmers
interest initiates against the prosperity
OF the country; and, ergo in proportion
as the laws, customs and regulations Of
the country and of society are made TO
foster and facilitate agricultural pursuits,
will our people be benefited And there
fore we treat Of this important occupa-
ton first, and perhaps in this article only.
1t is suggested that the first duty OF a
planter. in order to the planting of either
of the important crops Of this country, is
to plow deep, deeper, deepest; snbsoil to
the depth of say y inches carly in the
spring. Secondly, if ready to plant corn
between the beginning Of March and the
middle of April, do 50, with Corn rant
er, either on a fiat ridge or upon d level )
but if after said date, ridge out the entlre
middle and plant in the centre or water
furrow. Corn will make most drilled
and left one stalk in the hill The short
ness Of the cotton growing and maturing
season, in this latitude, makes 1T impera-
tive to plant as carly as u stand can be
obtained Cotton should he planted On
a fiat ridge, with Planter, care having
been taken to roll the seed well in leach
ed ashes, and the Planter set to drop
about five seed in \ place, some J inches
apart to obviste the great trovble Of thin
ning; the width Of rows depending upon
the strength and fertility of the soil
Thirdly plow round corn and cotton
closely and tolerab'y deep with bull
tongue plow, afterwards plow and shall
low with solid steel sweeps and cultiya
tor alternately. Let the sweeps be made
of width corresponding to the rows, so
that two furrows to the middle will plow
out the same and hill tho cotton or corn
at the same time. Let your cultivator,
with seven to nine steel teeth, be stocked
so as to contract to suitable width that,
when time permits, you can run twice 10
the row, and to expand TO double width,
if the emergency and condition OF the
crop authorizes, that the entire middle
can be swept at furrow. Let these chief
implements of husbandry, in the produc-
ton of corn and cotton in this locality,
follow each other once every fourteen
days, and weeds norg viii gro" iatse
enough to obstfuct the running OF the
plow, neither will they choke your pro.
duce or hinder its growth; and in this
way one good powman, with good
mule or horse, will plow 90 acres and do
it well of an ordinary season.
The next suggestion, desire to make,
is that all of the implements referred to
ABOVE. az Dclny HcCcoseil ~ Ai'"'", Wv
best crops of both corn and Gotten ia
this quarter, are such as any OF our COED
blacksmiths in the country could make,
and any mechanic could stock. And,
again | aver, that the Buckeye Factory
Of New York, nor the Moline Works of
Illinois, nor yet the Pittsburgh, nor Lou
isvilc shops, have produced better turn
ing plow than the well and properly
shaped steel diamond wing, which can be
made by dozen mechanics in Crawford
county, for less than onc.half we are re-
quired to pay for the Moline, the Cal
oun, the Brinley, etc, etc, after send
ing our money too far from us to ever
reach the confines Of Arkansas again,
most likely. >.
Once more may suggest that poll
cy has obtained among US, which must
prove disastrous, if too closely followed
allude to tho too common practice OF
planting cotton to buy breadstuffs, pork,
etc. with. But one fact need be addueed
| Al. ,>al acououv not TO anV fol-