The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-11-24

sible with one horse. In this furrow ap.
ply the fertilizers or whatcver manure
used, after which with subsoil scooter.
ten or twelve inches long, run on zach
sido of tho furrow containing the fertili.
zer, throwing dirt equally from each side
into this furiow. Follow in tho scooter
furrow with good turning plow, max.
ing ridge. This plowing should be
finished before timo for planting, after
which, and Immediately before planting,
"the middles" should be well plowed out
with wide shovel. Should tho beds
have been finished when tho fertilizers
or, compost was deposited, and have be-
come foul md hard, harrow should be
run over thom before planting. By be-
ginning in time, it may be desirable be-
fore completing the preparation for plant.
the middles, first using the scooter, fol.
lowed In the same furrow with good
turning pl1w. For this work the first
furrow should break the land fully as
wide beneath as at the surface. When
1T is desirable to plant in the Same rows
as the previous year, first run furrow
on the old rows to plow up tho stalks,
then follow with scooter, afterwards
again, with wide shovel, opening tho
furrow sufficient for tho fertilizers. To
improve and restore our lands to high
! >stnte Of cultivation, we should adopt n
thorough system Of planting, by docp
plowing in preparation, good manurng,
and proper cultivation. Whore the
previous crop was corn, wheat, or any
land that was not in cotton, tho blowing
should begin early, as wo very seldom
derive benefit by turning over land in
tho fall
Indeed our experience teaches us not
to turn over thu soil to great extent at
any time. On this land which was not
cultivated In cotton the Inst year, we will
commence by breaking with small
shovels, followed in the same furrows by
subsoil scootcrs, breaking tho soil be.
meath as well as at tho top. When, at
tho proper time the manurcs should be
deposited, tho rows are laid off by run.
ming deep furrows at tho proper distances
apart. These distances are to DO do
termined by the nature Of the soil. say
from four to six feet on strong bottom
lands, and three to four feet OH light
land.
We next throw two furrows together
cu"anii"g w ;"b tbS NATURE "%M e""9T The s" powi"g
should he continued until all tho space
between tho rows, or tho ''middles" as
they arc called in cotton parlance, arc
plowcd or broken, by throwing up the
soil upon the beds on each side. The
prevalent custom has been not to "break
out" these midtilcs at the first plowing,
but to do 1t afterwards in the course Of
cultivaling the crop. On lands that have
been thoroughly cultivated, this omis.
sion is probably immatesial. After tho
plowing the ridges Or beds should remain
some little time that tho soil may be set
tied by tue spring rains. We do not ap-
prove Of planting cotton in the hill, for
the reason that where quantity Of good
manure. either compost guano, or chem
ical fertilizers have becn used, q species
Of fermentation is produced which dc.
stroys tho vitality Of tho cotton plant.
This effect was carefully investigated
some years ago by Dr.. Cloud, a cotton
planter of Alabama, who did more for
the true and scientific culture of Cotton,
and gave more patient investigation TO
all the details of successful cotton grow.
ing, than any Other southern writer.
The varieties Of cotton and tho differ
cnt kinds Of seed, will be adverted to
hereafter.
Planting commences about the tenth
Of April or week or ten days earlier on
dry red lands, and may be delayed as
latc as the tenth Of May, and good crops
produced But my delay after the mid.
die of April must abridgo that much
from the cotton picking season, for four
or four and u half months must DO al
lowed for the growth Of the cotton plant.
The seed furrow should be opened
very shallow with bull tongue plow, tho
seed dropped thick anu covered vcry
lightly with board. 10 make the seed
furrow straight and have an even trench
for the seed. wc have used with success
n triangular piece Of wood, with tho mar.
row edge down, attached to tho foot ol
the piow, following the trench made by
tho bull tongue. Cotton needs only q
light covcring-an incl being sufficient
which should DO done with board
fastened to tho lower part Of light plow
This board should be Of some hard wood
On inch or moro thick, about eight inch
cs broad and thirty inches long, bcvclct
on tho lower edge, and cut in curve sc
as to fit the ridge. 1t is essential, cs
pccially where tho planting is della ycd
to roll tho seed in a fertilizer that vii
hasten tho termination. All equal mix
turc Of lime and nshes, or two parts O
ashes to ono Of common salt is recon-
mcndcd; others have soaked the seed il
salt dissolved in liquid stable manure
md afterwards roll in plaster, which i
preferable, rs tho plaster separates tn
seed which. otherwise tends to matt to
gethcr. allowing them to DO droppet
moro regularly In tho seed furrow. II
planting, tho seed should be drilled b,
careful hands. using from ninety to on
hundred pounds, or thrce bushels Il
each acre. ..
Wo hnvo observed for several year
past improved cotton planters, whicl
performed tho work very vol, with
considerable Swing Of seed as we'll a
labor. More attention will probably b
devoted to these improved cotton plant
ers hereafter Yhoro Is no reason VII
the hole operation should not bo pc,
formed with ono implement. .'