Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-19
Dickson's Culture and Dickson's Sweep D
SPARTA, Ga, Dec. 5th, 1868.

SPARTA, Ga, Dec. 5th, 1868.
Editor Southern Cultivator -
There is much confusion throughout the
country as to the plan Of agriculture l
pursue-soms using the solid sweep as
part Of my plan. Let me say, I would not
have one of them Moreover, there are
plans called mine, that cannut endorse.
I will give my plan in very few words.
First, drain the wet lanJ, and it you ish,
or it needs it, ditch the hill sides--theu
deepen your soil; charge it we'll with veg
etable matter, either by rest or sowing oats
and feeding off in the field, sowing and
turning under pea vines or clover aud
grasses, where they will succeed, g.,
Then plow deep, and subsoil to the ex' en-,
of yonr ability. Gather all the manure
possible from previous crops, cotton seed.
manure from stock, leaves, pine straw, and
mud and other scrapings-:hen add each
year to each crop, com, oats, cotton, wheat,
DC such soluble ammonia and hone earth,
&C.. as Peruvian guano, and Dissolved
Bones, Land Plaster, Salt, and wood a-hes
may have in them--th latter, if to be had
in any form, at price that wohld warrant
its use.
Plant corn eight inches below level
put the manure in three or four inches of
the seed, and cover about one and half
inch deep. Cultivate shallow-frst plow.
ing l-2 inch second. one inch, and third,
one.half inch. prefer heavy sharp
sweep, % to 28 inches wide, either fnr
corn or cotton. Former communications
will show how I prepare land for corn and
cotton.
If you carry out this plan we'll as to
order and time, it will never fail. One Of
your correspondents from South CaroI,ns,
in criticisirg my plan, says You cannot
make corn without wet July. have
made irst rate crop Of corn, with no rain
after the l9lh of June, aud can do it every
time. Below will tell that gentleman
and others how 20 it. l have never had
to resort to the extreme there described,
but it will pay.
If you wish fort to stand hot and pro.
tracted attack, you must water and provis-
ion, as we'll as man it. in order that it may
hold out until the siege is raised-remem-
ber one day unprovided for may prove
fatal, so if you wish cotton plant or corn
stalk to stand hot burning sun, and dry
northwest wind from four 10 ten weeks, and
come out safely, you mus, water and pu.
in sufficient soluble food to last. How ia
that to be Gouel Answer, by deepening
the soil, pIowing deep, subseiiing, and fill
ing it With humus, that Is may retain she
grsatest amount of water. The soil 10 like
a sponge, if too porous water will sink
through tiff too close it will hold bu, lit
tie. 6ud the humus, clay an d due pro-
portion Of sand, constitutes the best Of soil,
to succeed nnder all circumstances, with
soluble plant food in abundance.
l will now give you plan that will
carry the cotton plant through eight or
ter weeks Of drought with safety, and ena
ble it to get ahead Of the csterpillar-the
boIl.worm may come too soon for full
crop, but ono need not fear the cater
pillar, 4 they do not come before the fret
Of September. Always remember, the
soil mus. be good and deep, and subsoiled
six inches deeper, and furnished With .
good supply of guano. dissolved bones,
plaster and salt. A cotton plant to stand
two weeks always remember 70 use the
Dickson Select sesd,) must have four
iuehe, Of soil aud siz inches Of sub soil--
three weeks. six inches, ssme Of aubso,l--
four wssks, eight inches. same ,sub-soiiiug,
and for every week Of dry weather you viii
need an additional inch, with the same
six inches ssbsoil, broken below. So you
s,ll sse, 10 stand 1 ten uesks' drought, you
nas,, hAvs . soil sixteen inehss deep, with
six Inches broken below. ..
|. This plan viii bold the forms and boiis
daring The whole tims, and NOT give than
up. whsniit rains, tu. shouid you prepare
Erigts md yoar sappliss siys out Of .ar..
apdsr oas week bstors ssintoreansat come,
10 The sOtm Of wasss, much Is iost, aud il
may ha TOO stass 10 sssrt& snsn, sIf you
nsSr,ase sff =, rshs. ts.j.,,:s s.al ,,n,,