The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-10-28
ANDERSON s. c. THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 1S69

with scooter plow, going about as deep
the Other two flirrows, and followed, on
each side of the scooter furroW, by turn,
plow running seven inches deep. lie
opens the seed furrow with bull tongue
piow, drops the seed thckly and covers
lightly with a board. The blowing is
done with the famous Dickson sweep,
running shallow-the last plowiug not
more than half an inch deep-and the
blowing and hoeing is repeated as often
as is necessary to keep the ground per-
fectly clean, but the soil is not hedped up
about the cotton nor the roots cut By either
ploa7 or hoe. When the crop is " laid by -
the ground is nearly level and smooth.
g Corn.-The land being broken up at
at least eight or nine inches deep and
sub-soiled if practicable, he lays off fur
rows, with long shovel plow, seuen feet
apart then, commencing at the opposite
end, he opens out the furrow with longer
shovel plow, leaving the furrow open
seven or eight inches deep. Whatever ma
nures he uses is deposited in this furrow,
three feet apart, and the corn dropped
three or four inches from the manure. He
covers with light harrow one and half
inches deep. Observe that we have here
deep planting, but not deep couerinq.
He gives his corn three thorough work
ings, Keeping the field clean and free from
grass, and planting row of peas be-
tween each two rows Of corn. The de-
tails of his cultivation we intend TO give
at future time. 1t is sufficient to say
here that the same principle of shallow
blowing is applied to corn as to cotton.
There is no hiling up, but smooth, lev
ell surface.
Does not the reader now see why Mr..
Dickson's corn never suffers seriously
from any ordinary drouth? Having for
several years planted corn on similar
plan, though not qaite 80 deep, we can
add our own testimony, were any further
evidence needed, in favor of deep plant
ing and shallow cultivation.
Mr. Dickson's rotation in cropping his
land is:
First year, Cotton;
Second year, Corn;
Third year, Small Grain;
Fourth year, the land lies fallow.
The resting Of the land allows it to ac-
cumulate humus or vegetable matter,
which may be increased by planting peas
for clover, where it will succeed to be
turned in at the proper time.
1t would not seem very difficult to fol-
low Mr.. Dickson thus far, so as to keep
within sight of him at least, but when we
come to what we have called Economy
and Labor there are brought into play
certain natural gifts with which fow are
so largely endowed as he.
"The farmer must make every stroke
tell" Mr.. Dickson says, and he does make
every stroke tell. Not satisfied with in
creasing the productive capacity of the
soil, he develops also, and still more won
derfnlly, the productive capacity OF the
laborer. This he accomplishes by using
improved implements; by time and la
bor.saving modes Of working, and, moro
than all, we think, by his peculiar talent
for training and managing the laborer
himself. This peculiar trait is most stri-
kingly illustrated by the fact that under
the old system, when labor was perfectly
under control, he was accustomed, TO cnl.
tivate thirty three acres to the hand, while
other planters, as q rule, cultivated only
fifteen; AID TO accomplish this he en-
ployed no overseer or driver.
Such is Mr.. Dickson's farming. A gen.
eral adoption Of his methods, with only
an approximation TO his executive effici-
Cheney, would at once more than double the
products of the South, and at the same
time increase, year by year, instead OF
diminishing the fertility of the soil.