The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-04-14


Cotton planting Is the principle work Of
the present month. Upon old land, with
thin soil, deficient in vegetable matter, Az u
often difficult 70 get good stand. In f0r-
mer years, before the general Introduction
Of planters listing on fhe seed with two
burrows and knocking of subsequently with
a board just as the plant was ready to come
| up was regarded as the surest plan To secure
a stand. In those days plenty of seed
| were sown, and IL the ground did bake after
/ a heavy rain, the combined strength of ma
ny plants crowded together could break
through the crust. OF late years, high pric-
ed improved seed have been in vogue, and
persons tempted to make them '.gos as far as
possible-the consequence has been very
/ general complaints of bad stands" Com
| pensations are, however, more general in
this world than we are apt TO think, and in
this case, a good cotton planting machine
can distribute a small quantity ofseed over
large area and, at the same time, by placing
kthem accurately IN a narrow drill, so mass
them-tO use military phrase--as to ena-
| bic them TO force their way through the
| crust. As full crops cannot be made with
out good stand. let the farmer, therefore
see to it, that plenty Of goOd seed are plant
| ed, and so put in, that, If hard rains come. he
| can either s4knock-off,n or run over lightly
with harrow-or if a dry spell follows
planting, the seed shall be deep enough to
get sufiiciency of moisture for germinat-
ing. Eromfthe 10th to the 30th is the proper
period for planting, the time varying with
latitude and elevation of different localities.
The prospects of the cotton planter are not
as bright as they were twelve months ago
the price of cotton is tending constantly
downward, and with this, the chances for
making net profits from its production con-
stantly decreasing. When the price rules
very nigh, and the margin for profit is large,
everybody can make money by planting
cotton, but as the margin decreases, only
those can, W manage Well-plant and cul- |
tivate judieiously-use the right kinds and |
quantities of fertilizers, and make no false |
steps from planting to harvest time. Any |
mistake made now-as failing to get good |
'stand" for example-may effectually des- /
troy all chances of profit. That the first /
working may be rapidly and well done, the L
young plants, when first up, should stand
upon slightly elevated riGge-this should
not be forgotten when deciding upon the
mode of planting, &c. This work-should be
given as soon as practicable after the plan Is
are above ground, and should be done with
the hoe or a scraper, the object being simp-
ly to take Off airy crust that may have form
ed-thus opening the soil to the air-and to
kill the young grass and weeds at the very
start.
The present scarcity of long forage may.
N part, be remedied by setting astle a few
acres of good land, manuring it we'll and
blowing it at intervals until, say the 10th or
9Th of May. The blowing will destroy the
weeds which come up early in the spring,
nd leave it in good condition for the crop 7
ion of the land and, if the season is favora-
lie, make as much and as good hay as any
the cultivated grasses. Our people, gem
rally, do not appreciate fully the value of
lis grass for hay-we prefer it decidedly to
1rn sowed broadcast for soiling, as prac-
ced generally at the the north.
Sweet potatoes should now be planted.
here pieces of the root are used-when |
1edded out" and the slips or drawers n
anted, the sooner they are set out the bet
r-let the land intended for them, there
re, be plowed up, MANFRED and bedded so II
lat every thing may be in readiness. Sc
ct light soil and do not manure too
,avily-over manuring makes large, coarse
bers, deficient in starch and sugar, q