The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1870-03-16
agrltnItnrai.


The coin crop now demands the
attention of the farmer. In local
tiles where danger If hard freezes
is over, the sooner it is planted the
better. Where ample provision
for feed Of all kinds has not been
made, by sowing largely Of oats
and other grains, onr readers will
pa don us for urging that a large
breadth of land be devoted to corn.
1t may not be a profitable crop
compared with small grains, but
experience has shown that, as O
general rule, it is decidedly better
policy for the farmer to raise than
buy his provisions. To one living
on q railroad or steamboat thor.
oughfare, with Ian d specially
adapted to cotton growing, and
with a good season, it m q y be
cheaper to buy corn than TO raise
it; but how few, comparatively,
arc thus situated, and who has tue
guarantee of good seasons : The
corn crop is made during the first
half of SUMMERTIME cotton crop
is made during the latter half; il
may happen, therefore, tha. g sea-
son be admirably suited for a corn
crop and yet perfectly disastrous
to a cotton crop. 1t does not tol-
low, because the cotton crops fails
that corn would have failed also,
and we must urge again, as we
have done before, that too chances
are better than one.
For corn, land should be plough.
ed very deep and thoroughly, to
guard against drought, the great
est OF it's enemies in our climate.
As farther safeguard against the
same, fiat culture is all important,
and to render this practicable, it
should be planted in the 'water.fur.
row;' or where the land has not been
bedded, in the bottom of a deep
broad furrow made by a large
shovel, drawn by two horses. This
furrow should be SO wide that a
little list !" may be thrown OIL
the seed without filling the large
furrow. t'lanted in this manner,
the corn makes its appearance be,
low the general level of the sur.
face, and permits dirt to be thrown
to it in the after workings, without
ridging the land. Our best author
tiles say, that in the early stages of
cultivation, the dirt should not be
thrown to it too rapidly, allowing
time tor the roots from the first
joint to'develope well, before those
from the second joint shall have
soil to form in.
Cotton seed is generally consid.
cred o standard manure for this
crop. 1t is one in which the nit
rogenous element is in excess, as
compared with other important in
gradients, and in substituting any
other manure in its place for corn,
we should follow this Indication.
All the small grains and grasses
(co"n is a true grassy delight in
heterogeneous fertilizers. Some of
our enterprising farmers might do
a good work, by making a series
OF experiments, testing the value
of different fertilizers for corn, as
has been done in the case of cot
ton. The practice OF putting man.
ure in mass near the hill Of corn,
we are compelled to believe bad
one-a part may be placed there
to advantage, to give the young
plant a strong, vigorous start-the
balance should be applied broad
cast, or perhaps put in the furrow
on each side of the corn, during
the second working. In this con.
Dection, we refer to the expert.
ments Of Mr.. West, in the Feb.
No, present volume, from which
he draws the inference, that in the
case of cotton, whenever tn Q
amount used passes a certain linn
1t, the excess pays better applied
broadcast, than in the drill. .,s
We would again also suggest the
planting of a portion of the crop
with the seed of some early varie
ty Of corn obtained from the North
1t may mature before the sum.
mer droaghts. On this point see
testimony Of Mr.. S. z. NJ, in pres
ent No. -. o., ,.., ~ .-a-..
AS soon as the corn crop is dis.
posed of, sorghum may be plan
ted. With the many improve
ments discovered of late in manu-.
featuring syrup and sugar from
this plant, we doubt not it would
pay those living where the tropi.
cal cane does not grow, to make
this one oftheir regular crops. Mr.
Cook gives us full. directions tol
planting, cultivating, &C., in pres
ent No. ..r,..5 - ',,gi \.
: During March, the bedding O
cotton land, and distribution O
fertilizers should be pushed rapid
ly forward, il not already done
IL ia desiroh hla aftar ouano g.,