The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-06-12
: sAGRICU4TURAL. A
Thoughts for the Month.

This is the critical period with
the summer crops-virtually they
are made or lost the present
month. If the grass is not
promptly ssubdued It will either
take /" the crop or give it q back
set from which it will never re.
cover. Every experienced farm.
or is aware of this; but possibly
some of our younger readers have
not lost a crop by a little dallying
or procrastination or lack of
promptness and energy, and do
not 30 fully appreciate the de-
mands of the situation for such
we may be allowed to put in a
word Of caution. Hire extra
hands if you can get them, or can
work them to any advantage, re-
membering that in this case it is
true to the fullest extent, that a
" stitch in time saves nine."-
Work early, work late-lose no
time till the battle is won.
Let the last working be thor.
ough; whatever corn is going to
do, it must do quickly it will
soon tassel and silk, and the devel.
opment of the ear must follow
rapidly. 1t cannot wait tor sea.
sons-give il therefore every op.
portunity, kill every bunch of
grass and every weed, if any
there be to dispute the ground
with it. Make the surface mel
low, that air and moisture may
penetrate if it should be dry
Plough shallow 80 as not to iniure
the roots-the plant must feed
rapidly, and will need every
mouth it has.
Cotton should now make
" weed "-preparatory to fruiting
in July and August. Work it
therefore as often as possible. If
it is small and the ground is hard,
plough pretty deep in tho middles
it the soil is clean and soft,
sweepings or borrowings will an.
swer. Let the hoes go over care
fully and remove all grass which
may have been overlooked. If
well done, little or no hoeing will
be needed thereafter-light plow-
ings until the limbs meet in the
middles will make the crop.
Plant largo crop of peas the
seed should be in the ground by
the middle of this month. Don't
rely OIL that planted in corn, but
plant by themselves, lay off rows
three feet apart, drop in hills 1S
in. apart, ! doz. seed to the hill
This is one of the most cheaply
raised crops we have, and none
more valuable either for grain or
forage. If it fails to mature be.
fore frost, the vines can be cat for
hay, or if not needed for that,
they will furnish the land with
tho cheapest nitrogen to be had
for the next years crop. -.za
Slips may still DO set out-have
seen good potatoes made (even in
this latitude) with slips put out
the 1st of July-but that is not
usual in this hill country the
middle of June is late enough
Crabgrass is peculiarly inimicaI
to the sweet potato, keep it there
fore carefully ont of the patch
take the vines out of the middle
and after ploughing and hoeing it,
pull the vines back in that and
work tho next and 30 on. The
vines should never be allowed to
take root in the middles.
Look we'll to a full supply for
the coming winter. Ii there is
any prospect of scarcity, put q
few acres in drilled corn; on rich
and thoroughly prepared land the
yield is almost incredible. Put
in drills % or 8 feet apart so as te
allow working or two, and SOW
about 3 bushels of seed to the
acre. 1t ought to be thick, te
make the stems small and easily
cured. Cut about the time i
silks. The difficulty of curing il
the greatest drawback. AS soor
as it will bear it without danger O
moulding, tie in bundles and SCI
on buts against the sides of barns
&C., g., under shelter to cure.
In farming, as in most things, i
is not wise to exchange certain
for an uncertain good. 1t woult
be extremely foolish, for instance
to neglect the wheat and oat cropl
now ready tor the garner, to cult
vate a cotton crop, which to say
the least of it, is very uncertain
both as to yield and price. Save
the wheat and oats, and do it well
AS the weather can never b,
counted on, shock mp exactly as yol
would do if you were certain tina
q rainy spell would begin tn,
next day. just ss soon as th,
Grain ia drv euouyh To hear II