Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-06-06
From the Southern Cultivator
II II OH Ola1S for th4s NTRnfh

FROM the southern tultlVator.
Thoughts for the Month.
The principal work for the present
month will be to keep the land in good
TIN. In the cotton fields particularly,
the sweep, cultivatcr or harrow
should be run as frequently as possible.
1t is especially important that cotton
should make ''weed" very rapidly now
There is no danger of over-growth or
shedding in June, and the plant ought
to have every facility for growing and
''fcrms.' The bottom crop is
i'll some respects the s11rest, and the
sooner the plant acquires size, the
larger that crop will be. 1t has better
chances to escape drought and is never
cut off by caterpillars. 1t is useless to
add that keeping the surface stirred
and free from crusts, promotes contin
nous healthy growth. Under the old
extensive system, so large number of
acres was allotted to each plough. that
it was impossible to "get around" the
crop very often. He was regarded as
an excellent manager, who did not
allow more than three weeks to elapse,
before beginning over again. Let it
be remembered however that that
interval was not fixed upon as the
&hOrtcst which would benefit the crop,
but the result of necessity, when such
large crops were planted. No rule can
be laid down, but the oticnfrthe better.
PLOUGH SHALLOW
Where land has been properly pre-
pared and cultivated up to this time,
there is little danger of its running
together again, and all deep running
ploughs may be laid aside in the cult
vation of the crop. A plough running
one inch deep will answer every pur-
poso-all thatS Is necessary being to
kill grass and weeds and keep the sur
face we'll pulv erizel. Keeping open
the pores of the skin of old mother
earth is all that is needed now. Let in
the air and the dew, and permit the
roots to go everywhere without being
disturbed; these are the leading con-
sidcrations.
GETTING TIE CROP CLEAN.
Now is the time to get rid of grass.
The earlier workings may with safety
part Of June ought to be done
Moroughy. Every pains should be
taken to get rid of grass now-this
tioilt tlitt tiiIt
be thrown to the plants by the 1,lO".yI
to do away almost entirely with the
use of the hoe. All old farmers know
that if the "May grass" is conquered,
the battle is easily won.
Early in this month"; not already
done, cotton should be brought to Its
final stand" No superiiuons plant
should be allowed to remain any
longer, to withdraw food from those
which are to make the crop. What a
proper stand is, each one must decide
for himself The wider the rows, the
greater the crowding in the drill, pos
sible.
LAYING BY CORN.
More or less of this will be done
during the present month. Where
corn has had proper cultivation, and
the land is clean and in good filth, it
may receive its last ploughing when in
the ''bunch.' 1t is we'll to throw some
dirt to the plants. that the spur
roots may be we'll buried in the SOIL
These roots play n very important part
in the final development Of the plant
penetrating the soil to considerable
depths and sending off immense guam
-.
Late, deep and close ploughi' e injure
many of these and do great harm.
Where corn is laid by early. it is
particularly important that it it should
be perfectly clean, otherwise it is
likely to become very foul before the
close of summer. The best plan is to
SOW peas broadcast tone to two bushels
per acre, ana let these keep down the
grass and weeds. They injure the
corn less than grass, give some return
for the seed and labor of sowing, and
greatly benefit the land. This last
consideration alone ought to make the
practice general.
The main crop of these should be
planted this month whether among
corn or by itself We have always
warmly advocated the planting of
large crop of peas to themselves, re-
garding it as one of the best and
cheapest crops grown. The seed may
be drilled hy planter very rapidly,
and one h0eing and ut most two
with sweep, will make the
crop. 1t may follow oats or wheaton
may be planted even in an old sedge
field Stock may harvest the crop, or
Scythc OF reaper may cut it down, and
the seed be gotten out with thresh-
With oats and peas the stock on farm
may be kept in best condition without
corn, and at greatly less expense than
when fed on corn alone. Oats are
rapidly gaining in pnhlic would
that we could give II sslnlil;tr impulse to
peas. The sreckled or whipporwill
,,1ontnI 1nnn ho t,1- oe
the ground in time to SOW oats in Sep
tember, leaving the land in splendid
for the latter crop. More
over the roots, stems and leaves of the
pea will furnish heterogeneous matter,
the very thing which, above all else,
rhe oat plant needs in most of our
soils. = ct"
1t requires great Judgment and en-
argy to harvest small grain crops well,
if Of any size) without interfering
NTH liz ~ an.l co.!oI
'rops Many Il farmer has gotten
Dloughs and hoes to cut small grain.
Work should be arranged weeks in
advance with reference to the harvest.
As hands are in unusual demand at
hat time, it is best to hire extra hands
n adrancc and get the crops in such
condition that the regular hands on
he farm may do the harvesting. No
,Xhorbitant prices will then have to be
paid. Cut and shock, and as soon as
veil dried, stack or house; it is OK
remly bad policy to let grain remain
II shocks for weeks or months after it
s cut. Remember that oats to be fed
o syCek, makes best feed when cut
ome time before it is fully Fipe |
or seed should be allowed to mature |
,erfee ~. !