The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-04-19
Thoughts for the Month.
CnTTON-pLANTING.

difference OF results especially Is IniS
true in the case OF cotton, and as this,
T will be planted during the present
month, we. venture a few Suggestions as
to time and mode OF planting, tor the
benefit of young farmers more espe-
cially. First-time for planting cotton.
The earlier the better. Plant just as
soon as the danger of frost is Over.
Our observation is that taking the Grer-
Gqe of seasons eaFly-planted cotton
fruits better than late-planted. A GER
tain degree of maturity (Which age
alone can give) is a condition precedent
to fruiting. A stalk must be formed
before the fruit can be-. At first the
forces of the plant are all directed TO
making weed; afterWard these are d.
yertedD into ~fruit-maklng channels;
But nature will have its course and
time must be given for the first to COM
nlete its work ere the tide turns.
Certain peculiarities of our climate
must also be considered in this Inc
tion-drought rarely fails to occur in
July or August. The result is a sus-
pension of vegetable activity-gr0wth
and fruiting are both arrested. Pre-
vious to this the conditions for making
fruit are generally favorable: With an
early start, therefore, a good bottom"
crop is almost certain, much more so
than either O. middle" OF stop" crop.
As young plants are not SO much attec-
ted by drought as old ones, a gerry late
planted crop may sometimes pass II
good late crop, but the chances are in
ferior to those Of an early-planted One.
MODE OF PLANTING.
Two dangers to be avoided-lack Of
sufficient moisture to make the seed
terminate, and the formation OF a crust
which may prevent the young plant
is often very dry, and unless the seed is
planted Immediately after a shower
It frequently fails to eome up well. The
old plan of opening q furrOW with "a
blow, sowing seed and listing on them
with two burrows, and afterward knock
ing off the top of list with q board, just
as the seed is ready to come up, is one
of the surest methods of securing a
stand in dry weather. The objection
to it is the large amount OF. time and
labor involved. As formerly pract1ced
it required four hands and three mules
TO each T0W-0ne tte eRen the fnrrnWs
Few can afford to adopt such an expen-
siye process. The "cotton-planter,"
which opens the furrow, drops the seed
and covers it, makes n hand and one
mule do the work of four hands and
three mules under the old plan de-
scribed above. But, while thus saving
labor, it does not insure against drought.
To remedy this defect we made the
suggestion in a former number, and re-
peat it here, to cut off the top of the
bed with q drag Oh smoother just IN ad-
vance of the planter" so as to have a
moist, fresh surface in which to plant.
Seed will rarely fail to come up II thus
planted, and the increase of labor re-
6uired will be quite small. A Smoother
five feet wide will dress off two beds at
q time, and, not weighted. can be
drawn by one horse. The whole labor,
therefore, under this plan, would be one
hand and a half and n horse and a
half to each row.
A suggestion in this connection was
made by a correspondent last year
which struck us so favorably We beg to
repeat it here. 1t is, where the top of
the bed is not cut off, to place a board
behind the plow-hoe-that is, between
the plow-boe and the helve, having the
point Of the former project just enough
beyond the board to open q furrow OF
desired depth. This arrangement not
only secures uniformity and gauge of
depth Every important matters,1 but
frees the top Of the bed from clods and
removes the crust, if one has formed. /
1t also throws on each side the dry top
earth, and leaves fresh, moist earth
with which to cover the seed.
ROLLING THE SEED.
For reasons discussed above, it is
highly desirable that cotton should
come up quickly after being planted,
otherwise The ground might dry off too
soon for it to appear above the surface
until it rains again. Wetting the seed
and keeping it in moderate bulk for a
day and then rolling it facilitates great
" it's termination. Rolling is SO easily
done with the " barrel-rOller,p described
in former volumes of the 03tttipGtOT,
that no one need be deferred from do
ing it by the labor required. In addi- !
ton to making the seed come up before !
the ground can dry off, rolling econo-
mics the seed and insures regularity of !
distribution. The addition of some
done, is also of great value in giving Z
an impetus to the young plant. PERU |
Wan guano is the best for this purpose. /.
1t may be mixed with some plaster-say Z
two of guano to one of plaster-and {
Just as much used as will adhere to the {
seed. The addition of supeTphOsphate !
would be desirable were it not for the {
danger of killing the seed thereby. Quite
small quantities of an acid phosphate I
in contact with cotton-seed will entire .
Iy destroy their terminating power.
Bear that in mind. Pure Peruvian qua
used in rolling will not kill cotton
seed, but superphosphates will. .
Cotton planting being finished, and :
hardly ready for its first working, !
time will be afforded to look after the
siden crops, such as sweet potatoes, I
drilled corn, millet etc. j
MILL.ET. g
Millet stands drought and neglect bet :
than corn, but, like it, requires rich I
soils to produce best results. Sow I'm 9
the same distance apart as corn-a =
half bushel to one bushel of seed per y
will be ample. The @cat-tail" is $
one of the best yarieties.-fSDnthern z
{
How Two PENDLET0N YOUNG MEN i
FIRsTD EGREEI IN MASONRY a
Two inquisitive fellows OF our town,
ON Thursday night of last week, were 9
eave-dropping on the stairway 4
to the Masonic Hall, where the
fraternity at the time were holding a 7
business meeting. Being caught IN this Y
p~redicament, they were asked lie they 4
ike to iOin the lodge. thew a