Wilmington journal., 1873-07-11
From the Southern Cultivator,
THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.


| from the doorway
From the Southern Cultivator.
THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.
This crop requires very careful
management the present month. It is
in the midst of its fruiting, and still
in full growth. These two things are
more or less incompatible with each
other. Vigorous growth appropriates
too much of the organizable material
at the command of the plant, and leaves
too little to form fruit. Excessive
rains, for instance, causing large
growth of "weed," almost invariably
causes a shedding of fruit.
During this month it. is not desirable
to check growth entirely, but to keep
1t within moderate bounds; a slow,
but continuous wrowth is the thing
desired. How much is this under the
control of the farmer? 1st. By shall
low, in place of deep ploughing during
cultivation, the roots have to extend
themselves in moderately compact
mass of earth, (that loosened by winter
ploughing and afterwards consolidated
by rain) and rapid growth cannot take
place, inasmuch as the growth above
ground is commensurate with that
underneath the soil. I'd. By keeping
the surface lightly stirred at short in
tervals, sudden check from hot, dry
weather may be warded Off A hard
soil for the roots to ramify through is,
of course, very Objectionable, but a
moderately compact one is exceedingly
60 n f,n >f
Deep plOughing after the plant is 6
inches high is unfavorable to the
formation of fruit. The substitution
of the large sweep for the scooter and
shovel is one of the most important
advances in cotton culture which has
taken place since the war-important
because it has brought about substi-
tuition of shallow for deep ploughing,
and because it has rendered it practi-
cable to cultivate given area with so
much less labor.
AS the blooms, which open as late
as the 10th of September may produce
mature fruit, it is desirable to promote
some growth up to that period. Even
| if the fields are entirely free from
grass, therefore, light ploughings
should be given at moderate intervals
through this and the next month, if it
can be done without breaking the limbs
of the plant. Mr.. Redding suggests
an excellent plan, viz ploughing on
both sides of every other row-then
going back and ploughing those rows
skipped. Ii large plough is used, an
approximation is made to a continu-
ously stirred surface.
! Late corn will be laid by this month.
| We have already cautioned our readers
against cutting the ''spur" roots, Chose
large ones which come ont from the
| Joints near the surface of the ground. }
The last ploughfngs ought therefore to
be shallow but Moromgh. On lotion
! lands, where much of the late corn is
planted, it is best to leave good bed
at this last working-by SO doing the
corn will not be SO liable to be
" drowned out" A broad-winged
sweep, with the right wing set so as to
throw dirt, may be used, if the land is
not grassy.
If the laying by is done early in the
month, peas may be sown broadcast in
the corn-1 to J bushels per acre.
This is an old and excellent practice.
If the peas do not ripen, the vines may
be cut for hay. But it would pay we'll
not to harvest or pasture the peas ut
all, but simply let them remain on the
land to enrich it. Especially is this
true in the case of bottom lands, which
are run year after year in corn.
Seize every opportunity to drill in
peas, in stubble or other nncultivated
land. During next month there Will
be leisure to work them, and no crop
will pay better for the amount of work
it exacts. Let your thoughts run for
ward 10 the latter part of winter and
early spring, and imagine how com
fortably you would feel with your
barns well filled with pea-vine hay
For hay purposes, they may be planted
up to the last of this month. We
should be glad to have III our next
number discussion of the cheapest
and best plan of raising, cutting and
curing pea-vine hay. This is very
important matter to the Southern
farmer; what say Mr.. Phinazee and
others to onr proposition? Please LEI
rs have all the plans ever tried or sug'
gested.
! SWEET POTATOES.
Along the Gulf, slips or vines may
still be planted to advantage. In 10
calities where the seasons arc shorter
slips put out after the 10th of July are
not likely to make tuhers large enough
for the table, but in favorable seasons
may make excellent seed potatoes. -
Give tight workings as late rs possible
lutte workings make the crop. Se'
that not a bunch of grass is left among
, the vines, and keep the latter from
taking root between the beds; thu
they are very apt to 10, if covered a
all in the workings, or if the season il
= wet.
Ruta bagas may be planted from tn
: middle of this to the 18th Of mex
: month. Other varieties from the latte
? date to the middle of September
Very rich ground and rep ated plough
ings and harrowings are the condition
Z of success. Nothing is lost in making
} the effort for good snrnip crop, for
l it fails, the land will be in charming
condition for wheat or oats or barley
! tsSumner,, or SsSuln lmer''l
! The New York Tribune calls atten
; ton to the fact that i'll the ''otficla
draught' o Captain HALL sexp1Oration
in the Polaris, as prepared by the SIG
nal Rureau at WashinutOn q 'thiQL