The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-06-05
From the Rural carolinian for June.
Thonghts and Suggestions for the Month

From the Rural Carolinian for June.
Thoughts and Suggestions for the Month.
a late spring, with drought and frost in
April. set back considerably the operations of
the planter and will crowd into the present
month some work usually accomplished earlier.
Cotton is still comparatively small and tender,
and must be worked with care Where not
vet thinned to stand, that operation should
receive early attention. No plant can have
greater enemy than another plant of the same
species. Each requires the same food, and the
Struggle for life,' between them is unremittng.
We must, as soon as practicable, reduce the
"stand" for the soil. Mr. David Dickson, Of
Sparta. Georgia, leaves two or three stalks in
each hill, making, in his way of planting, an
average of eight stalks to the square yard
Experience has taught him that this is about
the right number for his land. Keep the
sweeps moving. Shallow culture is the true
plan, but you may still run deep in the middles
with GLITTER" if the condition of the soil
should require it. On dry uplands, the level
system of cultivation is far better than the
plan of high sharp ridges so generally adopted.
We. believe this is not only sound in theory,
but has been demonstrated by experience. On
fat lands, especially if the season be wet and
the land not well drained, it is necessary to
throw up the ridges to prevent water from set
Hing about the roots.
The 1aying by" of the corn crop is an oper--
alton which requires about as much care and
judgment as any part of the seasons work. 10
make it thorough and to leave the fields clean,
and yet not injure the roots Of the growing
crop, is what must be aimed at. To break the
roots now, when droughts are to be expected,
or to throw all the loose soil into steep ridges
along the row may prove fatal to the most
promising crop. We should leave the ground
mellow on the surface but nearly level, except
where, as on wet low lands, ridging or hilling
is absolutely necessary.
The harvesting of the small grain crops is
often sadly interfered with by the urgent needs
of the corn and cotton; but if it pays, as we
fully believe, to grow wheat, rye, oats and bar
ley, it certainly will pay to save the crop when
grown. Do not let the wheat stand too long.
Unless intended for seed, it should not be left
till dead ripe, but be cut when beginning to
harden. It will be fit for the thresher after
one or two days of clear sunshine. Oats re-
quire more curing and unless carefully attend
ed 70 often get badly damaged by heating
Labor-saying reapers and mowers are among
the most useful inventions of the day and must
due time; but at present pine stumps and the
ignorance, prejudice and wrong-headedness Of
our negro laborers stand sadly in the way Of
their success. Labor, judicious management
and perseverance will, in the end, overcome
both these obstacles.
Sweet potatoes must not be neglected. Con-
time to plant your slips or draws, or better
still, cuttings from earlier planted vines, which
make the best crop. Take advantage of rainy
day for planting if you can, but plant whether
it rain or not. We have planted in the midst
of severest drought with the loss of very few
plants. "Grout" the plants by plunging the
roots into batter composed of equal parts
of fresh cow-dung, wood ashes and vegetable
mould, mixed with water to the proper consis-
tency to adhere to them. This will generally
insure perfect "standy" and hasten the growth
of the vines.
Drought is one Of the greatest obstacles with
which the American farmer has to contend.
We cannot, by any means now kaown, prevent
the dry and heated terms to which our climate
Is subject and we again call the attention of our
readers to the importance of securing, so far as
possible such conditions of the soil as will in
the highest possible degree fit it for the absorb
tion and retention of moisture Careful expe-
riments should be made with view to deter
mine what are the best means to enable our
crops to resist long continued dryness.
Plant peas, not only among your corn, but as
q separate crop. You cannot we'll have too
large quantity of this valuable stock feed. A
bushel of seed will plant four acres, if properly
distributed in the drills, so as to require no
ohopping out
For forage, Egyptian mllet, sorghum and
drilled corn, as we'll as peas, may still be plant
ed, but, as we have SAID before, the soil must
be heavily manured, deeply broken up and
thoroughly pulverized to insure success.