The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-10-09
from the Southern Caltivator for October.
Thoughts for the Month.

Thoughts for the Month.
OF conrse. the principal effort of the farmer,
this month, will be directed to saving the crops
already made-cotton, corn, &c. But there are
other things which ought to he attended to, as
opportunity offers. Oats may still be sown. Ii
the land is rich and the seasons favorable,
those sown before the 18th will do well-put
in later than the middle, the crop is by no
means certain. 1t may be laid down as gen
eral rule, that with winter crops the 'scher the
land the later may sowings be made Clover
and grass may also be sown the first half OF
the month. with like chances of success; but
we would not advise it done-it would be bet
ter. if the sowings are delayed till October, to
wait till Spring. Every failure with above
crops is q misfortune at the South, because
their cultivation is not yet sufficiently, estab-
lished. for the farmer to fail without discour-
agement-and it is exceedingly important that
no iniudicious advice be given. 1t has been
great misfortune to the country, that many OF
its agricultural writer's have little actual expe-
rience on the farm, and in other cases have an
experience which can neither heneht them
selves nor the readers of their writings. Ii
successful farmer makes failure, it is always
Instructive: if a visionary makes one, it may
not throw a single ray of light on the patti, of
progress. The efforts of the latter are neither
properly directed nor kept within legitimate
bounds. and every one expects failure as nat
ural result. Whilst with the former, perhaps
onlv one important condition of success was
omitted; if so, that one stands forth prominent
", to be studied and weighed and its share in
the failure carefully ascertained.
WHEAT.
Preparations fer this crop should now be
l., &c Aa6
seed down in October. The clean fallow of the
English, as preparation for wheat crop,
NAV be regarded SIS a waste of labor, but there
can be no doubt Of its great value to the crop.
The repeated ploughings of the land brings it
into a state in which it can give promptly OF its
elements to this most civilized of our domesti-
Gated plants civilized, in the sense of being
farthest removed from its wild state, and inca
pable of thriving except under most artificial
conditions. It Is not gross feeder, cannot
like corn thrive OH coarse fare-.its celebrating
power is relatively small. Choice and delicate
food must therefore be within easy reach of its
delicate, fbrous roots-and the SOIL SOFT ana
pulverized, that the delicate rootlets may roam
at pleasure in search Of it.
We say, then, if circumstances permit, break
up and harrow or roll or drag your wheat land
several times in advance Of the seeding down,
lust as you would turnip patch. Give 1t also
a good supply of we'll rotted stable manure,
whose originally. offensive and complex COM
pounds, the chemistry of nature has reduced
to the simpler elements of carbonic acid, am
monia, &C., or else of cotton seed almost too
nearly approximating the food of animals, to
be converted into manure; or else OF pure
chemicals, like sulphate ammonia, nitrate soda
and superphosphate lime. Whichever OF these
YOUR choice may fall upon, see that it IS thor
oughly mingled with and distributed through
the soil. Wherever the roots wander, let them
find portion ready for them-remember that
wheat is fibrous rooted plant, and that Its
roots are exceedingly numerous, literally filling
the soil-let the manure do likewise.
AS remarked before, wheat, of all cultivated
crops, is least able to take care of itself AS
lands become exhausted by cultivation, they
refuse to yield crops of wheat sooner than any
other. It is useless to SOW it on poor land, or
that poorly prepared. Better expend your
labor and money on something else. But every
farmer ought to raise wheat enough Tor MS
family and dependents-if he has little sur,
plus for the poor widows and orphans OF dead
but immortal Confederates, no harm Will be
done. Four or five acres on each farm can
furnish enough for these purposes, as was
shown by experiments in this vicinity few
wears ago; where, upon naturally poor granite
soils, the yield was from 40 to 46 bushels
Deep and repeated ploughings, with high m, ma
nuring, was the only secret in the matter. The
highest Yields were from drilled wheat-drills
10 TO II inches apart. We have no doubt but
that it would be found generally advantageous
to drill wheat, and in the spring run plough
between the rows, to break the crust and Kill
the weeds. In the absence of a drilling ma
chine, run flrrows with narrow bull tongue,
sow the grain broadcast as usual, and cover
with O. harrow or brush run cross-ways the fur
row. Thus managed, the plants will come up
quite regularly in the drill II the land Will
admit of it, run the drills north and south, to
allow the sunshine to get between the rows;
this will diminish the danger of rust and make
the stalks hard and tough, and therefore less
liable to lodge or fall down: High, dry knobs
and northern slopes, well drained, are best
adapted to wheat-and II the SOIL ls stli, SO
much the better for that
VARIETIES.
White wheats whilst yielding the finest Hour
and bringing the highest price In the Market,
are not so hardy as the red or amber varieties;
The amber wheats are perhaps best tor general
culture for family purposes. And tor soutnern
ATTITUDES the earlier maturing the better-laIe
varieties are more liable to rust. Those when
rlpen tne laLter PatI VI LAY oio 'iio 'o
both because more likely to escape rust and
because they encounter less risk of being cut
off by drought.
TINE OF SOWING.
From the middle of October to the middle OF
November includes the best time tor sowing
middle of October in the colder, middle OF No
vember in the warmer portions OF the Houth.
sown too early, there is danger of the Hessian
fy-sown too late, the cold keeps back the
plants too much. Sow when the ground is dry,
and don't forget to soak the seed in blue stone;
One pound will be enough for five bushels OF
seed Dissolve it in water-put the seed Ill
baskets and dip them down in the solution,
take out and let the pickle drain off, and when
the grains are nearly dry, roll them in plaster
or lime It is best to have the seed whitened,
that the sower may see with what regularity
his work is being done.