The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-09-18

From the Southern Cultivator.

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Of these, oats first claim attention.
We have urged an increase of this crop
so often and so much that we are almost
afraid our readers will become weary of
it. But our profound conviction is that
it should be the principal grain crop at
the South for work animals. It is en-
titled to this position by it's relative
cheapness, certainty and value as food.
The first point will be accepted without
discussion. The second may not; but
I'VE beg tlfesreader to recall the ~T0luRteer
crops that have fallen under his notice.
Have they not been equally if not more
certain than orn on upland? The Sc
cret of success with a crop of fall oats is
an early start and good land. To resist
freezes the plant must have time to root
| nell, getra firm hold on the soil and it
must, in the next place, be able to find
readily in the soil food to sustain it in
the fight with the cold. In other words,
we want a comparatively old and rig0r-
OuS plant to pass successfully through
the winter. In mild winters, like the
last, these points are not so essential, but
we speak, of course, of the average
winter. Where the thermometer ranges
below twenty degrees the crop ought to
be started, if possible, before the TWEEN
tieth Of September where the mercury
seldom descendS to twenty degrees, Il
month later will answer.
Sometimes the convenience of the
farmer may require the seed to be sown
in August, as in seeding down at last
blowing OF cotton in that event, on
good land, they will make too much
growth before frost if it is ~seasonable,
and are liable to be killed by cold III
less grazed down.
In this connection We beg to make a
suggestion. We have often urged the
planting Of the pea to itself, making it
II of the regular crops of the farm.
Planted late in June, and drilled and
worked like cotton, it not only makes
comes all admirable cleanser to clear
land of Objectionable growth and fit it
for subsequent crops. 1t prepares the
way admirably, for instance, for d crop
of fall oats, the seed of which may be
sOwn at the last blowing of the peas, as
they are at the last blowing of cotton.
This last blowing of peas comes on later
than that of cotton, and has, therefore,
decided advantage over it and, besides,
the dense shadiAg of the peas keeps the I
oats from making too much growth
before frost. Lastly, the pea enriches
the ground for the oats in this respect
being almost ii not quite equal to a
dressing of manure.
TO sun up, SOW early from the first to
the twentieth of September, give enough
manure to make strong, vigorous plants,
and, if any disposition to j0iRt is observ-
ed before cold weather, Craze down. In
spring give a top-dressing, and if the
variety is sown, we venture
the assertion that no crop raised on the
farm is more certain to reward your
CLOVER AND WINTER GRASS.
If drOuth does not prevail, September
is the best month for seeding down clo-
yer and grass. 1t gives ample time for
the young plants to become well rooted
before the hard freezes, and they are
much less liable to be, killed by drouth
the following summerthan spring-soWn,
because theirrOots will have had so much
more time to descend deep into the soil.
have so often discussed the prepara-
ton for and seeding down of these crops
it is unnecessary to repeat. 1t may
be summed upin a few words; Clean
land, thoroughly pulvelized, well ma
brushing, followed by rolling. For the
bOn-seed meal, or the seed itself, and
Peruvian guano for clover, ashes, bone
lust, superphospllate or plaster. On
stiff soils SOW common red clover; on
light, sandy soils, the crimson clover or
California clover would. be better.
Both of the last-named are ANNALS.
BARLEY AND RYE LOTs. Il --."
No, farm is complete without these,
md nothing on it pays better than they.
The saving of dry forage, the health of
animals, the copious flow OF milk at a
season when it is most scanty, all COM
Pine to urge them upon the attention Of
he farmer and every farmers wife is
to them, in consideration of her
alone. The land ought to be very
especially for barley. and well
up by repeated plowings and
ross plowings. Sow of barley not less
han three bushels per acre, of rye, one
md a half to two will answer; and the
down should be done early in
he present month. This is absolutely
essential to securing frst-rate growth.