The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-09-16
SEPTEM Der.
FARM AND PLANTA-
TGON TOPICS.
THE VALUE OF LIME AS AN APPLI-
CATION TO TIE SOIL.

THE VALUE OF LIME AS AN AFpLI-
CATION TO TIE SOIL.
So much is now being said about
guanos and supcrphosphates, fish
scraps, animal dust, bone meal
and poudrette-all excellent fer
tilizers when honestly made and un-
derstandingly applied-that VIC are
in danger Of forgetting that old, but
never out of date, and never to he
discarded fertilizer, lime. This is
sufficient excuse fov again calling
attention to it. It is never out Of
place, except on lands already suf-
fciently charged with it. Else
where, its application is always
beneficial, but particularly so On
sells in which humus ab0undS, its cf-
feet being to convert the insoIuh!e
matters in such soils into available
plaut-fool. It proves, in many
cases, in fact sthe wand Of Midas,
changing everything it touches to
go:l.' The great obstacle to its
use in the cotton belt Of the South,
or at least the larger part Of it,
has been the cost of transportation
from the distant part; Of the coun-
try where it is made. This obsta-
Gle has been efectual]y removed,
so far as this region Of the Low
Count. J, a. last, is concerned, by
turning our ineShaustible mari beds
to account in its manufacture
From the mari which underlies a
vast extent of country, of which
Charleston is the base, a lime is now
made which can not only be sod
cbeaply, but is, undoubtedly, far
superior to store-lime as d manure;
and We greatly mistake if this mari
deposit do not prove, in the end,
the source Of greater wealth and
prosperity to the country than even
cur phosphate rocks. Tie value
of this calcined mari has been fully
demonstrated by our truck farmers
in the vicinity Of Charleston, the
best proof cf which is the fact that
the demand for it from them is
greater now than ever before.
CAREFUL COTTON PICKING PAYS.
September is a busy month on
the plantation. Cotton picking is
in full operation, and is the most
important work Of the month where
the great staple is the principal
crop. Let it be pressed with all
your energy and force, 50 as to
gather the li:.t as fast as the bolls
open. You lose both in quantity
an'! in quality by delay. The first
picking should be we'll summed. Do
rot allow your hands to pull of: the
bolis IN picking, as they arc some
times inclined t. do; and avoid
picking immediately after il shower
In all cases where large quantities
are stored in bulk, stir the heaps
occasionally, and expose the cot
ton to the air to keep from heating.
Keep the different qualities Of cot
ton separate, so as to avoid selling
mixed cotton for the price of the
poorest portion Of it. 1t is best,
if practicable, to gin cotton as soon
as dry, as it is far safer in bales
than lying in bulk in the gin house.
TRT CLOVER AND THE GRASSES.
II You have strong doubts i'll
respect 70 tic suitableness Of your
soil for clover and tie grasses, try
them at first i'll a small way. That
will not c;st much, even if a fail
u:c. Land for clover and the
grasses should be rich aud thor
ougl':y prepared by deep, close
p'ongi:ing, followed by narrowing,
previous to which Il good dressing
cG superphosphate may be appli: d
with advantage. Brush lightly to
cover. and by all means roll the
field with 4 to!erab'y heavy roller.
This last is an important and too
generally neglected process. If
HOu arc to SOW both clover and the
grasses, on the same field, it is best
TO SOW the clover by itself,as the seed
does not mix we'll with the grass
seed. The various kinds Of grass
seed may be mixed before sowing.
Rural Caroiinian for September.
Soap WASH FOR CRUI- TREES.
Many persons, for no we'll de-
fined reason, give their fruit trees
an annual spring washing with
N,ne-wash. It is not only insight