The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1874-04-01

third time lay it by shallow with q
broad sweep.
My way ofpreparing cotton land
is the same as for corn-thorough
deep turning. I always alternate
my crops, never plant two years IN
succession, the same kind on the.
same land-always running IN
small grain after corn and cotton.
After MY land is thoroughly turn
ed, or broke, in the spring, L lay
off my cotton rows, about three
feet apart with long scouter plow.
To put in my guano, I use what
we call a guano horn-a tin or
sheet iron pipe an inch and half
in diameter, with funnel at one
end-which I fastened to the rear
OF my plow stock, letting the lower
end of the spout down little be-
low the heel-screw Of the plow. l
then run this plow in the furrow L
have laid off for the row, and have
a hand walking by the side OF the
plow putting the guano in the fun
mel, and the constant motion OF the
plow causes it to run down through
the spout very readily, and it Is
deposited at the bottom OF the
second furrow. In this operation
I also use the scouter plow, about
three inches wide, and the ground
falls back in the furrow and COW
ers the guano. I next throw two
burrows on this with long scoutet
plows, running as deep as possible.
I caught this idea from MIR. Dixon,
the celebrated cotton raiser OF this
State, and find it an admirable
one. I next bed out with twisters'
leaving one furrow still Ia the
middle, to be thrown out after the
cotton IS planted, which leaves the
field all fresh. I then plant any
time from the 18th Of April to the
lst of May. OF late, doubts have
arisen in my mind as to the utility
CT putting fertilizers as deep in the
ground as I have been in the habit
of doing. 1t has long been argued
in this country, that we could not
conveniently get our fertilizers in
too deep, and I had held to that
opinion. Now, my mind has 80
materially changed on the subject,
that 7 am induced, this year, to
trv it on a more shallow plan
One advantage to be gained, IS
that the top root Of the plant Will
reach it sooner and cause it to
grow off quicker, enabling tb"
farmer to work it with more ease
and dispatch. This ysar ! am
, using o ekapost of,asi9 pk2spl e,
rcotton seed and stable fmansre,
equal parts, and Will p54 it in the
row after the first furrow has been
drawn, and then run a second
time in the furrow with a sman'
plon', to incorporate the compost
with tic soil before bedding on it.
l plant my cotton by means OF Il
planter, constructed so as to open
the bed, strow the seed and cover
them at the same time-thus one
hand and one mule doing the work
Of three hands and two mules.
when tie old way is pursued
When the cotton is up, I use for
siding it a small bell-tongue or
scouter, with protector, or board,
as commonly called, made of an
old saw blade, or stout sheet iron,
fastened on the side next to the
cotton. By this means I am en-
abled to run very close to the row,
leaving it not more than three or
four inches wide, and lessening
the burden Of chopping out and
putting to a stand. After the first
plowing, I cultivate entirely with
the sweep. Cotton should be
plowed, at least every twelve or
fifteen days until the middle of
July. I know of planters who
plow until picking commences, but
I don't think it pays-at any rate
I am satisfied that I can get mine
plowed at the proper time until
the middle Of July.
As general thing we plant too
much land. The consequence is,
bad cultivation, short crops and
shbrt profits, if any. FifteeRaeres