Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-09-10
Good ADVICE to Farmers.

M r. EDrroR:--M last eon,munica-
ton ended with the necessity.for5 farm
ers understanding their soils,!he nature
of plants and modes Of cultivation
tl,is article begins with the presump-
tion that this information has been
acquired, and the farmer has not only
selected his soil and plant, but is ready
to begin the work preparatory to
planting. Ofcourse thorough drainage
without which nosoil can b3 produc-
tive, is assumed. -
Tho first principle, then, which
seemst to be decidedly heexpsrience of
Drs. Summers and Keller, ,nEesrs. Moss
and Collier is, that soil, of Whatever
nature, should be broken up ais deeply
rs possible before planting. The rea-
son for this seems to bevery obvious,
and the advantages. NUMEROUS It
increases spopginess through which
the rootlets draw organic food from
the atmosphere without. During sea-
sons of protracted drought the roots
are enabled to pierce deem AID obtain
the moisture from below which gives
the plantipower to retain its yigor and
growth for much longer time. Deep
soiling also may serve the purpose of
making the roots more fibrous and
numerous, SO as to put the plantin n
position to gather all the available
food in the soil, however meager that
So oply may be. The experience of
r any other successful planters estab.
fishes beyond a doubt, deep soiling as
q fixed principle in agriculture.
After supplying the fertilizing ele-
ments, of which the soil is supposed to
be deficient, the next step is planting
the seed. Now these gentlemen seem
to be not so we'll united, agreeing,
however, that close planting.is better
than the old method Of ALLOWING dis
tance for cotton. DR.. Summers and
Mr.. Moss asserts that cottonsiioull be
allowed distance between the beds for
the circulation of air, not less than
four feet, and crowded in the drill !;
DIR. Keller, opposing this, argues that
three feet between beds is ample dis
tance to admit the atmosphere to cir
culate freely and like Gen. johnson is
willing to submit his skill as pplantcr
to the test of success. The best, and
only reason given by these gentlemen
IS, that more bolls can be raised to the
square foot by this method than by
any other. 1t is we'll to say in this
connection that each of these planters
have fine crops of cotton. that will
average very nearly u bale per acre ];
DIR. Summers, it was. agreed, would
realize heavier yield. Very many
eminently successful planters maintain
a directly opposite theory, asserting
that n large yield cannot be realized
except by giving distance both ways !;
and their own. equally successful, ex-
perience is given rs evidence. The
utmost that can he said to reconcile the
difference is, that both theorier may be
right under certain circumstances !:
further researches into the habits ofthis
plant may show more light upon the
subject. at all events, experiments
have not been sufficiently definite in
results to determine any particlar
theory as the correct one. The subject
needs discussion.
The generally accepted mode ofcul-
tivation consists simply in frequently
pulverizing the surface soil. Deep
ploughing, whereby the numerous lat
eral roots are cut to the the irreparable
injury of the growing plant, has been
abandoned us false in theory and
ruinous in practice. Repeated shallow
plowings keep the surface fresh, and,
during hot weather, in the proper con
dition to catch the deposits of dew
which is readily admitted to the roots
through the pores of the loose soil be-
low. The same principle holds good
with rain. On the contrary,s the sur
face being hard, the water runs off
carrying away its fertilizing gases and