Richland beacon., 1875-03-06
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Work for March.
lone Journal and Rural Southland:


past month or two, corn planting in \
the whole Gulf coast region would by
this time have been pretty we'll CON- Z
pleted. As it is, we fear that much
of the ground intended for this impor-
,ant crop has not yet been plowed. ,
Where this is the case, no more time
should be lost in starting the teams ,
and listing the ground by tapping
four iurrows in upon the old water
furrow-the middles can very we'll be
broken out afterward. BY this plan,
nearly one-half the time can be saved
in the preparation for planting, and
Tor the labor expended. perhaps the
results are as profitable as when the
soil is completely broken up before
planting. For the main crop, plant
as early now as possible, and with
Southern raised seed. If the crib is
empty and corn is being bought for
bread and team feed, plant few
acres in Northern seed, as it will come
in two or three weeks earlier than the
crop from Southern seed. A practice
very prevalent with corn cultivatOrs
of the North and West is entirely too
much neglected in the South; we al
lude to the planting of pumpkins
among corn. There IS no country III
the world where the pumpkin and
squash flourish in greater perfection
than here, and hence these crops
should enter very largely into any
system of farming or stock raising
that our people may find j. expedient
to adopt. BY planting the pumpkin
or Cushaw squash among corn.
large amount of most valuable winter
feed may be produced at comparatively
Insignificant expense. Twenty tons
of pumpkins have been raised to the
acre as o single crop-we believe that
half that amount can be raised, plant
I'd among corn, without costing s.
extra labor or reducing the corn crop
i've bushels.
In the extreme Southern limit OF.
the cotton belt, cotton should be plan
ted by the 25th of March or LIST of
April-the sooner after the corn is in
the better. We sincerely hope that
our planters will change the o!d pro-
gramme of planting two acres in cotton
to one in corn. As rule, the policy
should be to put one half of all lands
cultivated in small grain and grass.
and two-,hirds of the Other half in
corn, end the remainder in cotton.
With even this simple division OF
crops, systematically carried out, our
farmers and planters would soon be-
come independent and fully ''masters
Of the situation"
As we shall have more to say
abont cotton in our next months
"work," we will merely add here that
there is as great Q difference in the
productiveness of varieties of cotton
ss in corn, potatoes, or any other cul
tivsted crop. and hence the best varie'
ties only should be planted where II
is practicable to obtain the seed. We
cannot attempt here decision upor
the relative merits Of varieties.
Il is rather late now to put in eitbe
small grain or grass, except the mil
lets-of which we shall have some
thing to cay hereafter. The Red Ga
mag do pretty we'll even for seed
sown as late as this, but we shoul
not risk extensively-for green soilin
It will succeed very well sown an
time this month (March).
Irish potatoes may yet be plante
especially of the early varieties, sue
as King of the Earlies, Early Ros
Early Goodrich, etc. Sweet Potato'
should be bedded out for vines Il
middle or latter part Of the mont
A few may be put out no'c for I.
early crop. The Brazilian, II
Nansemond and Southern Queen a
perhaps, the best early varieties. II
yellow Yam is the best main crop,
it sells higher 10 the market than Al
other, and ia about as productive
sny. Pindars shqnA be large
planted and now, the 6oner the bett'
Late in the month. castor oil bes
and broom corn should be put 10,
also cbufas, Florida goubers, etc.
ORCHARD AND VINEYARD.-ln Il
deuartment we can add but little
our remarks last month. Transpl'
ting is still 10 order, but with q
special proviso, that as the sea.
advances, moro care Puet be tai
that oil the conditions Of success
present in the operation. We h'
transplanted trees and vines succs
fully, during the entire months
March and April-with almost
rood success, in fact, a. at any o.!
period, aud This convinces u. as
have often said before. that more
pends upon ,be ,cay the planting
done than upon the SEASON Ut do'n;
Grape vines should he pruned ut
beyond the middle Of this nc
(March) it will not be safe to pr
them till their leaves are pretty
developed. Fruit trees can be pru
at any time when one has 81
knife aud steady hand.
GARDEN AND LAwN.-Continu'
work indicated ia-t month. Plan
main crop Of sugar and ether roa'
ear corn, isars, rarr,ds, psrsn'ps,
Plan, uu, lettuce. s'uhs'agt. canlifi'
r,r.-wud late iu the month
MELONS. aquash--. bush h'sns.
81, Sow onion seed now, and