The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-09-29
RED OATS VS.. CORN AND
COTTON.

several questions relative to the
more profitable raising Of small
grain. My mind was then drawn
out in that direction, as the ques-
ton would often recur, ''Can we
not engage in some other business
on the farm besides raising cotton,
which. will not take al of twelve
months hard and unceasing labor
to secure livelihood for the white
mani"
The questions asked were an
swered in good time by some of our
practical farmers, who most earn
estly advised tie course I had re-
solved to follow.
/ made several experiments
which, since I have read the last
numbers of your valuable journal,
I am under the impression would
do your readers good. My ex-
periments were conducted under
my own superintendent, and the
results have carefully summed up
as follows:
The first was this Though it may
not be- considered an experiment
by some, it was so with me.) I
took a plat of two and a half acres
that had been in oats the year pre-
yious, sowed it down in peas Zone
bushel per acre) directly after the
oats were harvested. The peas
came up and grew off, making
considerable vine by the 18th Oc-
tober, when wheat was sown. The
peas, with an additional coating Of
phosphate of lime and cotton seed,
flour hundred pounds per acre)
we're all turned under together !;
then the ground was narrowed till
smooth. The grain terminated
early, and good stand was pro-
cured, which 5000 warranted the
assertion that that land had been
manured. Itgrew off rapidly and
promised to pay a heavy per cent.
on the expenses, which amounted
to nine dollars and fifty cents per
acre, till the cold wet seasons in
spring, attended with late frosts,
which caused rust, and finally
ruined the crop. However, it was
harvested about the middle Of May,
and gave yield Of six bushels
per acre, which little over cleared
expenses. I am not at all discour-
aged at the failure, but think there
are obvious reasons for it, and am
treating the same land in the same
way, intending to seed it down in
wheat again this fall. I have a
good crop of peas now on it, but as
my experiment was based in good
faith on the experienced counsel of
Col. Aiken, I claim that he is In
debted to me in amount sufficient
to sow plat again. 80:
My next experiment was to test
the difference between the cotton
and the oat crops. I laid of a plat
of two acres that had been in cot
ton the four years previous. Its
average yield had been eight hun
dred pounds Of seed cotton per
acre. The preparation for the oat
crop was q broadcasting Of about
the same quantity Of manure that
had been used when plantedin in cot
ton, a deep ploughing, seeding
down one and one-half bushels Of
red oats per acre, and narrowing
over still smooth. The oats sown
on the 7th of November made a
good stand, stood winter we'll, and
grew off early in spring, ripening
by middle of May, making an
average of thirty-two bushels per
acre. Putting the oats at one dol
lar and fifty cents per bushel, (for
which I have bargained all I can
selD gives forty-eight dollars per
acre. The expenses, which were,
all told, six dollars and fifty cents
per acre, deducted, gives a clear
profit of forty-one dollars and fifty
cents per acre. Put the eight hun
dred pounds of seed cotton at an
average price, four and d half cents
in seed, and We have thirty-six