The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-03
KILLING GRASS NOT CULTIVATION

KILLING GRASS NOT CULTIVATION.
Many farmers in this section plant as
many acres as they possibly can keep the
grass down on, under the mistaken notion
that IT the grass is kept down the crop is
an right. They ought to be called "grass
Killers" If there is no grass, there is nc
cultivation, for they let the field of corn O,
cotton stand until the grass springs I'M
though otherwise much in need of the plow
The number of acres they can keen clear ot
grass is assumed to be the number thcy can
cultivate with their force, and thus over
planting goes on from year to year, willie
poor cultivation cripples tho land, reduces
the yield and disheartens the farmer.
Low No It that 7thesa -farnaa.s. -oaanat eret
ft trutU -tfrcfr s-thet.~ .~ealeiYatisa means
stirring the soil as well as killing the grass:
They argue that in killing grass of course
they stir the soil; and SO they co, after a
fashion, but they forget in this argument
that in most cases the implements they use
are designed not for the best cultivation. but
tor the best grass killing Let them reverse
this object, and we think the result will be
satisfactory. Have your plows made for
the very best cultivation, aud let the grass
killing be incidental There will not be
much grass il the field is we'll cultivated ;
but in order to do this your calculation Of
thirty to forty acres to the horse must be
upset. One horse or mule cannot cultivate
SO much land well, and if he seems to have
done so on former occasion, reduce it now
to twenty or twenty five; cultivate better,
STIR the soil oftcner, and you will be con.
vinced by the difference in the yield that you
a"ua hnen ovnrworked for no correspondino
profit. Twenty acres of land well cultiva.
ted will certainly yield more than thirty
acres poorly cultivated. Many Of these
grass farmers" if not all of them. bv
thorough cultivation could dispense with
one-third Of their horses pows and hoes,
and produce better crops. 1t is difficult to
oacak OH old habits, we know, but it is bet
ter to break bad habits than never.
Good cultivation requires watchfulness
over the crops aud frequent close inspections
as to their true condition AMI needs. and
when it is perceived that the earth has been
rcpackcd from heavy rains or long standing,
or the surface baked or crusted from the
same causes, as so often happens in our eli
mate, be assured the plow is needed, and
every day it is delayed brings loss to the
I"t EIU': rxCuf1 -uy or pTv,grrs,
and avoid turning it over as much as pos.
sible. Stirring the soil don't mean turning
it bottom up. In dry seasons, especially,
your crop will need all the moisture in the
soil, and If you turn it mp you release the
moisture to the sunshine and winds. We
use too many turn plows in summer In
fact, they should be used only in winter in
breaking up when moisture is abundant
Ii you do not use patent cultivators, long,
narrow scooters arc best to side with when
the crops are young, and also to keep the
mlddles loose; to make time, two, three and
even four of them may be attached to a
single stock, while shallow running sweeps
are Incompatible for skimming the surface
to destroy grass.-L. c. b. IN .Sauannah
Neus.