The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-06-14
THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.


Keeping the earah in good tilth, antiamak
ing war upon grass and weeds, will give the
farmer abundant occupation, Let him
study we'll the, best implements for these
purposes. Killing grass aud weeds just as
they are coming up, or just as they have
come up,will enable him to use implements
like the sweep or the harrow or the cultiva-
tor, which will enable him to go over ground
rapidly but if they are allowed to make
much growth, it will necessitate the using
of ploughs, like the shovel or the twister,
which requires much more time to pass
over the same area. Our cultivated plants
e)za beaR hrqasAt & theif 1fiahss bts
tecting them against other plants and in
fFeasing their supply of food. They can
tscompete with grass and weeds. The
Flough and the hoe, therefore, must be kept
Sonstantly ut work. Previous workings
5kght to have made the, land, soft and mel
tqa consideSa1 3epthe i 80 nelhing
bc needed ~ but surface stirring
Ms should be oft-repeated, to encourage
ehtinuoes growth. Especially is this inn
portaut With the cotton crop during this
month, that it may make weed enough to
commepce fruiting early the next. The
early .ctop Of bolls is by far the surcst, and
every fort should be put forth to make it
as large as possible. If harvest makes
heavy demands upon your hands, endcavor
to retain at least enough to keep the ploughs
moving
The second hociug will be given cotton
this month. This should be sxnaaainsly-
and every sprig of May grass be
carefully eradicated. All old farmers know
that this is the only grass that gives much
trouble. If not already done, cotton should
be brought to final stand as quickly as
possible. What stand should be, VIC do
not venture to indicate, because it seems to
vary with the character of the soil, with it's
and manuring. But We are
strongly inclined to believe that, as q gene
raj rule, cotton is left too thick.
LAYING BY CORN.
The last working should be very thor
ough. Nothing should be left to compete
with the corn for the food in the SOIL
Whatever corn is going to dc, it must now
do quickly. 1t will soon tassel aud silk,
and the development of the car must follow
rapidly. Give it therefore evey opportu-
nifty mako the surface mellow, that air and
moisture may penetrate; plough shallow, so
as noe to injure the roots. The plant must
feed rapidly, and will need every mouth it
has.
If peas have not been planted at previous
workings, plant now, either drilling in the
middles, or sowing boadcast, at the rate of
one bushcl per acre. The first plan viii
make more peas; the second will benefit
the land most. Don't rely upon peas plant
ed in corn for this valuablt crop, but plant
largely to themselves. Lay off rows three
feet apart, drop in hills Is inches apart, 8
to II seed in the hill. If the seasons per-
init, all the stubble land should be thus
planted. We repeat what we have often
said before, that this is one of the most
cheaply raised crops we have, and none
more valuable for grain or forage. If the
crop fails to mature before frost, the vines
can be cut for hay; if not needed for that,
they may be left on the land, and will fur
nish an abundant supply of nitrogen for
the next years crop.
HARVEST.
Let nothing interfere with saving the
grain which has been made. 1t would be
very foolish to let the wheat and oat crop
waste, in order to cultivate cotton crop,
which may hereafter entirely fail. AS the
weather can never be counted on, shock up
exactly as you would do if certain that a
rainy spell would begin next day. Put up
in small shocks, and in four or five days of
good weather, it may be housed or stacked
It. is poor policy to leave grain long in the
field after it is cut. Oats may be saved by
cutting down with scythe or a mower, and
curing it like hay. When thus managed,
it should be cut when the grain is well in
dough. Thus cut, it makes most excellent
feed. In stacking oats make platform 8
or 10 inches above ground, (two large logs
with smaller ones laid across will answer,)
on which to build the stack. The object is
two.fold, to keep the oats dry, and to give
the cats an opportunity of getting at the
rats. 1t is best to have large stacks, that a
small extent of surface in comparison with
the amount Of straw and grain, may be ex-
posed. Carry the sides up perpcndicularly
for say half the height of the stack, and
then draw in" very gradully to the top and
cap well. Most damaged stacks result from
drawing in" too rapidly, or from imperfect
Gaping. Thresh wheat as soon rs possible