The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-08-14

| SnOWer OF saln 1allS. Have plOughs
sharpened, gear put in order and every
thing ready to hitch up at moments
notice. Stop at once everything else
which interfcres, as soon as rain comes
Clover, turnir, rye and barley land needs
to be put in finest tilth by the middle oil
September, and there is no time to lose
Plough, cross plough, harrow and drag
whenever the land is in order. Haul
out manure (stable or compost) at once
so that no mule will be kept out Of the
plough after rain falls. Some farmers
seldom fail to get these crops started in
good time-others fail oftencr than they
succeed, and the cry is "bad luck" no
rain, whilst the truth is, good or bad
management is Mt the bottom Of it all.
One looks well ahead and makes his ar
rangements accordingly-tlc other looks
little beyond the end of his nose, and is
never ready when the golden moment
arrives.
We publish in this number very
timely article from the experienced gar.
dcner, Mr. Peter Henderson, on 6rming
the soil as q means of encouraging the
termination and growth Of seeds in dry
weather. We have repeatedly noticed
facts such as he describes in our own ex-
pcricncc, and have for years adopted the
plan Of pressing small seeds down in the
drill, either by foot or with the edge of n
thick plank. The past spring, in plant
ing some corn when the earth WAS quite
dry, we had the droppcrs step upon the
grains rs they dropped them, and the re-
\ suit was one of tho best stands Of corn
we ever had. In broad casting seed, the
"frming" can only be done by passing Il
heavy roller over the land after the seed
are plOughcd, narrowed or brushed in-a
practice long and heartily advocated by
the best farmers in grain and grass grow
ing countries.
Our readers will not be offended if we
urge upon them to devote quite largc
area to fall crops--a country afflicted
with such disastrous summer drouShts as
visit us, ought to push winter crops to
the utmost. These crops are also COM
mcndcd to us by the comparatively small
amount of labor they require-the plant
| ing and the gathering sum up the whole
a farmer within our knowledge, by SOW
ing four acres to the mule in oats, made
this year Notwithstanding the dry
spring. enough oats to feed each mule 7
months without other grain or forage,
and M abundance for seed purposes in
addition. Suppose every farmer in tho
South had done likewise, how little corn
would suffice to bridge over another year.
| If it has not been done, and the supply
Of food is too short to last till next years
crops are laid by, what then-buy West
ern corn by no mcans-begin ut once
to take steps to supply the deficiency by
home grown crops. First give the peas
already planted, all the working needed
to mako full crop, and, when made,
gather and store away in the hull, to be
fed in that state. Where the crop does
not promise fair yield Of seed, cut the
vines and cure them; if mixed with
grass so much the better. II roofing can
be had, cure i'll rail or pole pens, making
! floor Of same 4 or 8 inches above the
gTotiid, putting il {: layer Of green vines
2 feet thick, then another floor, then
vines, and so on, as high rs desired. If
roofing cannot be had, put stout stack
poles securely in the ground and, begin
ming l8 inches from the ground, nail on
| cross pieces or arms, decreasing in length
rs you go upwards, and standing off in
every direction like the limbs of tree.
Make an open rail floor one foot from
the ground and build up stack with tho
green vines, shaping and capping it 30 as
to shed rain. An old field pine if con-
veniently situated can be trimmed, leav-
ing the large part of its limbs rs arms,
and answer quite M we'll rs the stack
pole. The green vines arranged in
either of above ways, will soon shrink,
and being unable to settle down into a
compact mass. on account Of the inter
vening rails or on account of the arms or
limbs, will euro beautifully; and being
uncxposed to the sun will retain their
leaves.
In addition to pea vines, cut and save
all the crab or other grass to be found.
Where long scythcs cannot be used las
in corn fields) get the short stout blades.
known as "bush" blades mot "hooks"]
and set them more at right angles on the
5natt than you would i. zegiiinr grass
blade. They can be made If sharp) to
do very good work in tall tangled grass.
Cut down also and cure in shocks. nil
the stalks of corn which have not pro-
duced ears-do this as early as possible.
30 much for material already ON hand.
Now for crops that may be planted and
utilized early next season.
Clover stands ut tho head of the list
red clover in strong clay and limestone
| soils; crimson, California or burr clover
in all soils if rich. The last two are an
nuals-planted next month they will
flower and produce seed next spring and
then die. For feed early in the spring.
they are probably to be preferred to red
clover, unless one had contemplated SOW
| ing the latter for other reasons. The
California clover is not always relished
by stock Mt first, they must be taught to
eat it-the crimson is fully as palatable
to them as red clover Put the land in
good tilth, manure heavily with stable
manure, crushed cotton seed or cotton
seed meal and 100 or $50 lbs. of super
phosphate per acre-and SOW of crimson
clover 15 pounds per acre, of Califarnia
clover 3 or bushels per aero 1.-THE seed
of the latter being in the ba.r} and har-
row or brush in and then rolf. By the
first of March, or possibly earlier, YOU
can cut and feed to stock. We do not
recommend lucerne in m emergency,
such as now under consideration, because
it is when young more delicate than the
| above plants, and more uncertain the
first season.
| The next in value is barley-admirable
both for grazing and soiling-early and
misunderstanding also matured grain
for stock feed earlier than any other crop
we can grow. Can be harvested in Nav.
from 8 to weeks earlier .han oats. The
threshed grain, soaked in water or
crushed in tho mill, makes excellent
horse feed. All know it must be sown ON
rich land-for grazing to bushels ner
acro--for seed 2 bushels will answer.
Ine main dependence must, however,
be placed upon oats-sown from 1st Sep.
A.. A. ~