The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-08-22
Editorial Notes.


Dukes whose kindness afforded us the
privilege Of seeing his excellent crop
on last Tuesday morning and enables
us to lay before our readers few
notes on the preparation of the soil,
nanuring and cultivation Of the crop
which has produced for him ono of
the best crops in the county. We
have noticed closely the different
crops along the road Of our travels
during the past two months and, TAX
ing the number of acres Zone hundred
and ten Of cotton and ninety of corn)
in the count, it is the best average
crop We have seen. 1t is agreed by
every one who has visited Mr.. Dukes
farm that the yield will be large both
of cotton and corn, and no one has
given him less than one hundred bales
Of cotton. Indeed when crop is
fine average one, excellent in every
field, it is impossible to tell how
MUCH will he made; the oppoaite is
equally true, that when crop is fine
in one field, inferior in second and
pupr!u tlirra, D'rs >s,iuilsJ ssn,l,ust;r-
bic to say how little will be made,
Accordingly TO opr best Judgment
after seeing and walking through bis
different fields Of cotton aua corn,
NIr. Dukes will realize at least q bale
to every acre of cotton and twenty
bushels to every acre of corn, The
lands upon which this crop is made
has been under cultivation for years.
There is not a stump to be seen or
the root of tree TO be encountered
anywhere on the farm save few Of
recent growth in q field or two of
corn; and it is natuIa al to suppose
that, under tho system of cultivation
formerly pursued by our planters, the
land was, at the beginning OF his oc-
cupancy, eight years ago, impoverish-
ed in greater or less degree accord
ing to locality-much of it would
not yield at best more than two hun
dred pounds Of lint per acre. BY
what method, therefore, these lands
have been brought TO their present
extraordinary productivencss is a
question Of interest 10 the general
farming PUBLIC. When it is admit
ted, us it has been by many, that agri.
culture has assumed the proportions
Of science and that rcmunerative
success on the part of the farmer re-
quires as much knowledge Of specula-
tive principles as a chemist does of
his compounds or the jurist of law,
the wonder is that. so many meu with
in o decade of years have arrived at
their present knowledge of the great
truths involved in the science. One
must apply himsclf assiduously to the
otudy of'soil, the nature of plants and
to the different modes of cultivation,
in order that he may realize tho yield
the full capacity of, the soil would
warrant. Mr.. Dukes has certainly
made wonderful proficiency in the
study, rs his successes for several
years have attested. lie may not un-
derstand The chemical affinity between
soil and organic matter, but he docs
its results he may rot understand
the great law by which food is appro-
priatcd by the plant and by which
plants are produced, but he does its
effect; and &c may not understand
the principle which controls the CO.
operation Of atmosphere and soil in
fertilization, but he does its condition.
Practically then his remarkable
yield is the result of deep study and
thoughtful analysis.
AS a consequence of this knowledge,
he prepares his lands deep and we'll
heretofore witha long one-horsc plow,
but will hereafter use two-horsc
plow as a matter merely Of economy.
Ills cultivation is thorough but shall
e