The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-02-28
CORN AND OoTToE E.Ab ST OLD sRoOxsEDs

sedge land, and where we knew the land
thoroughly. It was very poor, having beer,
cultivated about twenty years, with no at
tempt at Improvement. The land was 20
poor that we did not think it capable Of
producing either corn or cotton sufficient to
pay for the plowing; and corn it certainly
has not produced, for we do not think the
crop on the broomsedge part of the land
will average five bushels per acre. Every
angle and corner OF the broomsedge field Is
visible to marked degree in the poverty
OF the corn, good corn, appearing -a~gsfss>
we I'D r RS,. Hk
portion planted in cotton Is as marked in
the reverse. The broomsedge land shows
cotton doubly as good as that on the same
land adjoining, where there was no broom
sedge.
The proprietor being with us explained
his management, and convinced us of the
intelligence of his proceedings.
The broomsedge field was early broken
up and prepared for cotton, but planted late,
in order to give time for work that would
be necessary on other land. Planted late,
and on broomsedge land, where nothing
else grew, he knew by experience that this
cotton could ,cait until the crab grass lands
were worked up, which could not be deferred.
This management enabled the same umbsr
of laborers to cultivate that much more
cotton, adding eight or ten acres to the or
dlnary average cotton crop per hand. And
this cotton was insplendid condition and well
fruited. The stand was excellent, having
been doubly seeded to provide against the
old turfs and the hot dry weather of the
early part Of the season, which usually
causes much of the young cotton to die
out.
The proprietor Of this farm, gentleman
of observation and experience, has good
reputation for cotton crops on Florida as
we'll as on Georgia lands, and we will now
reveal to his neighbors what his reticence
would not-that the old broomsadge is his
bonanza. He has more than once put in q
full crop of cotton on his other lands, aud
then added some immense old broomsedge
field for late work, to employ his laborers
whom the first was off his hands. His
neighbors thought him qyeS,cropped--th
he would not be able to keep down the
grass, but he knew there would be no grass
in the old broomsedge field to keep down,
and by planting late and seeding we'll, he
would get to it in time to keep the land
loose This accounts for some of his unu-
sually large crops of cotton to the number
Of hands employed. His experience is that
corn will not pay on breomsodge land, but
that cotton will.
Oh the same farm cur attention was called
10 tho excellence of field of corn, the
seed having been procured in Tennessee
Nothing was claimed for the seed beyond
good quality of corn, but the fact that it
came from more Northern climate; and
If this was all the advantage, it appeared
to US to be sufficient inducement to change
our seed every year or two for Northern
seed. Planted side by side with home
seed, the Tennessee corn has less stalk
with great deal more grain, larger
ears, with thinner and less husk or shuck,
and SO well filed out that the grain often
protruded beyond the end of the shuck.
We noticed this remarkable difference
n corn once before, on our own premises,
Ind decided that the introduction of seed
corn from moro Northern climate was a
benefit to our farmers. The very
same varieties we plant, fresh from Teunes.
zee, altogether surpass ours in production
.he first year. In the second year it is said
10 be no better than ours. If true, it is an
important matter for the consideration of
bur farmers.
We know very well, that there are other
seeds, especially in our garden list, that do
best purchased annually in the North, but
We had not classed corn among them, aud
10 not now, believing that the difference
above alluded to may be accounted for in
BUR general neglect Of seed corn selection.
Seed corn should be selected in the field,
where the farmer can note the condition
'f the stalk, the difference in ears and the
early or lateness of maturity.
Every farmer knows that some ears ripen
much earlier than Others, and that all over
any field he may select He knows also
that somo are i'll and some are well shaped,
aud filed out, iu different degrees, even
under the same conditions. All this means
and the use of farming intelli.
gence is To find 1t out. If three, five or
eight bushels more per acre of corn can be
made with the same labor, on the same
land, by little attention to seed, would it
not be wise and prudent to give that little
attentionP
And what is here said Of corr applies to
nearly all Of our seeds. Goodseed IL half
the profit, the other half being in good
Netos.