The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-12
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Thoughts for the Month.

Inevitably cucCA duu luJuiS nv SioPI'
Not only So: it will give double work
hereafter. Getting behind now, makes
all subsequent workings unsatisfactory
and laboriOus. 1t is very poor economy
t. spare labor now Keep the ploughs
moving rapidly and continuously, and
follow with hoes as quickly as possible.
Besides killing grass, it is highly de-
sirable to promote rapid growth OF the
crops this month, and this is best Sc
cured by keeping the soil in good filth
all the time.
LAYING BY CORN.
Let the last working be thorough;
whatever corn is going to do, it must
do quickly it will 0 tassel and silk,
and the development of the ear must
follow rapidly. 1t cannot wait for sea-
sons-give it therefore every OppOrtu-
nifty, kill every bunch of grass and every
weed, if any there be to dispute the
ground with it. Make surface mellow,
that air and moisture may penetrate if
it should be dry. Plough shallow, SO
- not to injure the roOts-the plant
must feed rapidly, and will need every
mouth it has.
Early corn will be ''laid by" this
month, and peas ought, by all means,
to be b~roadcasted at the last plough
ing. They will be early enough to ma
ture, but a more important %considera-
ton is the improvement of the land.
One bushel of seed per acre is too little
-14to 2 bushels will answer. Let the
peas be thick enough to smother crab
grass. Our corn fields are the nurseries
in which this plant p~erfects its seed and
fills our hands with them. If the crop
has been properly cultivated, and the
last ploughing is thorough mot deep,)
aad a Mick crop of peas grown on the
land, it will be in elegant order for a
succeeding crop-clean, mellow, and
filled with an abundance of nitrogen.
COTTON.
Cotton should now make weed
| reparatory to fruiting in July and Au-
gust. Work it therefore as often as
possible. If it is small and the ground
is hard, plough pretty deep in the mid
dies if the soil is clean and soft. sweep |
ings or borrowings will answer. Let
the hoes go over carefully and remove |
all grass which may have been over |
looked. If wel-done, little or no hoe
ing will be needed thereafter-light
ploughings until the limbs meet in the
midd}es will make the crop.
Give it every opportunity to push for
ward and make weed now. Bring to a
standa a once, if not already done, and
plough as often as practicable. When
cotton gets fully under way developing
fruit, the workings may be at longer in
tervals and increasingly shallow, as it
will then be desirable to moderate the
gtouth of the plant.
PEAS.
Plant a large crop of peas; the seed
should be in the ground by the middle
of the month. Don't rely on that
in corn, but plant by them
lay off rows three feet apart,
drop In hills Is inches apart, ] doz. seed
to the hill. This is one of the most
eheaply raised crops we have, and none
more valuable either for grain or forage.
If it fails to mature before frost, the
vines can be cut for hay, or if not need
ed for that, they will furnish the land
the cheapest nitrogen for the next
years. crop.
SWEET POTATOES.
Slips may still be set out-have seen
good potatoes made (even in this lati-
,ude) with slips put out on the LIST of
that is not usual; in this hill
country the middle of June is late
Crabgrass is peculiarly mimi
to the sweet potato, keep it there
ore carefully out of the patch; take
he vines of one middle and after
,loughing and hoeing it, pull the vines
'ack in that, and work the next, and so
n. The vines should never be allowed
o take root in the middles.
Look well to a full supply for the
winter. If there is any pros :
ect of scarcity, put a few acres in drill !
d corn on rich and thoroughly pre- !
AIRED land the yield is almost incred- I
BE. Put in drills % or 3 feet apart, I
D as to allow a working or two, and !
ow about 3 bushels of seed to the acre. /
{ ought to be thick, to make the stems q
mall and easily cured. Cut about the '
me it silks. The difficulty of curing
the greatest drawback. As soon as
will bear it without danger of mould :,
x, tie in bundles and set on butts 4
xainst the sides of barns, &c. &C.. 9
nder shelter to cure. J,
HARVEST. :;
In farming, as in most things. it is d
wise to exchange a certain for an O
ncertain good. 1t would be extremely O
Olish, for instance, to neglect the Il
heat and oat crops now ready for the Ii
to cultivate cotton crop, which f
sayt the least of it, is very uncertain, Fl
,th as to yield and price. Save the n
heat and. oats, and do it well. AS the S;
q never be counted on, shock f
!, exactly as you would do if you were "
rtain that rainy spell would begin 0
e next day. Just as soon as the h,