The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-09

Thoughts for the Month

Two very important matters claim atten-
ton at this time-the gathering OF sum
mer crops and the planting of fall ones. OF
the first we need say but little Every one
with any farming experience knows the lnl-
portance of keeping up with cotton as IT
opens. This is particularly important now,
because with low prices, dirty cotton has
stronger competition aud l. difficult OF sale,
and the sooner it is picked after it opens,
the cleaner and brighter the cotton will be.
For reasons given above, it behooyes the
farmer also to strive unusually hard this
season to have his cotton picked curefutty,
SO as to be free from trash IL costs hun
lust as much labor to make dirty, trashy
bale, which sells at d cents a pound. as a
clean. bright one that brings 10 cts, and
surely one cent pound will pay very hand
somely for extra care in picking. 1t would
doubtless often pay to offer extra remunera-
tion to hands tor clean picked cotton.
| The young farmer Is not apt to appreciate
| fully the Importance OF summing cotton which
is damp, either from dew or ram. The
manner in which cotton Is einned, will often
make half cent difference III the price at
which it can be sold and damp cotton can
never be ginned well the fbres will stick
together and leave the gin in little knots or
'.knaps which interfere much with its sub
seouent working up into thread All damp
cotton ought, therefore, to be summed be
fore it is put away in bulk. good rule
is to sun in the afternoon all that Is picked
in the forenoon.
1t is customary to save see from the Sec
ond picking or miolcNe crop. This is well, be
cause both the first and last crops OF bolls
are liable to be defectlve-the seed not be-
ing perfectly matured. The cotton from
which seed is to be saved ought to be very
l&l~- md,
seauent injury to the germ, may occur. II
would be we'll indeed to gin such cotton soor
after it is picked, and san the seed before
they are stored away.
Putting cotton in bulk and allowing rerl
sligl,t heating, rather improves the quaint.
of the lint, and nice planters In olden time:
we're accustomed to pack away their cottOI
so as to secure this improvement OF hbre
But since the war, it is very dangerou
practice to keep large quantities OF un glnne'
cot on in bulk-fres are too numerous In
b~ltel IN is to gin as fast as 1t is picked
when packed it can be sold, stored IN fire
proof warehouses, or scattered here an
; there about the farm. SO that all cannot b
burnt up at once.
FALL CROPS.
OF these oats first claim attention. w
have urged an increase of this crop so ofte
and so much. we are almost afraid ou
f readers will become weary OF It, But Ou
profound conviction is that It should be tn
3 principal grain crop at the south Tor wor
I animals 1t is entitled to this position, b
e Tits relative cheapness, certainty. and valu
# as food The first point will be accepte
: without discussion the second may not
but we beg the reader to recall the rol"nte'
: crops that have fallen under his notice
have they not been equally, IT not MOI
certain, than corn on up lands The seer
of success with crop Of fall oats, is a
early start and good land. To resist freeze
the plant must have time to root well, get
firm hold on the soil and it must, in Il
next place, be able to find readily in Il
soil food to sustain it in the fight with tt
'cold-in other words, we want compar
lively olG and vigorous plant, to pass su
cessfully through the winter. So"the'
CultirOtOr.