The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-10-05
Oats Versus Cotton.

Six belt the first experiment made IN fall
seeding amongst the standing cotton, 1t
may not be unlutcresting to the readers
of the ,SJurt,;H to know something oi the
origin and progress Of this hardy cereal,
which, in y few short years, has added so
much to the prosperity of III" country,
and which seems, At no distant day, To
rcvoluti0nizc the Whole system OF agr.
culture in the South.
About twenty four years ago dis
charged Federal solder stopped at the
house Of farmer in the State Of Georgia,
sick and travcl.wurn, and begged To be
allowed to rest for few days. Upon
leaving, he took from his vest pocket
package Of oats, which he divided with
his kind host stating that he obtained
them on the Mexican frontier where his
command had been stationed \ few
years later, gentleman from that section
of Georgia presented Capt Ray, an en-
terprsng citizen Of that State, nDw
deceased, with a small quantity Of the
seed. From this small beginning Capt.
Ray accumulated little stock, which
lie first sold at so, and then at 81 per
bushcl In 1864 the writer obtained =;
bushcl and sowcd in the Spring a5 WAS
the custom Of the country.
The year 1866 being very dry, in or
der to supplement the corn crop, sowed,
i'll September, seventeen acres OF Old
land, then in cotton, at the rate Of three
pccks per acre, and covered them BY run.
ming cultivator once between the rows.
Upon this aud other grain in same field,
sixty head Of sheep were pastured during
the entire winter. In 1877 / harvested
from tho seventeen acres $50 bushels,
weighing fortv.thrcc lbs. to the measured
bushel. The result Of thi. experiment
soon became known, and the plan Of
Fall seeding, with various changes and
improvements in the mCdc Of putting
them in, was universally adopted. All
the seed could spare were soon taken at
$l.G0 per bIshel, ard in 1868, perhaps
not as much ~ 500 bushels were shipped
from our depot; since that time ship.
ncDts have yearly increased, ranging
from 5000 to 10000; .hc present run
ming up to about $4,000 bushels up to
date,
Many begin to SOW ut the last plowng
of cotton, lin latter part of July,) and
continue till lst of November, simply
sowing down the seed and plourhinp nllt
the rows with shoveis and bow or sweep,
three furrows to the row. While many
succeed with August sowing among the
standing cotton, results with the writer
have not always been satisfactory. But
when Il ls desired 10 SOW largely, it becomes
necessary to SOW part very early. The
most successful SOW their cotton lands
between the 18th September aud middle
OF October. They run, first, around with
sharp wing pillow, barside next to rows ;
then SOW five pecks per acre; then pass
cultivator, dy"sicd to niih Of rows, 50
as to Mrow most Of tie scrti into oprn fhr.
ror', or with long narrow shovel or
wide scooter, with an eighteen or twenty
inch D0w.swcep in front, run one furrow,
Plowing out tho middle.
he advantages claimed for this meth
Cd are: lst Tie seed are mnsscd in tho
open burrows, thereby requiring less seed
"a. The plants growing beside the rows,
the roots come IN contact with the irrtil-
izer applied in the drills, giving them a
vigorous send off, Sd. The seed nre COW
cred uniformly, obtaining greater depths
OF SOIL, enabling the plants to withstand
the Usual dry, hot weather succeeding
the early planting. Ith. The oats come
in two well.detned drills, which is
claimed T. be the acme of success.
By this method there should not nm
oat grow III the aMcy or wutcr fnrrom, for
space of twelve inches wide. In Feb.
rtary and March run three section
Thomas smoothing harrow first diagonal-
~ across the rows, and then diag0nally
across TINT rs often as you please, the
Gttencr the better. This will add greatly
TO The product, and prepare the land for
the reaper.
S!nce the stock law went into operation
thousands of acres %: waste lands have
Deen reclaimed, and, rs much of our labor
mas ocen drawn oil to the railroads and
factories now in course of construction,
IN order to utilize our lands, Thousands of
acres arc annually turned during the
months OF August and Scpteln Der and re-
seeded to oats. In this way many acres
nave been seeded for eight or ten years
cnnsrcntlVcly, with satisfactory results.
we claim that the lands, ifnot exhausted,
holds It's own, aud the loss by washing is
not nearly 10 great IN if planted every
alternate year either in corn or cotton.
This was the fifth year with many fields,
and old land ut that, and the yield WAS
iorty TO fifty bushels per acre.
IN looe, young, enterprsing farmer,
across the line, in Edgeield County, du-
ring tho months Of July and August,
turned an old pasture field, fifteen years
narrowed IN uais, and in 1881 harvested
over forty bushels per acre, and lust year.
you remember, oats were n fuure all
over the country. Tho quantity sown
per acre is a much vcxed question. As
general rule, our people are in favor of
rather thin seeding. II sown early one
hnshe: :s c@oash; il iaicr, increase the !
Quantity rs the Winter approaches, SOW j
ing from five to six pecks; and un bottom
land SOW two to two and half bushels |
per acre. II is conceded by tho most
practical farmers that 1t is best to thresh |
the entire crop, feeding in tho sh eaf being
very wasteful. TO feed during the winter
months, ono peck at night, one. half neck
at noon; as the days grow longer, add
one half peck, making half bushel per
day, always keeping tho racks filled with
straw MS long forage. Upon this a mule
will work and keep in fine condition
without an ear OF corn. In twenty years
experience, and an annual crop of 1000
bushels, have never seen n rusted stalk
or blade.
This Invaluable grain, which may be
sown from July to March, will withstand
the heat of Summer, the frosts of Win.
ter, and after being harvested and shock.
ed In long, not round, shocks, without
caps, will stand the rains of weeks with.
ont sprouting. Surely there is no lust
reason why another car load of Western
corn need be shipped within our borders.
Now, Mr.. Editor, hope that none of
your readers will accuse me of being ego
Elstical or presumptuous. am EN-.
phatically farmer, and love nv nrofea.
,iOn. NV wnfch,vnrd bos hoo, up.. |