The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-10-09
FH0UGHFs FOR THE MONTH.
TIhdELY TOPICS FOR THE CONSIDER
! ALTON. OF FPRoGREsSIvE FARMERS.

AT1ONs OF PROGRESSIVE FARMERS,
what Work Should DO Dono during the
Sc Month OF October Valuable Suggestions
'front.' High Authority.
osT + ". H. Jones an Soatthe1n Culttoator.l
Oats may DC sown up to the middle
S, of October in the northern portion of
the cotton belt, and still later towards
the Gulf; but the risk is rather great
ii sown later than the time designated,
in the cold, hilly regions. In the lati-
tade of Atlanta we cannot get in oats
\ by the middle OF October, we prefer
t" wait and sow in January. We have
called attention on former occasions TO
the Importance of sowing seed in the
fall from fall raised crop, and in the
spring from spring raised crop. Fall
crops acquire gradually the power of
enduring cold, and spring crops the
habit of early maturity. In the North
the difference between winter and
spring wheat is very marked, the
former being much less injured bv
cold, The same difference can be es-
tablished between fall and spring oats.
For fall sowing the rust proof is to be
preferred; for spring sowing the Burt
IS perhaps best. 1t seems to have prov
CT rust proof, and sown in January or
early February, is ready for the cradle
ABOUT as soon as fall oats. The ad-
vantage of this is that the crop is made
Dc1orc the moisture in the soil is ey
haustcd. 1t natures so rapidly that if
cannot be sown in the fall it is essen
tally spring oat.
Barley and rye NAV also he so,vn
during this month, but unless mon
very rich soils will not furnish mnch
grazing or moving. 1t is thoupht
however that the late sown will bro
duce more seed. Wheat sowing will
Dcgln this month. We have ALWAYS
advocated sowing enough for family
use, put as market crop it paws onlv
under exceptional conditions. In
limestone regions, where stronr, stiff
soils abound, and in localities where
the extensive system of farming still
prevails, the wheat crop may pay
pretty well. The first class Of soils
Is especially adapted to grain. and the
corn fields need rest and restoration of
humus through small grain crops.
lhc extensive system, in like manner,
calls loudly for 4 rotation in which
small grain enters, because cotton is a
leading crop in that system and cx-
poses the land so much to washing and
lchcnlng. with no expense for manure
inc farmer sows one bushcl Of seed per
acre and harvcsts five or six. Two
n"Sneis proDablypay expense Of plow-
ing III ana harvesting, and he makes
Two Two or lhrec bushels per acre as profit
But he considers that the Improvement
OF his land and the pasture after hor.
vest would compensate him. cvrn
though his wheat crop did not pav OK
pcnscs. But under the intensive svs-
tcm OF farming, where crops arc raised
by large expenditures for manure, the
conditions arc entirely changed,
wheat will not make large yields with
out an abundant supply of nitrogcnous
manurc--a substance in which old
SOILS are particularly deficient, and
winch is the costliest of all when it has
10 be purchased. In addition the crop
IS an uncertain one in our climate on
account of its liability to rust. But
three or four acres hi ghly manurcd,
VIII ordinarily supply family. and
one can afford to take risks on TINT
small crop, to foster the feeling of in
dcnGndcnec and to supply his pantry
with new, sweet, pure flour early i'm thc
season. Appropriate soils, manure,
etc for wheat, were discussed i'm pre-
Vlous numbers and need not be repeat-
ed here. After the middle of the
month it is rather hazardous to sow
clover and grass; unless the seasons
are exceptional they will not get well
rooted enough to withstand the freezes.
Delayed sowings may be deferred fin
spring.
1t is little singular how often the
same inquiry is made, though it has
been repeatedly answered in the CUUi-
edtor A marked illustration of this
is one touching the propricty of turn
ing weeds under green or after thew
h"vp been killed by frost. Practical
FARMERS looking at the matter in the
nght OF practice, not Of theory, had
been divided concerning it. The agri-
cultural press had advocated so dill
gen4ly and pcrsistcntly the blowing
uhder OF green crops Us u panacca for
scstorlnS the fertility Of worn soils
that practical farmers who catch up
thcorles sometimes, at last, begin to
pfcach the same doctrine, and il is at
present the popular theory ofthc dav.
Now, this kind of preaching came
originally from the north, where the
conditions of climate, crops and soils
are quite different from ours. At the
north, soon after green crops arc
Plowcd under in the fall, the soil is
locked up in ice and decomposition Of
the green stuff is suspended and no
teaching can GO on. In our mild eli
mate the reverse holds good--dccom-
position goes on without much chcclIl
an! teaching OF its products is greatly,
Facilitated by copious winter rains.
at me north large portion of the
land is seeded down in small grain and
grasses, crops which arc ready to ap-
pirate at once the airy products Of de-
composition of the green stuff which
may form. With us the land usually |
continues bare urtil summer crop IS |
put upon it the ensuing spring. That, |
tlv'c,ore, tin which might be good prac-
cc,' t,cc at ,,a,. Inc north might might be very