The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1885-09-10
AeriituItural.
PICKING COTTON-GATnGRING CORN.

PICKING C0TTON-GATlERlN CORN.
The chief work on the farm for the
next two months is harvesting the
crops that we have toiled for the past
six months. Now We reap the reward
of our labors. Cotton is to be picked:
corn to be gathered and forage to be
saved. Everything now must yield
to the proper saving Of the crop that
has been made and in such a manner
that nothing be allowed to waste. 1t
were poor policy that allowed any
part Of the crop to be lost after so
much labor bestowed on making it.
A lack of energy or failure in judg-
ment just at this time, may undo the
good results OF the hard work of
months. As fast as cotton opens it
should be picked and housed, using
all the care possible not to pick other
than what is fully matured and when
necessary, summing the cotton before
packing it away in much bulk. 1t is
much the safer policy to have plenty
of extra pickers to keep up with the
cotton, than to run the risk Of "a storm
or continued rainy weather, and this
year, especially, a poor sample of cot
ton viii have to suffer a deduction
that will be very unsatisfactory to the
seller. The quality OF last years
cotton was a very fine average and
not likely to ever be surpassed. From
first to last, the samples we're perfect
and it has had tendency to make
buyers fastidious and mdisposcd to
purchase any stained or trashy cot
ton. Every effort should be made to
secure only fully opened cotton, free
from trash, for in the end it may
make a differences Of six to eight dol
lars in the bale.
The barn should be gotten in read
mess and as far as possible made rat
proof after extcrminating the rats
that are in and about it, and Just as
soon as the corn is dry enough, it
should be gathered and stored away.
As it is put in the barn it is a good
plan TO sprinkle it with salt water
enough to moiston the shuck slightly.
Many a farmer after making a good
crop of corn, enough to do him per-
haps-allows the rats and weevils to
destroy half Of it. 1t is distressing
to think Of the enormous quantities
Of corn and other grain destroyed by
these agencies and a farmer should
exert himself to lessen this evil The
insect world at present is levying a
tremendous tax on the farmer and it
behooyes him to enter into active re-
bellion against it. He certainly
should leave nothing undone to pro
tect his grain from taya, enc.
mics. Whoever has the best plan on
remedy for circumyenting these
should make 1t known fer the good o.
the cause
As long as there is any fora &c {,
be saved the regular labor Of tn,
farm should be employed in saving it
leaving the cotton picking to the ex
ira labor that is paid by the hundrc,
pounds. As far as possible, the reg
ular labor should be employed now
in preparing the land for oats ant
any other grain that it is designed tC
SOW in October and early November
AS the soil may be in condition from
time to time, the stubble land should
be flushed and thus kept in readiness
for the final preparation and sowing
in October Advantage should be
taken Of the very first saturatine
rain to do this. October sown oats
is too valuable a crop to the Georgia
farmer to warrant the slightest neg
lect in the way Of timely preparation
Tor accomplishing it at the proper
time and it need not interfere with
the harvesting Of the crops already
made UaledgaaHe Recordr