The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-04-09
IIloUGHTS FOR THE MONTH.
TIMIcIY TOPICS FOR THE CONSIDER
ALTON OF oFPRoGRESsIvE FARMERS.

WIN Tue sIoppHSe OF WINTER lalls
and increasing heat OF the sun, thc
regulation OF heat and moisture de-
mands much thought and constant at
tention. What can be done to help
the sun warm up the soil, that seeds
may germinate readily and young
plants grow Off healthy and strong.
we must bear in mind that as the
heating is done by the sun, it must
begin at the surface and go downward.
In general way, something may be
done by rendering the soil as dark rs
possible by the presence of humus
Dark bodies absorb heat more readily
than white or light colorcd. a rich
dark mould will absorb heat more rap
idly than white sand. as land be-
comes old and worn, it becomes light
er colorcd, and, by SO much colder, in
the spring. Sow it in grain, rest it
and fill it with humus, and its darker
color will return. 70 Start an early
crop of anything, therefore, select not
only n southern slope but dark soil.
AS the earth warns up, evaporation
from the surface increases and cvaDo-
ration is cooling process. 1t is i'm
portant, therefore, to have the surface
dry. Land well drained warns up
quicker i'll the spring than that filled
with water. We do not propose now
to urge tile draining Of uplandS; we
arc not ready for that. But ridging or
bedding also, by increasing the sur
face exposed to the air, facilitates drv-
ing very much, and therefore is advis-
able in most cases. Bedding also, bv
exposing more surface to The warm
ar causes Increased heating from that
source. The only objection to it is
the facility it affords for washing
away Of the soil; ono must avoid cX-
trcmc high beds, and use the other
rarled means against washing rains.
Farming here, as elsewhere, is Il per-
pctual struggle TO steer between Scvlla
and CharyDdis, and sound, di>rrimi-
nallng Judgment must guide the ship.
The remarks already made apply to
the preparation for crops which arc
started earliest, such as corn, Irish
potatoes, etc. For those which are
planted somewhat later, like cotton.
the preservation Of moisture in the
soil, becomes matter Of great mo-
mcnt. AS spring advanccs and the
heat increases, The surface Of the SCI is
quite apt to dry and hard, too dry 10
bring up seeds which will not bear
deep covering. This is best prevented
by repeated narrowing. These should
be given the land after every rain.
They should be very light, simply
breaking the crust; If deep, they viii
cause the drying up Of as much Of the
soil as is looscucd. a three section
smoothing harrow, not weighted, will
40 the work properly and so rapidly,
one Will hardly miss the time. 70
allow for the cutting down OF the beds
by the harrow, they Uhc bcdS) may be
made extra high at first. High beds
arc objectionable on account Of wash
ing but they Will be cut down SO soon.
under the plan proposed, that the cX-
posure Of the land will be very short.
NO work on farm pays better than
repeated borrowings between the COM
piction OF preparation for, and the
planting of crops. They Kill all younm
grass and weeds, keep the surface
mellow and fine, and make all subsc-
qucnt working easier and susccptiblc
Of being better done.
The planting of cotton is the leading
work of this month. Under a svstrm
or high manuring, the tcndrrinm is TO
later planting ofthis crop. The wiscst
plan is to extend the planting from thc
10th of April to the 10th Of May. VLis
gives one more chances of Sirkin~ The
seasons, and decreases somewhat thc
pressure Of the whole crop needing
work at the same time. In the first
planting the seed must be covered very
shallow, and light harrow is proba-
bly, the best covcrcr. But it is better
TO cover the late planted with double
loot ploW, and knock of subScuucntlv
with board. AS the opening of the |
drills and the covering Of the seed are |
Doth light work, one may have two
opening plows by one horse. fine
horse walking in the middle between
rows; and a similar arranncmrn; |
with two covcrcrs. Two horses
and six hands may thus plant
from twelve TO sixteen acres per dov
II rain falls between the plantin~
and the coming up of the seed. run = |
narrow over and along the beds. A
three section harrow will carry three
Deus at time, and will go over cigh-
teen or twenty acres day. The ry.
pense is slight, the advantage grcut-I
grass killed and loose mellow earth for
the young plant TO come through. We
arc very ANXIOUS TO press the harrow
as the instrument for the cultivation of
crops III thcir earliest stages. We are
most profoundly impressed with its
perfect adaptation and utility for this
work. 1t may require some time and
patience to learn how and when f. use
il, but the lesson once learned will br
OF incstimablc value; cheap produc.
ton means large net gains, and it is by
implements, which can accomplish Il
large amount OF WoLk, and which are
better adapted to the work, that the
of cheap production is to be
solved. We arc thoroughly convinced
or this, and never lose an opportunity
OF impressing it upon our rcaAcrs; but |
we are sorry to say that in many eases |
the cost of the implements alluded to,
is cntlreIy too high, in some cases |
fdouoiG, we think, what they ought to
be. The Acme and the smo6thin~
narrow marrow, are are approximately cheap
far too high priced. We speak of
harrows now, because we are mpon
that subject, but the same is trnr nr
other imDlcmCntS which c,,,,,.,,. ,.