The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-09-15
THOUGHTS FOR TIE MONTH.
SOME ssisONADi.E SUGGESTIONS E!sG3!
HUGH AUTHORITY.

HUGH AUTHORITY.
What Wo-k the Coed Farmers Should DO II
the Mon,i, of September IN Interesting ..rti
cic From nm Intelligent Writer.
Nv l.. Jones in the September "Cul:iv !:or.'D
We have discussed, in former mum
bcrs, preparation for al crops. The time
has come for planting them. Scptcmbc,
is the natural and best seeding time fol
grasses, clover, lucern, oats, rye ant
barley. We say natural seeding time
because the seeds OF the various plant:
enumerated arc maturcd in the sunmc,
when it is hot and dry, and even if tho
heads arc shattered and the seed scatter
ed on the ground, the latter do not fine
proper conditions for terminating til
the later rains set in and cool nights
and heavy dcws prevail. The earlier il
the month these conditions are present
the better it is, because ample time is
furnished the young plants to establish
themselves well and firmly in tic soil
before the freezes of winter. In q wild
or uncuitivated state these plants begin
their growth ut time indicated; this IS
natures appointment, therefore, and is
| best suited 70 the wants of the plants.
In northern latitudes, where hardest
freezes prevail, snow protects the young
plants during winter; in the South long
er and stronger autumn growth must
take the place of the snow covering.
As winter grasses abound more III
northern than in southern latitudes, the
conclusion seemed natural that the heat
of southern climates was prejudicial to
these plants; and one step further in the
same direction seemed reasonable, to
wit, that they needed shade in the
South. Hence the practice Of seeding
grass and clover with small grains to get
the benefit of their shade. Doubtless
some shade is desirable during periods
of intense heat and drought, but can it
be procured in the manner spoken of,
without incurring other injury greater
than the good received when grass is
sown with grain? Our observation is
that more is lost than gained. In the
first place the protecting shade is taken
away just when most needed; grain is
harvested in June and July when the
greatest heat and severest drouglts pre-
vail. Plants accustomed to partial shade
are then suddenly exposed to intenscst
heat. But this is not all. In the case Of
grasses proper, the grain crops make de-
mand upon the soil for exactly the same
food the grasses need. Being larger and
more vigorous at the start, the former
over-master the grass at the beginning
and get the lions share Of the food. At
harvest, therefore, the grass is suddenly
exposed to the tierccst rays of the sun
when it is comparatively starved and
weak from the unequal struggle. On
exceedingly rich soils where there is
ample food for both, this objection does
not hold so strongly, but such soils are
not generally found. This difficulty may
in part be obviated by top-dressings in
the spring. But where land is so abund-
ant, amply enough for every crop a
farmer could wish to cultivate, as a rule,
it is better to SOW the grasses by them
selves and not in conjunction with grain
crops This gives them an opportunity
of getting strong during the early stages
OF growth, when they are naturally weak,
and puts them on vantage ground when
the struggle with heat and drought be-
Gins. These remarks apply with greater
force to the annual winter grasses and
clovers which complete their growth in
carly spring. These Of necessity must
be sown by themselves, or with some
crop which follows after them, but does
not grow simultaneously with them.
We cannot urge too frequently upon
| beginners the importance OF heavy seed
ing; be sure to SOW enough for the
plants to occupy all Of the land-leavc
no place for intruders. Sow enough to
allow fol- defective secd-for adrllteratcd
seed, AMI for the dying out Of weak
plants. Alter one has taken all the
trouble of thorough preparation and
heavy manuring-such as grass requires
it is folly to fail from insufficient seed
ing.
! Very light covering Of the seed is of
the first Importance; deep covering will
certainly bring failure. But when light
ly covered, seeds will not gcrminatc well
if the weather is dry, unless they arc
firmly pressed into the soil Hence the
importance Of the roller. It is almost
indispensable in grass culture; it smooths
and levels the ground for the mower,
presses small rocks below the surface,
hastens the termination Of seeds, and
imparts vigor to tie young plants.
Heavy, impacting rains may do some OF
the work OF the roller, but in their alb
sence the surface soil IS too looseand too
easily dried off tor the little plant to cs-
tablish itself in it. Remember, that at
first its roots start at or very near the
surface. 1t is not in the situation Of a
plant springing from a seed buried two
or three incues below the surface.
The oat crop has been so often winter
killed of late that many are discouraged
and disposed to abandon the practice OF
fall-sowing. We confess that recent cx-
perience has been very discourasing.
But in view Of the great value of the
crop, when it does succeed We are 10th
to abandon it. We have faith il the
possibility OF developing by proper Sc
lection and cultivation a winter oa;t capa-
bic of resisting extreme cold. What is
known in Middle Georgia as ''winter
grazing oat' Goes certainly resist cold
better than other varieties. In this
locality, the past winter, the mercury
descended to zero and the cold was long
i - u 1.onl lonl-o -of tliS