The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-03-11
Make the Farm self.Sustaining.

Mr.. EDITOR. In my last, l promised
to give some practical hints as to corn
culture. Before doing so | must be
allowed to answer some objections a
certain class. of your readers will be
almost sure to raise against the sugges-
tions contained in the article of last
week, viz: the merchants. If the farm
ers raise grain instead of cotton, or make
cotton a secondary consideration, how
can they pay their accounts, settle up old
scores, or satisfy those who make advan-
ces in provisions, guano, &C.? This is
an important question, and seems to
stand 10 the way of agricultural reform.
But when We consider it in its true light,
Ike all other "ignas fatuouses," it soon
vanishes. For be it remembered, the
planting of cotton to the exclusi of
the cereals is the cause of the present
Indebtedness, and surely that which has
caused such results in the past, will con-
tinue to produce like results. And if
these continue to be realized, it can only
be question of time as to the failure of
the merchants. They cannot carry such
risks now with safety, and what must be
their condition in the near future if the
farmers continue to depend upon them
for their kvmg. 1t matters not how firm
their foundation may seem to be, if it
rests not upon the success, the prosperity
of the agricultural classes, it will even
tually give way, "and great will be the
fall" We come now to notice in detail
"corn culture" as the time of planting is
drawing near:
The preparation of the soil is first in
order and no less in Importance, and if
we are to succeed, must be attended to at
once. The land should be thoroughly
and deeply broken, touching "the red"
continually, but lifting but little to the
surface, unless you can manure highly.
That this may be done, the common 8 or
81 inch subsoil plow is the best to use,
as it is of light draft, and when properly
set reaches deeper and pulverizes better
than any have tried.
If land is hilly or rolling, first lay off
rows full feet wide, circling with the
hills, SO as if possible to get every row
to carry its own water, then bed out the
rows so as that when planting time comes
you can with broad shovel reopen the
middle furrow and get your seed down
in the ground. If land is level as ours
on the ridge, it is best to simply break it
up and let it alone until planting time,
then, if drilled, make your rows the full
5 feet, if billed, the rows should be a
feet each way. If admissible, prefer
hilling, as it enables one to cultivate
with less work and keep down the beds
so that it will not suffer 80 much from
drought.
The selection of Iced is next in order,
and claims the very closest attention, for
it is universal law of nature, that "like
produces its like, so if the seed be worth.
less, so will the stock and ear. With the
closest scrutiny, select the very best and
soundest ears in the crib, and do not
nub either end unless to get off few
rotten or Informed grains. Remember
Just here that the ear was formed by in.
finite wisdom, and that every grain has
its mission to fulfill. And, too, that the
grains off of the stub or big end pro-
duce stocks that will flower or tassel two
weeks earlier than those off of the little
end. So that by planting the whole ear
you have the grains all mixed, producing
the early and late tassels, the pollen or
dust from which is to feed the grains
forming on the cob. There being silk
protruding from the shuck for every
grain, and these silks formed somewhat
as the cows tongue to catch the pollen
and carry its fertilizing properties to the
place needed.
We come now to planting ,he seed.
Be sure that this is done in good time.
md plant in the ground, not in the moon.
Be sure, too, that the ground is dry, the
lrier the better. AS indicated above,
With the common shovel plow thro" out
he furrow, drop the corn if in hills one
md two grains in a rlace--in The check
f drill, and rows FIVE feet wide; drop
very 81 feet, not closer, and remember
hat if every stalk makes good car, you
re to gather 25 bushels to the acre
Jover with hoe, double foot nr single
ubsoiI, running inside OF opening fur
ow so as 10 cover lightly, and break The
round we'll and deep. " is q good plan