The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-08-11

tho Month oi Au=uSt--Sn interesting -ariicic
From an Intelligent Writer.
CIV L. Jones in the August "ca.iva;or.")
To one who is not a routine farmer,
nice questions are sometimes sprung
this month touching the management
of 4 cotton crop. As I rule ''layin@
by" is completed by the last Of July,
but should heavy, compac5lng rains
follow close or the heel of tie last
plowing, and hot dry weather sets n,
is it better TO plow again or not, and
how late in the season may plowing be
advantageously continued: No in
flexible rule on these points can be
laid down-one must decide according
to circumstances. i: the land is fresh,
or the soil filled with humus, SO that 1t
is friable and loose, plowing may be
stopped earlier than where opposite
conditions prevail If the soil is dis
posed to run together and bake, plow-
ing should continue as late as II can be
without breaking off limbs and bollS
too badly. One furrow in each mid
die, using q very wide scrape and I
very short singlet,ee, is all that IS
needed. 1t is hardly necessary to add
that the plow should run as shallow
as possible, just deep enough to break
a single root,
Another circumstance to be consid-
cred is the state Or condition OF the
crop for the time being-ifit has been
growing slowly and steadily up to the
time in question, light blowing may
not accelerate growth so much as 10
induce shedding; but if growth has
been suspended by dry, hot weather
and copious rain-falls, there is danger
of a second growth setting in SO rapid
" as to make the plant throw OIL its
fruit. Flowing would accelerate the
second growth, and might do harm
instead of good. It would be we'll IN
such case as to delay it awhile until
after the impulse given the plant by
the rains had somewhat expended
itself. If frequent rains continue, no
farther plowing of course is advisable,
but if a ssgood season" only occurs,
followed(by dry weather, the plows
mav be advantageously started, say 8
week after the rain; for by that time
the effects Of the rain will be well-nigh
over: and blowing will only prolong
a steady continuous growth. Let 1t
be borne in mind that 4 sudden start
ing or a: sudden checking of growth
are both very Objectionable after cotton
begins to- fruit. One mnst consider,
therefore, the condition Of his crop,
the character of his soil and the kind
of weather prevailing, ard regulate
his course accordingly.
The stopping" OF cotton IS another
point which comes up just now. If
done it must be before the middle Of
August, for the object Of topping is to
divert the forces Of the plant from
Matchmaking to fruii-making, and
after the middle Of August, there are
only fifteen or twenty days in which
fruit that viii mature before frost can
form: not many blooms after the first
of September can ordinarily be count
ed on. If the plant has about ceased
growing, topping Of course can do no
good-it will simply be labor thrown
away. If, on the contrary, weed is
being rapidly formed, topping may DO
some good by checking new growth
(Which now can add nothing to the
vield) and diverting the forces Of the
plant into frait-making. AT times we
have seen topping produce decidedly
good results-at other times none
whatever Here, as everywhere,
farming calls for keen, discriminating
Judgment. To do what is best under
ever-yarving, shifting conditions de-
mands intellect of the highest order
and most thoroughly trained. IL the
olden time, when reliance was had
upon the natural fertility Of the soil.
removing competition by keeping
down weeds and grass was the chief
business of the farmer, and he who
could manage labor best and get the
most work done was the most success
full. Executive talent was the great
desiderdtum. OF course this Will
always be an important factor in
farming, but now with worn, exhaust
ed soils, destitute Of husnus, running
together and baking after every rain
the feeding of plants, the prcserva
ton of soils from washing and the
securing of fine tilth, call for much
more thought. Agriculture now is 4
very different thing from what it was
in this country fifty years ago. 1t is q
much more difficult art-one that
makes brains greatly paramount to
mere labor
In tie olden time fodder-pulling was
a prominent feature in the work Of
this month, more so than at present,
partly because more corn was planted
thsn now, and partly because fodder
was the almost exclusive dependence
for long forage for horses and mules.
Other kinds Of forage have sapplanted
it more or less, but it still holds a high
place in the estimation Of Southern
farmers, and deservedly so. Well
cured, ii is very fine feed, but if musty
it is execrabie. Considering the risk
of weather, it is better to cut off the
tops above the ears and cure them in
shocks. Tops can be cured success
fully in weather that fodder would
spoil in.'~For some years we have
adopted the plan Of going over the
corn and stripping all the blades
below the ear. These are the first to
dry up and.can be taken off some days
in advance OF cutting the tops. Some
art is requisite ste shock MP the tops so
tsaS1 I'll! not blow over. They must
- all around the bottom to
hit not enough to admit
4; >>air access to the
sSev must all be