The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-22

indirectly by depriving them OF needed
moisture. One need never fear keeping
the soil too cool in July and there is
equally little danger Of its ever being too
wet.
The last beneficial result from stirring
the surface, which will be mentioned
now, is the admission Of air into the soil.
The presence of air is indispensable to
the health of roots and their proDer
working. Plants languish in wet soils
because water shuts Off air from their
roots. A tight, hard crust at the surface
does tho same thing to u considerable
degree. la addition to promoting the
health and proper working of roots, the
presence of air in the soil is essential to
nitrifcation, the process by which the
unavailable nitrogen of the soil is chang
cd into that which is available. Also to
those changes in the minerals in the soil
by which their valuable contents are
brought within the reach of plants
From very many points Of view, there
fore, frequent surface STRINGS of the
soil arc shown to be beneficial, to say
nothing of the killing Of grass and weeds.
We repeat, therefore, keep the plows
moving with all diligence
In addition to peas, already consider
cd as a humus supplying crop, late
forage crops of all kinds should now
claim attention, Drilled corn may still
be sown. Taking it all in all, this is
perhaps the best forage crop we have
The later sowings of it should not be
altogether as thick as the earlier, as the
cool weather Of autumn is not so favora-
bic for maturing and developing starch
and sugar as the warm weather of mid
summer; the late grown plants should
have more light and air. Make drills ut
least three feet apart and SOW seed SO
that there shall be n stalk every four to
siN inches i'll the row. Cultivate well and
cut when cars begin to form. Corn does
not develop its full nutritivc value before
that period. From desire to minify
the stalk, the mistake is made sometimes
of sowing too thicllly, and the result is
imperfect development and forage not
rclishcd by stock because it is not really
nutritious. All have doubtless noticed
plants, those, for instance, that are re-
moved i'll thinning a crop. Sorghum
docs not dcvclopc its sweetness until the
seeds are formed, and the same is true
with corn.
Early amber cane planted from the 1st
to the 10Th of this month will be ready
to cut by frost, and piled in bulk can be
Kept green and succulent for q couple of
months. 1t makes better forage in its
green state than when cured and dry.
For mules and COWS it may be made to
cover the months of October, November
and December, and as it is easily raised,
a supply for that purpose should be
found on every farm. We have fed it to
horses also, but they do not relish it as
much us mules, nor does it agree with
them as we'll if fed exclusively. A little
OF 1t mixed with other forage is we'll
rclishcd and doubtless healthy food. Of
u number Of varieties tried by us the
past season, the amber is decidedly the
best rs Il forage plant. 1t is one Of tie
sweetest, anG the stalks being small are
easily cut up and more readily masticatcd
by animals. Give it trial, if you have
not done so.
German millct may still be sown on
good laAd. Like all rapidly maturing
crops, it makes heavy demands on the
soil, and this should be met by heavy
manurlng. But it sometimes helps one
to fill out short supply of forage when
n long drought or other circumstance al
lows only short time to do it in. A
farmer caught with empty barns on the
first of August might still fill them with
German millet. Cut just rs the seeds
arc forming, it makes one of the strong
est and most nutritious fornges We have.
Because ii Is SO good, animals ore some
times ovcr-fcd with it to their injury and
a bad reputation is then unjustly given
the millet. Glover and pcavincs arc
liable to the same charge
1t IS none too early to commence pre-
pairing land for turnips. There is no
hntfpr I
plowlng the land at intervals Of two or
three weeks. In the absence of cattle,
broadcast manure and plOw il in whom
breaking tho land. Lot manure, we'll
rottcd, is suitable, and for turnips is
much improved by liberal addition of
acid phosphate. Any form of phosphate
IS good for turnips. But potash and
nitrogen are also needed by this gross
iccdlng plant, and may be supplied by
kalnet and cotton seed meal. Very fine
uith is almost as important for this crop
us manure; therefore repeated plowings
i'ha harow1ngs are recommended. Sc
lccI rather sandy soil for this crop. Be-
SIh soWlngs OF rutabagas after the mid
'iG OF the month, and continue at inter
ValS, whenever the soil is moist and in
good condition, to the middle of Auoust
or first OF September-thol latest sowSn m os
OF early maturing varieties like rcd top
and flat Dutch. If land is we'll brolrcp
at first and narrowed after every rain,
it will remain moist enough to bring up
seed even in long spells Of dry weather,
Those who begin carly and pursue rinht
methods generally succeed in getting
good stands when the weather IS ve19
unfavorablc. Those who wait to the
last minute, and begin preparation when
the time for planting arrives, are vcry
apt to fail unless the weather is unusual
ly favorable.
The above remarks apply with equal
force to preparations for clover and grass
to be sOwn in September. They should
begin by the last of the month and fol-
low the same course marked out for
turnips. Liberal manuring and fine
tilth are the two main points. All of
these plants have small seeds, and the
little delicate seedlings demand food
easily found, and fine sccd-bcd to fix
themselves in.
Sweet potato slips or vines may be
| put out all through this month. The