The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-05-19

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the main disiderata. This, it strikes us,
the harrow will do better than anything
else. After the harrow has done it's
work, then probably chopper might be
used advantageously. The bringing to
flnal stand will probably always re-
qnlre some hand labor, but, aside from
this, cotton cultivation ought to be done
exclusively by machines. We have no
doubt the proper implements for the
purpose will be forthcoming in due
time. Machine-made cotton alone in
this country can compete with that raised
by cheap labor in India and elsewhere.
1t is of the first importance that the
carly workings of crops should be re-
pcated ut short intervals, and thorough
ly done. Now is the time to kill grass
with least labor If allowed to get n
strong foothold, it will take three times
as much work to kill it next month as is
required to do it now, to say nothing of
the injury done by robbing the crop of
food, and the bruising and disturbing of
the plants III getting the strongly rooted
grass away from them. at least once in
ten days the harows or plows should
pass over, and whatever hoe work is
needed be given without hesitation or
delay If the ground happens to be
dry, don't he deceived into the belief
that the crop is clean because the young
grass is covered with dust and is not
plainly visible. We have seen many a
crop ruined by carclessness Just at this
point. a dry May checks the growth of
grass and lulls the farmer into fancicd
security A wet juno follows, the grass
springs up like magic and he never
catches up with it again.
If the harrow has been properly used
III the corn field, that crop will now be
perfectly clean and so far advanced that
there will be no further difficulty in
covering up young grass or weeds oven
with Scrapc. We know from repeated
trials, even on bottom lands that arc So
liable to become foul, that II corn crop
may be made with the plow alone. 1t
can be done even with ordinary, old
time plows; start before grass makes
hcadway; with turning shovel begin in
the centre of the middle and bed up, the
wing being turned away from the corn.
The last furrow, when Il middle is com.
plctcd, will side the corn very closely
and throw just enough dirt to cover M
young grass without covering the young
corn. The next working: with short
and broad turning shovel, begin next to
corn with wing towards it, and throw
dirt moderately to the plants These
two workings should be given before tho
corn is ten inches high After that the
scrapc will do all that is necessary
Where corn is planted in the watcr-fur.
row, proper running of the scrape will
cover up all grass from the beginning to
the end.
The first of May is the best time to
SOW the first crops Of forage corn, sor.
ghums and millet. Supposing the land
to have been broken some time ago, il
should have received two broadcast har.
rowings to keep the surface clean and
mellow. This is especially necessary fol
all of the sorghums, because the plants
are small at first and grow OF quite slow
ly. Hence early working with the plow
is difficult and not satisfactory if the
land is grassy. These crops can't bcal
the expense of hoe work; therefore tn,
necessity for having tho land in finest
order at planting time. Lay off rows
three feet apart; drill the seed of sor
ghuns rather thinly and cover lightly
with a board. For fodder corn proceed
in like manner, but put in from two tc
two and half bushels of seed per acre
AS soon as the plants are up, and vii
bear it, side with scrapc, set to run very
flat; two or three plowings will suffice
and if the land was in proper condition
at the tine of planting, no hocng vii
be called for. German millct may bt
sown broadcast if the land has been wei
prepared and Is in fine tith; hal
bushel OF seed per acre is sufficient Sue
cessive paintings of above crops every
two or three weeks to the first of August
Will enable farmer to feed his stock nj
through the summer on green forag,
more chcaply than on anything else, an(
with great benefit to their health Gu
and partly cure-say exposed to sun ani
mir for one day-beforc feeding; this vii
them less laxative. Any disposition tc
scour may be prevented by mixet
ration of dry and green forage; perhaps
this is preferable from every point o
view. Cheap stock feed is like cheaI
coal for an engine, it reduces the cost O
production of everything raised on th,
farm; and we must bear in mind tina
money saved is equivalent to money
made. If one can reduce the cost o
producing cotton n cent pound, it is th,
same to him as if he sold for one cen
more per pound. An abundance of chea,
forage makes less grain necessary Whe1
not at work, stock may be kept with lit
tie or no grain if fed full rations of goot
forage. If you have prepared for
large crop of cotton, cut it down ant
plant II portion of the cotton land il
these forage crops, they will pay yo,