The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-16

|
wv l.. Jones in the September "Cultivator.'D
We have discussed, in former mum.
bcrs, preparation for all crops. The time
has come for planting them. September
is the natural and best seeding time for
grasses, clover, luccn, oats, rye and
barley. We say natural seeding time,
because the seeds of the various plants
enumerated arc maturcd in the summer
when it is hot and dry, and even if the
heads arc shattered and the seed scatter
ed on the ground, the latter do not find
proper conditions for gcrminating till
the later rains set in and cool nights
and heavy dcws prevail. The earlier in
the month these conditions arc 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 a wild
or uncultivatCd state these plants begin
Their growth at time indicated; this is
natures appointment, therefore, and is
best suited to the waits of the plants.
In northern latitudcs, where hardest
lrcczcS prevail, snow protects the Young
pants during winter; i'll the South long
or and stronger autumn growth must
take the place Of the snow covering.
AS winter grasses abound more in
northern than in southern latitudcs, the
conclusion seemed natural that the heat
OF southern climates was prciudicial to
thesc plants; and one step further in the
Same direction seemed reasonable, to
wit, that they needed shade in tho
t South. Hence the practice of seeding
grass and clover with small grains to gel
| the benefit Of their shade. Doubtless
l some shade is desirable during periods
Y OF intense heat and drought, but can il
be procured i'll the manner spoken Of
Y Wl'hont mc'uring other injury greater
, than the good received whci grass !.
s sown with grain? Our observation i,
l that more is lost than gained. In tn,
first place the protecting shade is tul;cl
S away just when most needed; grain i
| harvested III juno and July when tn,
| greatest heat and scvCrcSt drOuohtS Drc
, vail PIantS accustomed to partial SHADE
| arc then suddenly exposed to intcnscs
t heat. But this is not all. In the case O
grasses proper, the grain crops make de
mand upon the soil for exactly the sam,
1ood the grasses need. Bping larger ant
moro vigorous at the Start, The foYmc
oVcr-mastcr The grass at the bcginnin,
Nnd get the lions share OF the food. 4
harvest, therefore, the grass is suddcnl,
exposed to the ticrccst rays of the sul
when 1t is comparatively starved anc
weak from the unequal struggle. On
exceedingly rich soils where there i
ample food for both, this objection doe!
not hold SO strongly, but such soils M,
not generally found. This difficulty ma,
III part be obviatcd by top dressings il
the spring. But where land is SO abund
ant, amply enough for every crop &
farmer could wish to cultivate, as Il rule,
1t is better to SOW the grasses by them,
selves and not i'll conjunction with g-uiil
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
cloyers 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.
beginners the Importance Of heavy seed
ing; be sure to SOW enough for the
plants to occupy all of the land-lcayc
no place for intrudcrs. Sow enough to
allow for defective sccd-for adultcratcd
seed, md for the dying out OF weak
plants. After one hG3 taken all the
trouble Of thorough preparation and
heavy manuring-suc as grass requires
1t Is folly to fail from insufficient seed
ing.
Vagy light covering OF the seed is of
the first importance; deep covering will
certainly brine failure. But when ljght-
ly covered, seeds will not gorminatc we'll
il the weather is dry, unless thoy 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.
hastcns the termination of seeds, and
impnrts vigOr to tE0 Young plnnnts
Heavy, impacting rains may do some Of
thc work Of The roller, hut in their alb
scncc the surface soil is too lonscand too
easily dried off Tor the little plant to cs-
tablish itself i'll it, Remember, that at
first its roots start at or very near the
surface. 1t IS not III The c;;t.i,.Iion Of n
plant SnmnG1pg ,rOm scod buried two
o. Three inches below the surface.
The oat crop has been 50 often winter
killed of late that many are discouraged
and disposed to abandon tho practice of
fall-sowinG. Wo confess that recent cx-
l,orivnco has been very discouraging.
But i'll view Of the great value cf .Ilo
crop, when it does succeed wo nrc 10th
to abandon j.. We have faith in the
possibility of developing by proper Sc
lection and cultivation winter oGt cGpa-
bic OF resisting cXtr".22 cold. What is
kmown - Middle Georgia rs "wintcr
grazing oat" docs certainly resist cold
better than other vaicti2s. In this
locality, the past winter, the mercury
descended to zero and the cold was long
continued, and yet good deal of this
oat survived and by its abundo%t silior-
ing made from on% EEv.,rtn to onc-third
Of cEo,n III most fields Of rust-proof
/ oats soWn in autumn scattering stools
) could also be found, and thai TOO in
positions not sn@c;0lly sheltered. Now