The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-10-01
FARM TOPICS FOR THE MONTH.
SEPTEMBER,

that the essence of oratory was action
action -. action
1T the great Greek orator had lived 10
our day aud time, aud followed the avoca-
ton of the South Carolina farmer, his
oratori,al motto would have been very
dpr0pos to all agricultural interest. IF q
cottontot docs not stand in need of action,
and great deal of it, from the 1st day of
January until the Sis! day of December,
then our experience aad observations have
been Try much at fault. A few days lost
in the early season means late preparation !;
precious time idlcd now and then, later
on, will show up late planting; and as
the shadows grow shorter, a little more
folding of the hands and q little moro
slumber means grass, bad and unwise cul-
tivation, great reduction in the average of
the crop We should have made, and thus
has come much of our agricultural pow
erty, as we'll as this heritage of "hard
times"
The crop Of 1886 is about made. The
older planters tell us that no bloom
that comes after the 10th Of Sep
tcmber will make white cotton but since
the days Of guano We have seen blooms of
the 2lst of this month make white cotton.
BY the way, will the Hon. Commissioner
and some of your correspondents tell US
what is the largest number of fresh blooms
they have noticed on stalk Of cotton in
one day? While this is not matter of
much Importance, yet We may learn from
this fact in how short time the cotton
plant, uuder high state of cultivation,
can aud may make crop. We noticed a
stalk on the 18th of August that had
twelve white blooms, on Goth it had seven,
on the 2lst cisht-twcnty-s blooms in
three days. On average cotton this, by
itself, would be fine crop, but it was on
cotton that will make something over two
thousand pounds of seed cotton per acre
We did not think Of it at the time or VIC
should haxa-Getieed ttor blooms on cotton
more on the average Of our general crop
September is the hrst harvest month fol
.'rISA Iali CROPS Most. of the forag,
~ are already housed. Fodder and
.~.yarc saved, and pca.vinc hay is abou
the 'nly long forage crop that will require
attcraion. If you c,n spare the vines, b,
all means leave them on the ground picl
over for the purpose of saving an ample
supply of seed allow your stock to rur
over and CLEAN the field ,ramping tho
vines and dead leaves into the soil. Never
turn under pea vines without you intend
sowing small grain leave alone until yor
arc ready for your Spring preparation fol-
cotton or corn. Experience and close OBJ
scrvation have taught us that it is worse
than time thrown away to turn under pea
vines for anything but grain crop, bu
We much prefer to always follow this crol
by cotton or corn.
COTTON PICKING.
In the middle and lower section of th
State picking has pretty generally com
mcnccd. 1t will be the 1st of October be
fore this is the case in the upper section
as the crop is unusually late. Pick clear
and as rapidly as possible; gin as fast a
convenient sell at your nearest market
and stop interest at once There are sevc
raj fallacics regarding this crop that ar
bulk your cotton until it may heat lttl
the oil will pass into the lint. and 20,
will gain much in weight. The fact is
about all you will gain will be damage,
lot Of lint and seed. Another is that mid
die men and spectators have combine,
against the farmer to get the cotton Gro
out Of his hands and then put the pric
up. What is the average actual result
Cotton held for six months at heavy eX
pcnsc loss Of weight at from ten to twenty
five pounds per bale, and finally sold 70
the same or less price than could hav
been obtained in the early Fall Twcnt
years experience has taught us to pic
clean and handle with care gin and pac
nice and trinity keep out Of the weather
sell as soon as you can get to the scales, j
you have any fair home market.
CORN.
Before the next Report appears We wi
be in the midst Of cribbing corn. y
soon as it is dry, by all means gather, an
don leave it a temptation to both ma
and beast. We prefer putting up in til