The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22
FARMS AND FARMERS,
Short Talks With Men Who Guide
the PIOW.
Many Questions About the Farm, Answered
by DIR. w. l.. Jones, Formerly of
the Southern Ccltiyator.
Harvesting Grain.

Small grain harvest is almost if not already,
upon us. 1t is quite an interruption on cot
ton farm, bnt an unavoidable one that must
be met as best we can. Arrangements should be
made to stop the cultivation of corn and cotton
little as possible. Grass and weeds must not
be allowed TO get to much OF q start Young
grass is vastly easier to kill than old. Keep
the plows going by all means. Put the most
careful and skillful hands behind them and
set the pillow so that they may do the work
of both pillow and hoe. A sweep with wing
set perfectly flat Will throw little or no
dirt, any may be run very near the
plants, SO near as to kill pretty much all the
grass in the drill. The old time idea of killing
grass by covering and smothering it, does not
work well. 1t hills up plants prematurely, is
apt to cover up the plants themselves, and
makes high beds-a very Objectionable thing
The better plan is to shave off the grass and
let it dry up. In other words, make the plow
do the work of the noe. How to do this
should be the constant study of the farmer
1t involves very careful training of pillow ami
mails, as well as plow hands. The first requis-
lite to good blowing is to have the horse walk
right. The next is to have strong, careful
hand that will keep the pillow steadily to it's
proper place; and the next is the right kind OF
pAOH, pIOperIy duJuSteu. Lie plOW noes, Us
they come from the manufactures, are not set
to do proper work in the cultivation of crop.
The wings OF sweeps and scrapes are set too
high with the back edge raised too much.
Bring them both down, so that the pillow stock
will stand up unsupported on level ground,
with the front end of its beam elevated Just
the least bit above horizontal position. With
such pillow, good plowman can hoe young
cotton by the time it can be seen above the
ground.
Speaking Of running near to young plants
with plow, we have recently used simple
contrivance which worked very satisfactorily.
Older farmers will remember that when plow-
stocks with wooden feet were used, it was
custoNary to nail a piece of plank on beam
and foot to keep the dirt from falling on the
little plants. The angle between plank and
loot, however, formed a very convenient place
for trash to gather, and the arrangement work
ed well on clean land only. The con-
trivance alluded to above, obviates this
difficulty, and may be used on plow stock
with an iron foot. 1t consists of piece of
plank some eighteen inches long and four
inches wide, fastened to the side of the beam
{about its middle) with bolt in such manner
that the lower end drags along on the surface
by the side of the plow hoe. The plank re-
wolves on the bolt so the lower end can rise or
fall according to the inequalities of the surface;
can jump over rocks and stumps and nothing
can chang" on it. To keep it from dropping
too much when the plow stock is lifted in turn
ing at the end Of q row, a string or a small
chain is fastened to the lower end Of the plank
and to beam above, which does not permit it
to drop beyond a certain point, but allows
ample play when running along side of plow
foot A piece Of thick sheet iron would be
better than plank for one OF these blenders"
A fender secured at the forward end only
and free to move at its hinder end, viii not
gather trash, will not be broken by running
against root or stump, and will do its work
perfectly. To those who prefer to side young
corn very closely, we commend this simple
and cheap eontrivance. w. l.. J.