The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
TALK WITH THE FARMERS.
What May be PrOfitabIy Done and
What Should not be Neglected.

Cotton Plant.
February Is ono of the busiest months with
the farmer 1t marks the hegining Of prep
arations for the year, and multitude Of things
claim attention. One of the most important
of these is the sowing Of OATS where that crop
was moi putin in the fall land the succession OIL
hard winters and the consequent killing ont
of the fall sowing, has caused many farmers
to leave this till spring. Whether this was
wIs~ or not we need not now consider. Ev-
cry one will admit that it is too valuable
crop to be omitted entirely, and the thing to
do is TO set about at the earliest possible day
10 nut the seed in the ground, and the sooner
now the better Is prGity wen setled s d inat TN
proof though there are other good varieties
It is important that good, puro seed be secnr-
cd OF whatever variety is sowed. AS n mat
are unmlxed, and it's extremely difficult to
secure pure seed even of the popular red rust
proof The farmer usually has 10 get his seed
from the merchants; anu nS RUE ohey cyl afS if
1t is possible to get 1t and 1t is better 10 pay
little more for pure seed than to take Just any
that can be got because IT is cheap. tnmlXed
oats, of the red rust proof variety, ale worth
at least d cents per bushel more than those
that are mixed-a point worth cosideI Ing, es-
pecially when the crop Is raised for the
market. And 1t Is equally important that the
soil be rich, if good yield is expected. There
have been more failures with oats, especially
spring-sowed oats, because OF the exhausted
state Of the soil in which they were sowed,
| than from any other cause Many OF the
| failures that have been attributed to dry sea-
sons, have in reality resulted from Inc lack
| of plant food In the soil. Those who ave sue
ceeded best with oats have made 1t a rule to
| let them follow corn or cotton. Except
where stubble fields have been put In peas, 1t
does not do we'll 10 SOW them In small grain
The straw may be good, but 1snaty @ y the y1elo we q
| peck to the acre Is the usual amount soWed,
though some have succeeded well with one
| bushel. The quantity sowed must depend IN
1 Ik,4 at,aro roafor n
oats exceed all other small grain IN tiil ring. M
| Fine WELD have come from fields that IN Feb
| ruary and March seemed almost bare. / et no
farm be without eI9rop proportionately good crop
Next Importance to sowing oats is the
breaking up of the lands and getting them 10
State are chiefly, II not exclusively, corn and
cotton. The importance Of deep ploWing IN
breaking the land cannot be too strongly en-
| phasized, and 1t is just as important for corn
so manifest that 1t would seem to be needless
| TO urge its importance upon any enlightened
man, and yet we arc persuaded that there are
very many who lail 20 realize Tue Necessary M yoii ~
| Is FERTILE It is not necessary to turn the SOIL
up indeed, 1t Is better In most cases mol 70
| turn 1t up. All that Is necessary is 10 stir u
fnd food. We had the opportunity two sea,
sons ago Of observing the actual benefits OF
/ deep blowing as compared with swallow
blowing In the culLlVaLlOn Oh COTu. l"o
fields lay side by side. The corn had been
planted at the same time, and had received
about the same fertiizlng and same cultiva-
ton, We saw the crops In August after q
drouth OF several weeks duration. In one
field the product was green to the bottom
blade and was vigorous as II there had peen
blades were parched below the ear, and
twisted into a curl above. Why the differ'
ence9 we asked; and the reply was, 1t Is be-
the land, while the other was pIowed shal llow,
The deep plowed land was giving up food and
moisture long after the other was exhausted
noticeable in the cultivation of cotton. The
plant not only stands the dry season better
but will take on more fruit, and is not so liza.
BILE to cast it Off from the much-dreaded anu
sometimes disastrous second growth. We
plead, therefore, for deep stirring Of the soil
In preparing for the crops.