The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1888-01-18
and they will live-honostly or other
PLowING-TERRAcINa.

In our climate as q general rule and
so far as the desired disintegration and
pulvcrization of the soil is concerned,
} the later tho breaking mp before plant
ing the better. Our clean, heavy clay
soils, If plowed very early, will soon run
together by the heavy rains of the early
months OF the year, and be in but little
better condition when planting-tim ar
rlves than If not. But on every farm
there are fields of stubble lands, or fields
covered with grass and weeds that should
be plowed at once. Crab and crow-foot
grass If plOwed under early and not GOV.
cred too deep, will rot and benefit the
soil and tho crop. If deferred until lust
before planting it will be much better to
burn off heavy coating of grass than
to turn it under. At this late stage the
grass has been leached of its albuminoue
matters and The loss by burning will
amount to little in comparison with the
greatly improved condition of the
plowcd soil Some experienced farmer
has said that if it were practicable to do
so he would prefer, as general rule, to
plow oil his land the day before plant
ing.
In view Of the probable bad weather
amounting sometimes to an entire
month when plow cannot run at all
without greater injury that possible ben
eht, 1t IS well to commence plowing car
~ IN January, or even before, as already
Indicated. Our own rulo is to keep the
work animals busy doing the hauling Of
rails, tire-wood, litter for stables and
lots, materials for composing, etc, so
that plowing may be done when the
ground Is i'll the best condition. Deop
turning or inversion of ordinary soils il
not the best practice. Subsoiling is of
doubtful profit on old and worn soils nm
less well manured.
Inc general experience is in favor of
torracing as compared with hillside
dltchlng, as preventive of washing on
rolling lands. If the lines of level are
not already run they may be quickly
marked out ahead of plows by tho care
ful use almost any of the cheap levels
now advertised. An instrument that
depends upon spirit-levcl for its ad.
Justmcnt is much more accurate and re.
liable, and will give better results in the
end. The rule is to locate the terrace
at such distance that each will be three
feet in the perpendicular height above
the next below. A good swivel, or re-
verslblo hillside plow, is very desirable,
ihough not indispensable, III throwing
up the foundation of the terrace. Per-
Strengthening of the cak-paccs by the
use Of hoes or shovels, will assure tho
final stability of the terrace banks.
Breaks are apt to occur from very heavy
rains during the first year; but by
prompt repairs and occasional changes
OF location, the system may become per
iectly established and prove great pro
tection III the course OF few years at
most.
FENCING.
There are still many large sections and
even entire States where farmers are re-
qulrcd (and content to d. so) to kecpup
long strings of fences for the protection
OF crops against stock. The time is
rapidly approaching when the so.callcd
'stock law" will be generally adopted,
and the farmers of the future will Won
der that their fathers ever submitted to
the combrous, unjust and expensive sys-
tenn OF .,ncing against stock. IN the
meantime, however, fences must be kept
up where the old law prevails, and the
waste and destruction of timber must 90
on until the supply becomes unequal to
the demand. Now is tho best time to do
the work. The timber splits more
easily, and such heavy work ia moro
agreeable in cold weather.
MAKING MANURE AND COMPOST.
Where labor is abundant and costs but
little, the old.timc practice of hauling
leaves and straw from the woods near by
and filling the stalls and stables ia good.
Farmers generally appreciate the great
advantages of composing. The truth is
one of the chief advantages of compost
ing is that it involves the necessity for
collecting the crude materials that might
otherwise go TO waste, and incorporating
them into the heap. IL the same matcri.
ais that are available for composing ho
collected and distributed separately in
the soil no great advantages would APP
pear Ill composing them If the cost OF
handling be justly estimated. In put
ting up compost heap tho proportion
OF crude home materials, such as cotton
seed, stable manure, scrapings, etc, to
tho purchased clements-phosphatc of
| lime and potash Salts-is Of no special
| importance. These various materials
vary 70 much III degree Of concentration
and practical manural value that it would
be impossible to make rule that will
always apply. Let tho farmers Of O.
nelghborhood club together and buy
acid phosphate and potash salt exchange
cotton seed for cotton seed meal when
good terms are offered each farmer buy
ing as much as he may judiciously. Let
the acid phosphate be in proportion of
about one thousand pounds to eight
hundred pounds Of cotton seed and one
hundred pounds of kainit, and allow,
say two hundred pounds of the mixture
per acre. Now mix them with the
cruder materials according TO available
quantity and when ready for use dis
tribute according to tho proportion sug-
gested, or 20 as to go over the entire
area to be cultivated.
1t should be remembered that as n
principle it does not pay the best to
manure few acres very heavily and
leave the main oxpanse of tho farm with
little or no manure. A more equal and
impartial distribution will bring the
larger aggregate of final yields and
profits. Intensive farming, as system,
excludes entirely the cultivation Of un.
profitable and unproductive acres. But
mn M hi nok oft