The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-07-24

SS3
peas grown with the corn. These
taken for a term Of years will be
found to be about equal in valuation
the variation in the value of the
fodder and peas would be greater
than in the cotton seed.
Now you know, I have been a life
long advocate of growing our own
corn, and I have practiced what [
advocated, and I still believe it to be
tue true policy, though as you see
I have figured out e balance in favor
of cotton of S4.35 per acre. I want
your assistance in finding my errors
in practice or in calculation. There
would be no trouble in proving it to
be the correct policy, if all the farm
ers in the Cotton States would adopt
it, because it would reduce the
amount of cotton production, and
correspondingly enhance the value OF
the smaller amount grown, but the
selfish man-and we are all more or
less selfsh-sees his opportunity in
the enhanced value that the general
adoption of this policy would give to
cotton and corresponding reduction
in the price of corn-he hopes every
body except himself will adopt it, and
be increases his cotton crop.
HOME MADE CORN THE BEST.
The negro expression, "Like he
had corn to SELF means good deal
but Southern cotton farmers will
scarcely be willing to pay $4.35 an
acre for that kind of independence.
So let us see if we cannot reduce it.
I offer, subject to your approval, the
following items.to be applied to the
reduction: I am informed that home
grown corn is worth at least S cents
per bushel more than shipped" corn.
If that be true we have $500 to apply
to reduction. Then, too, but for the
practice of rotation of crops and con-
sequent soil improvement, the IS 90
per acre charged for rent would like
ly be too high by at least one fourth,
or $500 per acre. So, let US claim
that, too, to apply to reduction.
Then there is the item of getting it
home, whether you buy shipped"
corn or from your neighbor-which
will likely represent at least 5 cents
per bushel more--or $500 per acre.
If the last three items be allowed we
have row more than enough to bal
ance the balance against corn. So /
may leave this division of my subject
with the remark that my observation
has induced me to believe that
bought corn is not good for stock Of
any kind.
Having devoted so much time to
the discussion of the economy Of
growing our own corn, I may with
out argument say that I think we
should grow sufficient corn to meet
the home demand. I think it pays to
grow corn for our neighbors, who
prefer buying to growing their corn.
WHAT IT COSTS TO RAISE CORN.
I now approach the important part
of my subject, the most economic
and successful methods of glowing
corn. I feel that there are others
present who can treat this branch Of
the subject better than I can. Fifty
eight cents per bushel is more than
it should cost to grow corn in this
county. I have seen it stated that
corn has been grown in this State for
less than eleven cents per bushel; but
to make corn so cheaply requires a
combination Of favorable conditions
seldom attainable. In my estimate
land rent represents 20 cents per
bushel, fertilizers over Is cents, labor
1z1-2 cents and ofher expenses 10
cents But Notwithstanding my eS-
pensive methods I will venture few
thoughts in reference to corn grow
ing. The first thought is, that corn,
more than any crop we grow, re-
quires deep rich soil. The inten-
sive system Of farming is more impor-
tant in growing corn than any other
crop we grow. In proof of this I
may cite my own experience. Where
in l3 years the acreage yield for corn
has been nearly doubled, the acreage
yield of cotton has not been advanced.
Five acres of corn to the horse, now
produces suficiency of corn for the
place, while producing more than
suAiciency of pork. Thirteen years
ago it required from s to 10 acres to
do it, and during this period rotation
of crops has been the regular order
on the place. I should state in this
connection that I feed my work stock
with mixed feed, corn and oats, all the
year.
The second thought that I will ver-
ture is that whatever mode Of prepara-
ton and cultivation we adopt it must
be thorough. If corn is required to
wait on unfavorable conditions, dam
age or ruin is inevitable. The con-
ditions necessary are, thorough pre-
paration of the soil, and clean surface
culture-to be continued only when
the corn has taken entire possession OF
the soil.
HOW TO IMPROVE CORN.
To discuss the productiyeness and
value of the many varieties of corn,
and to enter upon the discussion of
the details of preparation OF soil and
modes of cultivation would make this
paper larger than you have authorised
But I may in conclusion allude to a
method for the improvement Of CORD,
of which I have no experimental