The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-06-05
SCUFFLE With THE GRASS.
GOOD HINTS FOR WORKING GRASSY
CROPS.
Let all Farmers Read. Consider and
InwnrdIy Digest-.-IIard Sense In
Plain ENGLISH.

InwardIy Digest---IIard Sense In
Plain English.
We intlmated in last months "Thonghts,,
that "the farmer who has good stands and
his fields in good condition on the first day
OF the month (May) and pushes his work
with skill, energy and good Judgment 70 lts
close, will have practically won the fight sc
far as depends ON his Efforts We assumed
that good seasons, or suitable weather would
prevail. Good stands on or before May lSt
and rather dry weather throughout the month
are the chief conditions to the easy and sue
cessful after cultivation of the cotton crop
But the territory Of the Cunirator Is SO eXten.
sive in both latitude and longitude, that
favorable-will rarely prevail over It's whole
extent. The farmer who has been blessed
with the conditions we have mentioned, and
now has his corn and cotton folds thinned I to
Ing condition, needs but to keep the surface
of the soil in II loose. mellow condition un'
til time 10 "lay bye"
4 CORN CULTURE.
Corn is essentially surface-rooted plant
and Is more liable TO Injury from too deep
blowing than cotton and other cultivated
plants. In its early stages 1t may be plow
close and deep, cutting and tearing s ga away ,hy
middles and across the path of the plow
without fatal results. But even while quite
small we have always believed that the des
ing MS may be necessary on account OF I'm
perfect preparation. or recent baking rains. Is
but choice of euils at least Even at still
J further advanced stage OF growth-up 70 Knee
i high-deep cultivation, though cutting roots
more or less, may be iustiflable. The condi
tions, however, that will justify deep plow.
ing at such stage of the crop, arc generally
ment,-where the ground Is SO infested with
weeds of such size and strength: or has been
left unbroken at all. the harrow, sween, OF
cultivator will not 40 eneGtive WORK: =, Ine e
out" is the question. We utterly scout the
idea recently advocated by some writers tiers
per Sc. Assuming that the corn-held was
well broken before planting, or deeply plcw
ed the first time, we would discard the Scoot
err. shovel and other root-breakers and use
the surface cultivator thenceforward. A safe
rule is 10 use the plow or implement, what
ever its name or construction, that VII
thoroughly stir the surface and 60 over t tht
can be used until the corn is ten Inches hlgh
then an expanding cultirator, or cultivatine
harrow Is in order.
not ne,V, and possibly we may be wearyine
the patience Of some Of our readers In IRE
vamping" them for this occasion. Our plef
; is that OF all trades or professions that
farming most needs the Zine upon line, pre-
cept upon precept" style Of writing.
) The cost of a Dushel Of com or pound o
cotton is directly and largely dependant or
RI the number Of furrows laid in each row cul
ltivated-the number OF times q man ant
horse travels the length OF each row. we
can not afford to apply to an acre or land al
amount of labor equal 10 the value OF I'M
acres in the South. A farmer cannot ahort
| to hire and maintain stout negro man ant
strong mule to manipulate plow That woult
: not oyer.tax n atwelve-year-old boy ana aSear
In many parts of the South the corn croI
? will be ready TO clay by" from the middle Il
the last of the month. Let the last work.
S be thorough but shallow. All things consd
cred, the best time 10 SOW peas in corn, Is a
the last plowing. They shade the grount
more etfectually and yield much larger crol
of roots and vines, and often as much o
even more peas. One bushel Of seed peas Il
each acre is usually recommended. but ",
would governed by the quantity OF ,seet
, even less. per acre, and sow the whole crop
. than to sow thicker and cover a less area. w
believe n crop Of peas sown broadcast IN corr corn
will under ordinary conditions, pay all TIL
' eXpenseS of the corn crop, counting the bene
: nt TO the land as well as the value OF peas o
vines gathered for forage.
g COTTON CULTURE.
Most Of what has been said about surfac
> cultivation, root cutting, etc.. In the cultiva
). ton OF corn, will apply equally to cotton
! more neglect and bad treatment general.
] than corn, being a taprooted and, naturally
perennial plant. II may take on fresl
: growth and nearly, If not quite, recover from
a would be fatal to corn. This fact, however
]. should not be presumed upon. but the ,plow
+ especially should go over the cotton fields a
7 regular and close intervals. We have befor
j attended to the extravagant expenditure O
time by the use OF small sweeps running tW
e or more burrows to three foot row. w
e have also described what is called rapi
e plan of cultivation. 1t consists simply Il
p the use Of as large or wide cutting sweeI
e heel.scrape, or cultivator, as may be conven
l ientiy run between two adjoining rows c
cotton, and giving only one furrow, or UtrOug
y trip to each row at one time of plowing owe
G the crop. Of course IL is considered impol
r tant at each plowing Of cotton. especiall
s when the crop is in its early stages Of growth
e to side the rows of plants closely and effect
r lively in order to save future hoe work.
The main object OF cultivation, however,
y to stir the surface soil lying between th
Il rows; but it will not pay to plow each middl
!. L,Oicc in the course OF u fow minutes, as wi
q be done If an eighteen or twenty inch sweel
e or other wide cutting implements be ru
6 twice 10 each row. The rapid plan then, is
once going over. This practically stirs a
6 the surfaces excepting very narrow strip o
II each side Of the rows not sided. In ten day
l. or less, the plowS should return and side bot
sides of the rows neglected before. 4 pra
s tical farmer will see at once the advantage
b gained by this method. 1t practically eni
s bles one to go over his crop nearly twice 9
furrows to each row at each plowing" be pra
Is ticed. We hare tried tTepedtediy.
0 farmer who Is quick TO conceive an
II adopt expedients, and change his plans a
n cording to circumstances and conditions, ht
Is greatly the advantage over him who follow
the same unchanging system. or round {
Is details, especially if the seasons be tltful an
y uncertain, and particularly when the rair
q are too frequent. A "wet June" often take
d the executive skill OF the best farmer to maj
:. age so as to save all his crop from the grass.
o There Is one simple rule, the observance
l. which. modified according to circumstances
S. enables u farmer TO save his crop, or an In
D. mense amount Of labor. 1t Is this: Plo
It ,Uhere there is most grass; hoe ,phere you ca
y hoe the most The rule Is founded on the cor
sideratiOn that the speed OF the ploW and Tn
e number of acres that can be gone over in
" day are not materially affected by the qtanht
e the contrary, is largely affected by the cond
J. ton of the drill, us to g1'1SSineSS.
II farmer may find, as he is hoeing over hi
u crop. the weather having been wet or show
Is ery-favorable to grass and Impossible
IS work-that his hands get over less and les
J. ground every day, owing to the increasin
u strength OF the grass, etc. Soon he flnds ina
'f they can accomplish only half acre, or pos
IS sbly, only quarter OF an acre per hand pc
Is day. 1t will require. we will say, q week
e get over the crop at this rate. Looking oyG
o The portion first hoed over n week or ivy
le back, he observes that what grass was left i
Is very rapidly. If his hands were now there
le they could heo three or four times as muc
n In day as they are now doing. IT he goes
4 week. or until he gets over the crop regularly
81 he will find that the first part has hecome S
D, foul and the grass so large, that his hands ca
r, do no more per day than they have bee
N doing. He will then he hopelessl ly stuck
y In the grass, and is crop practically lost;
>. quick to think and quick TO act, he will "bac
II out" from the present task, and go back TO III
s beoinning. and save the bulk of his crop froI