Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-02-27
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
FEBRUARY FACTS.

work on farm Is similar in many re-
spects to military campaign. AS
skillful and experienced commander
conceives beforehand the general plan
of his proposed military movements,
wisely calculating all the probable and
possible counter-movements of his an
tagonist and providing accordingly, SO a
wise farmer will look ahead and make
his dispositions so as to meet the ext
gencies that may arise. Neither can
well afford to change front" in the
presence of an enemy, or materially
alter his plans when the campaign is
half over.
We would have the Southern farmer
to ''seek first" to produce, in abundance,
the food necessary for man and beast;
to 60 about his purpose as if it were, as
it really is, the main business of farm
ing AS we'll might lawyer hire some
one to prepare and study and manage
his law business; or preacher employ
another to fill his pulpit; sheep
breeder buy all his sheep and wool; a
fruit-grower to buy fruit instead of
growing it, as for farmer to habitually
buy such articles as corn, oats, bacon,
lard, butter, beef, mules and horses,
etc.-the very things it is the peculiar
business of farmer to grow from his
soil. But we will not pursue the sub
ject further at this time.
FLOWING CORN LAND.
The pillow must be started at once, II
not already in action; not that we favor
breaking land long in advance of the
time for planting, but that the work of
preparation of the soil may not be
crowded into too short period just be-
fore that time. The weather during
the latter part of the month and
early lin March may not be suitable
for blowing. On level and espe.
cially on close, undrained soils, we
are decidedly in favor of throwing the
land into beds as final preparation for
planting in corn or cotton. The best re-
suits in corn culture have almost invaria
bly, been obtained when planted on broad
beds, with well opened water fur
rows between the rows, these fur
rows serving temporarily as drains
in the absence oi a more permanent
system. This leads to the suggestion
that the low-lying, moist lands of the
country should be generally appropriate
ed to the corn crop. Corn is much more
liable to injury from drought than cot
ton, and is less affected by wet. More
over, corn seems to respond less CRATE
fully to manure than cotton, and tt
prefer naturally rich and moist soil
Do not be in too big hurry to com
mence planting. Too early planting il
much more frequent mistake than to-
late planting. A narrow strip of a hun
bred miles along the Gulf Coast may d.
better planted in February; but Marcel
is early enough for the next belt of ont
hundred miles or more.
SPRING OATS.
Oats are more economical and relia
BILE crop than corn, taking series o
years together. Winter-killing of tn,
fall-sown, or drought-killing of TIN
spring-sown are the only causes of fail
ure, both of which may be pretty wei
guarded against. Data sown in sprinl
do best in February, and should be sow
on rich or well-manured land, and thu
ground should be put in the best condi
ton by deep, close blowing. The ten
dency is to sow rather too thickly. W.
doubt if grain more is made by SOW
ing more than three bushels of oats OF
the very best prepared and richest soils
On ordinary soils, capable of producing
ten to fifteen bushels of corn per acre
one to one and half bushels of see
per acre are enough.
The absolute loss which is the result
of winter-killing of oats is apt to b
greatly exaggerated. One of the chic
practical precautions against winter
killing is to provide an abundance {
home-raised seed, so that the land ma
be re-sown in February if the oats sha
have been killed in January. If kille
too late for Resolving, the land is jus
right for corn, or other summer crol
But in fact it is extremely rare for oat
to be killed after the middle of Eel
ruary, while they often succeed we
sown in March.
GRASS.
1t is gratifying to note the growth
interest in the subject of grass cultur
which is evidenced by repor
from various sections of til
South. We here include
the general designation the nun
Der of larger species that are usual
called forage crops, viz, the warrior
millets, sorghums, lucern, ETC., wit
which our list has been so enrich6
within the present generation. 1t wou
seem that so apparently spontaneo,
growth as the grasses would not presel
a serious problem in the selectjc
of the best for the purposes
the farmer. But it is fact, with fe
exceptions, that the most valuable
our cultivated grasses are not NO
found flourishing in a wild state. |
deed, few, even of the thoroughly
digenous species, produce any conside
able crops, except under me degree
, culture; for example, the crab grass
and other species that infest our Gull
waited fields.
, After September and October, Febr
airy is the best time to sow the hart
| grasses, those which originally can
from colder climate than our ow
Later on the larger species, the sen
cereals may be planted. The life-lol
practice of grass-killing, strange as
5 may seem, does not afford that know
, edge or experience which is necessa
: when we C, to reverse the proce
, and commence to cultivate grass. II
: farmer must not conclude that becau
: grass will grow without care in his CO
, and cotton fields, and sometimes fiol