The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1890-03-21
BENNETTsvIIIE, S. c., MARCH 81 1890

the sides Of the furrow. Raiu, the
next day, washed in moro soil, and
covered the seed rather deeply.
There were good rains March 10
and Is, the plants began to show
on the 10th, and, by the 25th, there
was tolerably good stand. On
April s the crop was hoed for the
first time, thinned to one stalk
every five Or six inches, and tho
few missing places replantcd. On
the 20th, the wide spaces (six feet)
between the alternate rows were
plowe,l out with tho subsoil plow.
Thon q mixture, composed Of 200
pounds each Of Wilcox, Gibbcs &
Co.'S manipulated guano, kainit,
cotton seed meal, acid phosphate
and animal bone, was evenly ap-
piled by sowing in each furrow
(thus confining this application of
plant-food to the wide spaces. )
after which the whole acre was
gone over with Thomas harrow.
There was rain on the Gath, and
two days later the crop was again
narrowed with the Thomas har-
row. Now, on May Is, the mar
row or thrce-foot rows were plow-
cd out with the subsoiler, and 300
pounds Of nitrate Of soda was
sowed i'll these rows, md worked
with a hand harrow or cultivator.
On the 25th, the Thomas harrow
was run throagh the wide rows, to
break the crust. It will be seen
that ~ tiiis time tile soil WIS not
only we'll filled with plant food,
but had been thoroughly cultivat-
cd on the surface, and also well
worked underneath by the subsoil
plow, SO that the whole soil was
not only full Of fertility, but was
in that light and open condition
that best facilitates root growth.
TO STIMULATE a STILL FURTHER ROOT
DEVELOPMENT.
Especially in tho wide spaces be-
tween the alternate rows, where
there was more room for this Dur
pose, three furrows were run, side
by side, in tho middle Of the wide
rows, with the subsoil plow, and
200 pounds of manipulated guano
was applied in the furrows, the
rows being then worked by a
Thomas harrow. The next day
there was about ali inch OF rain.
about six inches Of rain fell four
days later, aid, on June Q, the
land was lightly stirred with hoe.
A little earth was hood into the
corn, making the land about level.
There was more rain June 4 and
5, and, on the 9Th, throe furrows
were again turned in the middle Of
the wide rows, this time with a
90 inch Campbell sweep. Now,
500 pounds Of u mixture composed
Of equal parts Of manipulated
guano, cotton seed meal and kainit
was strewn in the wide spaces, and
the corn OH tho entire field was
hood. Rain came the next day.
but, on June 1lth, 100 pounds of
nitrate of soda was sowcd in the
narrow rows and hocd in.
THE WONDERS OF THE CROP.
The crop was now a wonderful
sight. It soon became necessary to
put up posts and nail Stats to them.
on both sides Of each row, to pre-
vent the corn falling. No hilling
was done, but the whole acre was
kept perfectly level. Arrangements
for irrigating had been made, but
the season was early and wet, as
compared with other years; rains
followed frequently, and no irriga-
ton was necessary. In fact, as Mr..
Drake says, "the season was the
most favorable for corn | over saw =
The fame of thc contest acre spread
far and wide, and farmers and
planters came from all parts OF
Marlboro and adjoining counties
to behold it.
TIE HARVEST AND IT'S CORRECTNESS.
Tho acre was surveyed juno 80,
by William 3. Afford, legal sur
vcyor, and also q Trial Justice
who takes oath that the plot waa
measured by All accurate Gnntor's
chain, and was 29G 48-147 foot long
and 147 feet wide, containing 49,,
$50 square feet, or precisely one
acre: The boundaries wero marked
by stakes firmly driven in the
ground, but this precaution wac
hardly necessary, as no other corn
was grown in the vicinity, tho acre
standing alone by itself. The har-