The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-05-22
FOR FARMERS ONLY.
SOME TIMELY SUGGESTIONS FROM
RECOGNIZED AUTHORITY.

S"hufS
Southern Cultivator.
With this month the cultivation Of
the main crops of tho farm common
ces in earnest. On many farms corn
has already received it's first working
and should now bo in IA thrifty, grow
ing condition. The old rulo of plow-
ing over the crop every thrcc weeks
should not be observed, further than
to be certain that the interval is nov
on SO long. Three weeks, as II nrule,is
too long an interval. If only three
complete plowings arc to bo given,
it were better to defcr the first plow-
ing until tho plants have five or six
leaves Gf the ground has not been
before neglected, or has not been run
together by heavy rains), and then
give tho remaining two plowings ut
intervals of two woeks. But We
have found q still better plan to give
only q partial plowing at each going
over, say two burrows with a sweep,
or other wide, surface cultivator, and
go over the crop every week or ten
days i'll this way. We have before
remarkodthat when two burrows with
an ordinary sweep or smaller plow,
are run side by side, the second furTow
does butlittle ovor half work. For gen
crnl purposes Of culGivatinG corn and
cotton we hnvo found the Planet, Jr.,
Cultivator s. most satisfactory in. .
plement, leaving little TO be desired.
The winged sweep or heel scraDn is
good, but al expanding. 1--WE or six
tOOthcd cultivntOr is mach better
We insist that four or five foot, or
even six foot row, whether in corn or
other crop. shoul1 rarely hovo mora
than one round: or tyG fn,rova ~
any ono time. Bo(tor ,,o ovo, thn
crop with two furroys to Tho rnn,
every ten duvs thnn 10 r;yn fnur fnr.
fows every three wccl,s
The lcoD-plowinr rnnf.,,r,u;no
idea in the cuItiynti0n Of corr, ~, nv
other crop, which has bcon advocated
in certain Q,IartorH, cluuot Stand tho
test Of Intelligent experiment On
very heavy, rough soils, where sbnI-
low, surface culture is imnynrIirobln
and unsatisfuctOrv, rorcoy lass; Irnn
blowing and incilpntpI root cuttinm
may be tic lesser Of nyila r. Is Lni'
ter to cut and monclr tho roote
somewhat, than to LET fhc wrcIs nnJ
grass take the crop, AS y mcncr,I
rule Il surface cultivator, or Other
shallow running implement mny be
safely used whenever it will take the
soil and thoroughly d,sintcgrote IT, To
the depth of one inch. Tho idoo tbot
the essential object Of cultivation Of
q growing crop is to break the soil
so that the roots can penetrate II 10
fallacious. Such breakinr is ono Of
the nrincinnl objects of the Dronoro-
tory ploWng before planting or at
the latest, the first plowing. Subsc-
qucnt cultivation serves to break the
surface crust or prevent its forma-
ton, thereby permitting free perco-
lntlon of air into the root layer of soil,
ana preventing too rapid evaporation
OF moisture from below. Tho de-
stfuctlon OF grass and weeds is a.
secondary and incidental effect of
surface culture, necessary, Of course
but OF subordinate Importance to tho
thorough accretlon Of the soil.
Of course overy farmer will plant
poas III his corn fields if for no other
purpose than to improve the land.
Tho value Of the peas harvested,
either III the form Of hay, or ripe
seed, or pastured by hogs, is nearly
always greater than tho entire cxpcn-
peas. Indeed tho voluo Of tho ,,1on4
ing seed and the labor of dropping
allu covering comprise about all the
expense up TO the time OF harvesting.
hccorulnS i 10 our own experience, the
oT9' way 10 piant peas In corn, III
WY - 10 open "turrow with shov-
e. en- III Il!e cehtfo or the corn middle,
"rop clslC or ten peas every step,
"ti.l 1H I3Ter WIN cultlvator, set to
hIr'tI'Io inc 1urroW with two for
war; M"LH t0etn' permitting the other
IG9ti' WT:ti' 20 sur inc adjacent surface.
W. Ml'il .lll9 pan III view 1t IS prefcra-
III, III oto'1 "ileH corn IS planted III
,n,ll9' ,'lI7 H 10 i'|Go tT Cile laCtef WIDER one
m"S I,HI'i i;m' VIC "Iller' so as TO nave the
o,,,aII,. in''9 ''il'' |ilo pea iilllS 10 pretty
rl"p'l2 cnI y occupS inc lend. AT the
il'. a,,,,t, l1ioN VIZ oi Sllc corn PeaSmay be
"C"i' "!o!'''c''SI ior tlc purpose, 1lrSt,