The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-01-15


of one hundred to five hundred feet or
more. There are several different
styles of terracing levels in which the
spirit level is the controlling feature,
any one of which Will give satisfac-
ton. For our own Use we would preS
per an instrument having a telescope,
;ls il enables the operator to see the
levelling sIa1'at q much greater dis
tanee besides being more accurate.
The lines of the several terraces may
be Sisapfy located, for tie present, and
marked by slight (urrow run with
small scooter plow, and the ridging
and furrowing be done just precedidg
the first breaking Of the land.
PITCHING TIE CROP.
AS quickly as possible the crop
should be pitched, as we understand
the import of the word !. G., it should
he determined how much area and
what particular fields or sections shall
he planted in corn, Gotten, spring oats,
potatoes, cane, etc., and what portions
shall "lic out"
If Il gond system of rotation has
heretofore been practice d, and is'to be
continued, the crop IS already pitched, :
so far as the general rotation is con-
cerned. If no rotation has been adopt
ed it is coed time to adopt such a
system. AS rule, we would follow
cOttsn with fall s0wn small grain, or
grass, and if all the cotton land be not
thus appropriated, let the remainder be
put in corn. Corn will do we'll after
any clean cultivated crop, but should
not fellow itself where wire worms
and bud worms and blast have been
seriously destructive. These general
rules should be modified according to
circumstances. Low lying and rich
lands generally should lie put in corn
or oats, and the thinner uplands in
cotton, and we'll fertilized
MANURES AND MANURING.
Read again what was written in last
months "Thoughts," under the head
of 1.-The Manure Heap" We will add
only few remarks: Every rich or
moderately productive soil contains
large store of the elements OF plant
food enough Of some of them to sup
ply the demands of an abundant an
nual harvest for a hundred years.
There are already upwards of two tons
of phosphoric acid and six tons of pot
ash and much more lime, in an acre Of
average soil, taken to the depth of one
foot from the surface, and yet we get
good results in the crop from the addi.
ton of twenty-five pounds of phos-
phoric acid and five pounds Of potash
TO an acre of such lands. Why is this?
1t is because the larger pait of the
plant food in the soil is insoluble and
almost utterly unavailable to the crop,
while the small amount we add is in q
very soluble and Immediately availa-
bic form. The art of improving land
consists essentially in such treatment
of the soil as will cause it to yield o
larger percentage of its locked up plant
food to our crops, while at the same
time we restore what has been remov-
ed by previous crops, and if necessary,
add an additional amount in the form
of purchased fertilizers. :.
We have said that the larger part Of
the plant food in the soil is unavaila-
bic to plants. 1t is true, however, that
some plants have the power Of appro-
priating much more of this plant food
! than others. The cow pea, clover,
LcspcdeZa and other leguminous
plants, are of this class. A crop CT
peas or clover will get more phosphor-
ic acid, potash and nitrogen from q
given soil, than will wheat, corn or
cotton. When the roots ami stems of
the peas or clover decay on or in the
soil, the plant food these crops have
extracted from ii Vii be. left in an
available form, and just where it b
wanted, for the usr of a succeeding
IF MI 10
the theory of green manuring, in q
few words. Nothing is added to the
soil, except probably nitrogen from the
air, by The decaying crop Of peas or
clover; but large percentage Of the
before insolubie and inert elements is
= dissolved and made fiji for food for the
crops we wish to grow.
So there arc three ways in which the
farmer may conveniently maintain
land increase the fertility of his soil,
not to speak OF undertaking and sub
sOiling, which are helpful to the opera
ton of all these. They are, first, to
return to the soil, as nearly as possible,
all that has been removed from it by
previous crops. This is accomplished
by making and composing all the sta
ble manure possible, returning the cot
ton seed or cotton seed meal, either as
such, or in the form of manure from
the animals fed upon them. The Sec
ond is, plant renovating crops, such as
peas, clover, buckwheat, Japan clover,
ETC., or allow the land to bring q spon-
taneous crop Of weeds. The third is to
buy l,lant food in the form OF CONNER
cal fertilizers. We have mentioned
. these in the order Of their general i'm
portance and economy. The first, the
) saving Of manure is al all-the-year-
around operation. Tie second COM
menccs at planting time of the reno
waiting crop adopted. The third, the
selection, purchase and proper mixing
attention next month.
CURING BACON.
After the pork has lain in salt three
, or iour weeks, according to the general
Temperature iha! has prevailed sincG
the killing, il is ready to "hang."
Some farmers tI.iuk it is important
that it should bc Il cold spell when
: hung up to dry, but we think it not es-
seniial, bat only desirable. Shake OF
!: sweep on' with Il stuff broom, or brush,
all tue adhcring salt. Hang up the
hams and shoulders with the heck end
Idown and sec that t!iey do not touch
each othir. Let the meat drip and
dry fer thiec or four days without
smoke. Then keep continuous
-nu!;c during the Daytime for five or
Dsiv t::,vs Hickory cniDs or corn cobS