The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-02-19
SOUTHERN AGRICULTURAL.
FEBRUARY FACTS.

too late to correct errors. A years
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 ana
possible counter-movements OF his an
tagonist and providing accordingly soa
wise farmer will look ahead and make
his dispositions so as to meet the exl-
gencies that may arise. Neither can
we'll 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 ssseek first, to produce, in abundance,
the food necessary for man ana BEAST;
to 90 about his purpose as IL 1t 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 a preacher employ
another to fill his pulpit; a sheep
breeder buy all his sheep and wool; a
fruit-grower to buy fruit instead OF
growing it, as for a farmer to habltually
buy such articles as corn, oats, bacon,
lard, butter, beef, mules and horses,
etc.-the very things it is the peculiar
business of a farmer to grow from MS
soil. But we will not pursue the SUD-
iect further at this time.
FLOWING CORN LAND.
The plow 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 a period just be-
fore that time. The weather during
the latter part of the month and
early in March may not be suitable
| for blowing. On level and espe'
r cially on close, undrained soils, We
are decidedly in favor of throwing the
Y land into beds as final preparation fol
l planting in corn or cotton. The best re
y suits in corn culture have almost invaria
o blv been obtained when planted on broa'
n beds, with we'll opened water fur
r rows between the rows, these tur
G rows serving temporarily as drain
II in the absence of a more permanent
IS system. This leads to the suggestlo
,, that the low-lying, moist lands OF tn
y country should be generally appropriat
&c ed to the corn crop. Corn is much NOR
'e liable to injury from drought than co
te ton, and is less affected by wet More
n, over corn seems to respond less CRATE
e, fully to manure than cotton, and
CT prefer |. naturally rich and moist sol
tn Do not be in too big a hurry to con
~ mence planting. Too early planting
ID a much more frequent mistake than tt
us late planting narrow strip OF hui
le dred miles along the Gulf Coast may
aa better planted in February; but Marc
10 is early enough for the next belt OF OF
III hundred miles or more.
:; SPRING OATS.
III. Oats are a more economical and reli
ly BILE crop than corn, taking series
we years together. Undertaking OF
nd fall-sown, or drought-killing OF t
ire spring-sown are the only causes OF ia
ii; ure, both of which may be pretty w
guarded against. Oats sown in spri
do best in February, and should be So
on rich or well-manured land, and
Of ground should be put in the best con
ton by deep, close blowing. The t.
es, dency is to SOW rather too thickly'
are doubt if grain more is made by sc
er, ing more than three bushels OF oats
IN. the very best prepared and richest So
zee On ordinary soils, capable OF produc1
in ten to fifteen bushels of corn per &C
,cs. one to one and half bushels OF s.
lily per acre are enough.
the The absolute loss which is the res
oes of winter-killing of oats is apt to
nnd greatly exaggerated. One OF the CT
Get, practical precautions against win
had killing is to provide an abundance
eby home-raised seed, so that the land I
res be re-sown in February if the oats 81
have been killed in January. If XII!
OF too late for Resolving, the land is
N right for corn, or other summer c
ire But in fact it is extremely rare for
the to be killed after the middle of
ling ruary, while they often succeed '
ects sown in March.
Their c,.sS
me-
ime 1t is gratifying to note the growt
ILL.,, interest in the subject of grass cult
re a which is evidenced by rer
nes, from various sections OF
we're South. We here include
rect the general designation the +
Der of larger species that are usr
inty called forage crops, viz, the val
birds millets, sorghums, lucern, ETC.,
n in which our list has been so enri
with within the present generation. 1t
red. seem that SO apparently spontan
rs in growth as the grasses would not pre-
ndal a serious problem in the sele'
beth of the best for the purpose
ago. the farmer. But 1T Is 1ace' WIN
q of exceptions, that the most valuab
1eth, our cultivated grasses are not
Tered found flourishing in wild state.
made deed, few, even of the thorough
with digenous species, produce any cons
is of able crops, except under some deg1
xact- culture; for example, the crab gr
,dern and other species that infest our
foot waited fields.
The After September and October, Z
5 the arv is the best time to SOW the
evil grasses, those which originally
weled from a colder climate than our
| any Later on the larger species, the
pound cereals NAV be planted. The life
and practice of grass-killing, strange
may seem, does not afford that k
o1 rro or ayperieDca which is nccf