The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-19
WORK FOR AUGUST,

WUhA lUl AUUUDl.
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR PROFIT
ABLE EMPLOYMENT.
Many Ways in Which the Farmers
may Turn Their Time to Good Ac'
count.
Southern Cultivator.
/ In the South the hottest weather or the
summer usually occurs during the last ten
days of July, reaching occasionally into Au-
gust. The beginning of August. then, is tne
Commencement of the decadence OF summer;
The days are rapidly, growing shorter, ana
the nights correspondlngly longer and cooler.
We also usually have more or less frequent
showers of rain, which st Ill further marx the
gradual change from mid summer neat anu
drouth, to the cooler weather OF theapproaci''
ing fall. A.,
This period has been sometimes called the
second spring, because 1t Is a favorable Illne
to repeat the planting OF SEEDS OF many
plants that will mature during the cooler
wea ther Of September and October. In q
state of simple nature the changes In the con-
dition surrounding plant life are even more
marked than under artificial surroundings.
With the customary August showers."fod,
der pulling weather" (?)-the seeds or wild
plants and grasses that are able to endure Tue
This fact indicates the near approach OF the
season for sowing clovers, grasses and small
grLin which will be fully at hand IN Septem-
ber and October, according TO the iatituae;;
Many Of the summer maturing garden anu
forage crops may now be planted with rea-
sonable prospect of success. Among garden
vegetables we may mention turnips, cao-
bages, peas. beets, beans. tomatoes.
| VEGETABLES OF VARIOUS SORTS.
II is wei to mark, however, that all the
conditions, both artificial and natural, must
be fairly favorable, in order 10 success. the
ground for vegetables must be clean, deepiy
and closely plowed or spaded, and we'll pull
verized and well supplied with plant food.
If the weather be unduly hot and dry, water,
Ing, shading and mulching may be resorted
to as circumstances may Justify. we nave
made good beets, turnips, Irish potatoes, pole
beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., from seeo
sown in August; and we have about as often
failed to gather more than seed planted when
the weather was altogether unfayorable.
Tomatoes may be grown very easily from
cuttings of the old vines. Select secondary
shoot proceeding from the older portion. OF
be be- found @ already rooted. Set in we'll prepar:.
ed soil, water freely and shade for several
days with q cabbage leaf Or cuttings may
be made, as of gelaniums, and rooted IN d
shallow box of sand. and afterwards Trans
planted. ,.
We have often succeeded very we'll with
sowing of forage sorghums and cattali
IlHearD tnlueE. vi QOuTSC every
gardener knows that now Is the time to SOW
turn fps (rather late for ruta-oagas), and that
repealed preliminary plowing. and high oon-
dition of the soil as 10 plant food and pulver;
iZation are essential to success. Practical
farmers have ceased TO rely on turnips as a
stock food. They are very good, indeed,
when you have them, but the crop Is too un,
certain 10 justify the labor, manure and
pninstakine necessary TO success, ana yet Oh
len resulting in very meagre success.
While 1t Is yet too early to sow small grain
and grass, 1t is not too early to think about
1t, and TO make all necessary arrangements,
especially securing seed.
There is one plant, however, cultivated as
grass-the Bur clover (Medicago Maculata)-
the seed Of which should be sown at once;
and slightly covered. The seeds are enclosed
In very tough burs, and require TO be soWn
weeks or more in advance OF the time OF COM
ing up. in order that these burs may rot away
from the enclosed seeGs.
BUR CLOVER BURMUDA GRASS - OTHER
GRASSES.
Bur clover will succeed very well If the seed
be sown in Bermuda sod. 1t Is only neces.
sary to scarfy the sod we'll. SOW half bushel
Of seed, and harrow them IN: The seed Will
come up in September or October, and give a
good winter pasture, lasting until April,
when stock should be withdrawn In order TO
give the clover q chance to mature seed and
self sow the crop for another crop. we have
very little doubt the same plan may be adopt
ed with Rescue grass (Bromus uniloides,) as
we'll as Vetch (Vicia sativa.) Gov. NorIhen
has succeeded we'll with Red clover on his
that a combination OF Bermuda grass-which
is unexcelled as q summer pasture grass
with some of the winter growing grasses. as
suggested Above, will prove the best solution
OF the pasture problem. A good winter pas
ture Is what every farmer needs, and needs
badly. There is no difficulty In supplying an
abundance Of green forage and grazing dur.
ing summer. Bermuda grass 1or pasture, and
| ho yariatips of SOrphQm. nlttel and
TeOsinte, furnish all that can be reasonably
desired in that line,
remark that the seeds may be sown In the
present corn fields, If not already occupied
| with field peas. Sow broadcast, and harrow
in as II cultivating the corn.
FODDER. PULLING SHOULD BE ABANDONED.
The principal work that can be done in the
corn fields Is fodder pulling. We would be
glad to see this practice discontinued. Not
solely because 1t certainly often Injuries the
yield of grain more than the fodder is worth,
nor because the fodder is not as good as any
hay obtainable; but for the reason that at the
best fodder pulling is slow, tedious, labo-
rious process, and the results are too meagre.
! On strong, fresh uplands or moist bottoms we
| believe 1t scarcely Injuries the corn at all to
strip off the blades, If not done before the
shuck has turned brown. On OLD, thirsty
soils this ripening of the shuck-indicating
the cessation of the vital processes in the ear
usually occurs simultaneously with the
drying up of the blades, Hence If the latter
are to be saved in good condition they must
| be stripped before the ear can dispense with
their services, and the result is q loss Of grain
often amounting TO the total weight OF the
cured blades. 1t is a custom born OF neces-
sty and handed down from our forefathers.
| We no longer cling to the wooden plow, and
the three legged spinning wheel OF our grand
mothers, nor do we cut wheat and oats with
SICKLE nor gin cotton with our fingers then
why should we count the blades Of corn, one
by one? The solution, OF course, Is to be
these there Is nothing better than peavines
or crab grass. The latter Is spontaneous
crop, growing where 1t is not wanted. and
still better where encouraged by good plow-
ing and narrowing of the land. The pea vine
crop requires no more expense than the seed, |
and the small labor Of sowing and narrowing:
Both crops, however, respond readily and
profitably TO applications of fertilizers. Fer
iiliZe crab grass Yes, why not convert
by O little judicious kind treatment.
WHAT WE SHOULD DO NOW.
During this and the next month the work |
Of curing of pea vines into hay will be In Or |
der. 1t has generally been thought difficult
to cure pea vines. We have found little, III
any, more trouble than with clover. The
chief difficulty is to prevent the shedding |
and consequent the loss of the leaves. This
vines when the leaves are dry.
The proper stage In which to NOW the
vines Is when they are blooming freely and
few pods have formed, but before any have
ripened. Do not cut early in the morning,
but wait until the dew has disappeared. Use
lively gait. Let the vines lie on the ground
mill thOrOuphly Wilted. Late in the after-