The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-07
THE FARM AND GARDEN.
December Notes.

OoCenD0r NOCSS.
In the lower latitudes of the south-be-
low the 32' of latitude say-December is a
month full of activity if the weather is at
all favorable to outdoor WORK. Very fire.
Quently the soil is kept almost continuously
wet this month, allowing Of but little plow-
ing and applying of manure and planting
OF crops. Then again 1t sometimes happens
that very little rain falls in December, in
which case great deal can be done in the
way of preparation for the coming plant
ings that will be found very helpful in as
surfing the bet success with the crops. In
the extreme south much can be done even
in the way of planting if it has not been
dono in the previous months of October
and November. Grain, gross and clover
sowing is quite likely to succeed to this
month anywhere below the 81 OF latitude.
Such crops are more appropriately sown in
October or November, to be sure, but some
times dry weather or a pressure of other
work interferes and preventSsthe doing of
autumn work at the proper time. 1T hap
pened TO be the Ease this year that Septem-
Der and October were so dry 1t was impossi-
bio to prepare land and make s0wlugs of
grain and clover. 1t was as late as Nov. Is,
In Middle Georgia, before a saturating rain
came to wet the soil sufficiently to allow OF
its being properly prepared for sowing.
The consequence Is very little grain was
soHnprior to Nov. 20 in that section of the
state. Unfortunately drought is quite &
common occurrence in the south in Septem-
Der aid October, and frequently initiates
against the establishing Of the grain crops
that are appropriately painted at that seasoa
Plenty OF dry weather in autumn is u thing
- 20.
II 1t does not come too early III tNe season.
lie cares for very little rain in September
and October, for during these months he
must harvest his cotton and his corn and
much Of his hay. The weather that is IA
vorable to the made crops is not, therefore,
favorable to the establishment of new ores.
One or two good rains in October is neceS-
sary to the proper seeding of grain, grass
and clover, and when our farmers come to
value these crops as they should they will be
glad to see rain or to that now they do not
care for.
Ten years ago this fall our farmers were
greatly enthused with the sowing OF oats.
In 1881 there was larger area sown TO this
NRlu3 bic grain than was ever given 1t be-
lore or since, and the crop gathered in 'S2
was the largest ever made--and from the
way things seem to he going now it Will be
many years before that crop will
b. equaled. The winter Of
lSSl-'82 was very mild one, and
the spring weather was very favorable.
Success followed November and even De-
cember sowing that season, and great
many farmers accepted that single expert
ence as conclusive that November and early
December was plenty early to SOW small
gram In Middle Georgia, and es they have
plenty of work in September and October
they were very glad to believe that they
hnfn NhAfv, yfvafr
until after every other crop
mad been fully gathered. In this
tney made great mistake. 1t Is only occa-
sionai years that sowings as late as Dec.
are likely to succeed anywhere above the
DIST parallel. Below that line success is
ortener secured than above it, but over the
larger section of the south it happens at
least three years out of five that the jan
uary or early February freezes do very
great damage if they do not entirely kill
vut the tender grain plants that are sown
1aSe III November or in December. One or
TWO years out of five such late sowiDgs are
quite llkely to escape injury.
40 insure the success of the small grain
crop, TO the extent that anything OF the
Elnd can be insured sowings
9Houio be made at least by Oct
40, especially in that belt lying be-
s"eeh the SD and 35th lines of latitude
TT91tween Savannah and Chattanooga, say.
enoulo De adopted. as a rule, Just as
much 80 as 1t is to plant corn in March in
.oe same limits. AS We said BEFORE SOW
snss can be made with success oftentimes
Iater than the middle Of October, even in
central Georgia, but more or less risk at
.snos upon much late sowings than this. In
we south proper there Is a great range of
climate, and a proper allowance is always to
ne made for latitude and elevation. What
Is proper at one time in one section or belt
monio not De SO in another. For every de-
gree OF latitude Tor seventy niles there is
nls %esa or more OF difference IN respect to
piahting periods after reaching any
marReo elevations from the sea coast line
,;s.e el repeat. our farmers have made a sad
nnc crse IN RELOCATING the oat to the list OF
sring with, basing this conclusion on re-
practica aa ~ resulting from adopting the
crop. Herein rests the disfayor IN which
19 nova oas b as an arailabe crop Of high value
mers " a ns1a ny such large number Of far
Georgia. Ane VI M1uul'