The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-15
The COTTON AND CORN.
PEAS AND PoTAToEs--.CLovE AND 9TH
Err CROPS.
Practical Suggestions as 10 the Best
Method of increasing the Cur.
rcncy OH the Farm.
southern CultlYatOr.


Southern Cultivator.
On the well ordered and skilfully managed
farm the burden and heat of the day" has
passed, so far regards the cultivation OF the
leading crops. The farmer who, on the first
day Of July, has not his crop In good condi-
corn or cotton. The reason has been back
ward and unfavorabe. We have never
known IL more un(avorable spring season,
nor observed the farmers In more backward
safe yet. The early planted corn Is beyond
the reach of further help from the husband
man, and only waits a rain or two To round up
the measure OF the crops prospect.
But the cotton field yet requires and must
have unremitting care. Late planting and
un favorable weather for seed termination
have doubtless made the crop pretty gene
rally late, certainly in the middle OF the cot
ton belt. 1t needs more constant, or, at least,
often repeated cultivation. Deep plowins Is
not to be thought OF now, as the effect OF 1t
would be to still further delay the fruitng
period. What is needed Is surface scratching
Of the soil, not moIe than half an inch to one
inch deep. The idea Is simply to keep the
UPPER layer OF soil in a loose or porous condi-
tion, 81 that no weeds can germinate, while
1T ihc same time the mir can penetrate the
soil readily. such layer of SOIL thoroughly
pulvcriZed and louSc, also prevents 100 rapid
evaporation OF the moisture The free admis-
sion Of the atm mcSrhere to the soil iavors the
process Ot nitriticatiOn, which is Il conversion
Gt is now bclicved) most plants prefer to take
this food elements. We therefore insist on
frequent surface pIowing or narrowing Of the
crop throIghout the month mon! e. OF July, and
past found nothing equal, for this purpose, to
the Planet Jr. Cultivaor, and we still esteem
it as an admirable implement. This year we
are trying Il new Implement, u cultivation
harrow, which gives promise of proving Il
very valuable tool for rapid surface cultiva-
ton, of which more hereafter. Wcwill only
repeat now. what we have before urged, that
Is Il great foly-a shameful waste OF time ami
n non use OF power. to have big strong mule
and Il lusty negro man pulling u little Six
teen or eighteen inch sweep, going twice or
thrco times IN II cotton middle, where the
same power In the same time could accom-
plish twice or thrice as much by using pro-
per implement.
There are yet some corn fields to lay by.
We urge that peas be sown in every acre OF
corn land. We haye long advocated the COW
pea as Il valuable crop for The Southern far
mcr We have not weakened in our faith,
but on the contrary are perhaps in danger OF
being called crank on the subject of the COW
pea. IL has been very aptly called The
"cover of the South" We believe it can be
shown that the COW pea can be made great
or factor in maintaining and increasing the
prOductIvcn rSS OF our soils than clover has
been in the North. This Is equivalent to say
ing that the COW pea can be made more
valuable plant to the Southern farmer than
red clover is to the Northern or Western far
mcr. And we believe it.
First in the list of points In favor of the
prl, us against clover, Is the fact that the
former will grow and make a good crop on
land upon which it would be folly to attempt
To grow Il crop OF clover.
The pea Will grow on the Highest sand with
no clay i'm ten feet Of the surface; clover re-
quircs at least Il clay subsoil. The land re-
quircs but little preparation for crop OF
peas. 1t Is the easiest crop to plant and the
surcst Of /; stand. a full growth of pcavineS
can be secured in ninety days from planting /;
two crops may be grown In one season. The
pea will grow on poor land, although 1t will
do better OH good land. Glover will not
thrive ut i'll on poor land. 1t has been well
said that q soil lin the SOuth) that will grow
Il good crop OF clover, is rich enough for the
general purposes of the Southern farmer.
While this may not bc strictly true, II gives
paJur to the fact that our poorer soils must be