The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-08
Nlle gralla aud g(elps.
{ SUBSTITUTE FOR COTTON.
Eail Irish Potatoes as a Money Crop-Spar-
fish Geobers as Substitute for a
Forage Crop.
TIFF Welhorn in Galyeston News. |


before the article was published all
the western streams were rising rapid
.ly-and that these rains with the re-
.dnced acreage would cause shortage
in the cotton CT op equal to the surplus
then on hand. But look out for big
cotton crop in 1898.
Now this was not wholly guess work.
I further said ali kinds of grain would
be low. My reasons were then given,
and it would take several lengthy arti-
cles to explain. So here I will only
say that the rains had already COM
.menced and there was a great deal of
water on the ground everywhere ex-
.ceps in the Southwest. When this is
the case at the beginning Of warm
weather it is sure to last until midsum-
mer if moi until midwinter.
These wet seasons are the very thing
for all kinds of grain, but very detri-
mental to cotton. Still, good cotton
can be made these wet seasons and the
svery best of grain madein dry seasons,
but better preparation and cultivation
are needed in both cases. I have not
time to say more than this on the base
of my last Mays prophesy. Why I
said look out for big cotton crop in
1898 was because the short crop of 1892
would, as / said then, sell cotton at 9
to 10 cents a pound and everybody
woeld wish their grain was in cotton
m 1898; and because every even year
sinceI came to Texas, III 1875, there
had been much more rain than in the
odd years, and corn has always been
low in the fall aud winter of even years
and cotton high Tie next spring. while
the falls Of odd years have reversed
things-bigh cern and low cotton in
the fall. Still, this is by no means un-
changeable, and large crops of grain
may be produced iu the grain belt
proper in odd years. This would hold
the price down as in 1880. Then they
may do just es We did last year in cot
ton and in the grain belt did in 1896
cut down the graiq crop.
1t is now vesy certain the cotton
acreage will be larger and corn acre
age at the South much below last year,
with the probability of = dry season.
This will bring high corn, and would
bring low cotton but for the large per
cent. of the crop being planted in (the
very unprolifc) long staples. And
long staples cut no figure in the cotton
supply, except to count acreage and
bales to hold down the price, because
the long staples cannot be used in gen
esaI manufactured goods. Still there
viii very likely be large enough crop
made to fully supply the demand and
held the price below present prices.
All the bottom lands will be forced to
greatly increase their acreage, and
should the season be dry, as we sus-
pect, they viii make fully 100000
more bales than they made in 1892.
Besides their increased acreage their
land viii be much richer and easier
cultivated. add this to last years
crop and We see, without counting the
increase on the uplands, there would
be ample to supply the demand.
The South must have more than one
money crop and more than one forage
crop. On dry years the one forage
crop, corn, seldom does well on sandy
lands, but cotton and all other shade
plants do best these dry seasons, and
on the wet years cotton does not fruit
well. One season Spanish goobers will
make twice as much forage as corn on
poor or very sandy lands, and On dry
seasons three or four times as much.
They are no more trouble to cultivate
than cow pea, will make in from
ninety 20 100 days planted in April,
will be ready to harvest in July, are
harvested by pulling up vines as we
used to pull up cow peas in the old
States. The goobers all hang to and
come up with the vine. A hand can
pull up enough to winter milk cew
er feed a horse three months in sin
gle day.
I grew them last year that made a
quart of COOLERS to the single hill.
We have our rows about three or three
and half feet apart and drop two
goobers about every eighteen inches in
the drill at cotton planting time. A
drouth that would ruin corn crop
would be the making of the goobers.
Next to the goobers cow peas come
for forage on those dry seasons on poor
or very sandy land.
Now how about the substitute money
crop? When the COOLERS or cow
peas are harvested in July, follow close
upon the harvesters with ploH and
harrow, roller or log drag, or take up
in the afternoon and plow and harrow
the next morning, and harrow once a
week until the first good season after
the first of August, which is nearly
always the middle of the month in the
northern part Of the cotton belt and
last Of August in the Southern part.
Lay of rows same width as for the
COOLERS, and plant Irish potatoes.
Cover with four furrows with turning
plow. Always cut the potato; never
plant a whole potato in second or fall
crop, because the whole tuber may lie
without sprcuting until spring, while
the cut potato will come right up, il
there is sufficient moisture, to perfect
stand.
It's not necessary to sprout them be-
fore planting if cut. But the land
must be pulverized very fine, so as tc
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