The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-04-12

lowing from 10 days to two weeks for
the seed TO come up, we consider from
the tenth to the fifteenth Of April as per-
hapS the best time-earlier in the south
err. later i'll the northern portion of the
state. IT the weather and other condi-
tons encourage the plant to grow off
rapidly and stretch up a long 'shank, !"
the f1rst working can he ACCOMPLISHED
much more rapidly and successfully:
30 promote this condition, good plan
is 10 mix highly ammoniated fertilizer
with the seed in the drill, about so
pounds to the acre
come OF the advantages gained by
early planting and pushing the crop for
ward are: the early matured cotton, as
rule, fruits better; in the more south
ern portions of the state part, at least,
OF the bolls mature before the caterpil-
lar can destroy them; the dreaded
drouth of July and August can work
less injury; In the more northern por-
tons of the state the major part of the
crop escapes the early frosts.
The most serious objection to late
planting is that dry weather often pre-
vents a perfect ''stand." 1t is well,
however not to put all the eggs in one
basket Where it is possible, two
paintings, one early. the other later,
give the farmer an additional chance,
and then the whole crop will not be
pressing for work at the same time.
PLANTING.
If a man has been able to put out the
manure and list on it, two burrows now
will put the bed in condition for plant
ing. If the continued bad weather has
SO delayed work that nothing has been
done in the cotton land. there is now no
time to lose, every moment must be made
to count
-Four burrows thrown on the opening
furrow will, IN the absence of the better
method, answer for the present, and the
small middle left can be plowed out af-
ter the cotton is planted Or, list on
the opening furrow and complete the
bed just ahead of the planter.
A good plan is to pnt part, say 100
pounds of fertilizer in with the seed,
and the rest can be put in the siding
burrows; or, if larger quantity is APP
pied, 1t can be broadcast before the
plows, between the rows. But this
should be done early enough for its eff
fects to be felt on the roots in time to
influence the fruiting. It is now gen
orally conceded that the best use of fer
lllzers IS by broadcasting as much as
one can Afford using only small guam
tity in the drill. We soon reach the
danger line, when we put fertilizers in
the drill, for if we use large amount
here, unless we have rains Just at the
time and il the Quantity that we wish,
our crops are inevitably ruined. In
view of the continued drawback of
heavy rains, | would suggest that, on
light lands where nothing has been done
towards cotton preparation, one might
open on the old furrOw, put in a little
fertilizer with the seed, and the rest can
be put in as above. In pursuing this
plan remember that, even if heavy APP
pllcatlons We're made the previous year,
the ammonia has all been exhausted.
only part of the phosphate remains, and
In fertilizing for the present season we
should supply more ammonia in proper
ton to the phosphate used. If the plant
ing is greatly delayed, several days may
be gained by soaking the seed until they
are nearly ready to sprout. They may
be rolled or not, as circumstances die
tate: and il the ground be dry plant
deep and knock off afterwards. If gu.
ano is used in the, rolling do not risk
high grade acid phosphate, as it Injuries
the germ.
Select large, well matured seed, the
larger the seed, the more food for the
germ in the earlier stages of growth, fol
Enclosed in each little shell is a store of
the three necessary elements. nitrogen,
phosphoric acid and potash, on which
the tender plant feeds until able to take
hold of what it finds in the soil If the
seed have been we'll ginned. rolling is
not necessary. If a planting machine is
to be used, and operated by an ordinary
farm hand, L prefer one without the
covering attachment. In the hands of
the owner or of careful laborer, it is
very desirable, but otherwise, too risky.
L have seen repeated gaps of several
yards, left by q careless, shiftless hand.
and OF course, undiscovered until the
entire crop was up, and then causing no
end of trouble and vexation. If high
priced seed are used, rolling is advisable,
as saving of nearly one-half can thus
be effected. Most planters have wheel
III front of the seed dropper, but I think
one following and pressing the seed into
the soil is even more desirable, this is
especially the case where the beds have
not had time to become firm. The open
ing furrow should be broad and fiat.
rather than ueep, and the seed covered
about one inch.
The double foot for covering is per-
haps best, as leaving little ridge over
the seed, which is less apt to break after
a rain than fiat surface, and leaves the
land in condition for the use of the har-
row just as the cotton is growing sup.
This narrowing is almost equal to a
working-it kills any grass which may
have sprouted, does not materially injure
the cotton, breaks any crust which may
have formed, and puts the land in beau
tiful condition for the subsequent heav-
Ter business of cultivation. After the
planting of the crop comes the
FIRST FLOWING OF CORN,
but before we begin this, it is important
to replant and thin out, where neces-
sary. If the planting has been carefully
done and good seed used, there should
not be much replanting. Soaking the
seed in water for "a hours will cause
quicker organization. The stalks should
be thinned, leaving one to every three
feet. If the ground is soft and mellow
and the crop was planted in
the water furrow the sweep will
do beautiful work; it will throw