The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-06-27
Plndars, Potatoes and TurnIps.

To the Editor Of the Nc,vs and Cou
riier:: 1t has been some time since |
wrote you and article on agricultural
subjects. | regret that [ have moth
ing cheering to write, for the pros
poets are very gloomy for the farmers;
but as gloomy as the agricultural in
terest looks the political is worse, and
seems to be getting worse every day.
I hope that by prudence and fore
thought our farmers may to a very
considerable extent remedy their
shortcomings in the grain crops by
availing themselves Of such crops as
as may yet be planted, and those
that grow voluntarily over their farms.
/ regard the Spanish pindar as one
of the best substitutes that can be
planted to meet the short crop of oats
and corn, and there is plenty of time
to plant them. All the early varie-
ties of the field pea may yet be plant.
cd to make hay, and the crab grass anu
rag weeds that grow voluntarily make
good hay cut at the right time and
properly cured. The right time is
when in bloom, and in curing they
should be exposed to the sun, only so
long as will insure them against moul-
ding. One days summing will an
swer; when dry all hay should be
packed as closely as possible to enable
it to retain the valuable ingredients
if summed too much these all dry out,
leaving the hay light, brittle and worth
less.
The sweet potato crop may yet be
planted from slips or cuttings from the
vines already growing, and last but
not least comes the turnips, with sew
eral varieties, all of them good, but
some better than others. The ruta is
perhaps the best when grown, but a
little more difficult to get stand.
They should be planted about the mid
die Of July in drills three feet apart
and hoed out to one every foot. The
others should be planted from the
first to the middle of August and left
about as above described. DI prefer
broadcasting the manure and making
no bed OF ridge, but laying off moder
ately deep with a shovel and covering
lightly by dragging a rake along the
row in this way stand is almost
certain. If the land is properly pre-
pared by several ploughings and har-
rowings and manuring there is but lit
tie uncertain about the crop, and no
crop pays better for the expense and
labor bestowed upon it, About the
first of December all turnips ought to
be taken up and either banked or
housed on a dirt floor. A good plan
is to make rack over them out of
pine poles, and that after placing the
turnips in long heap put over them
by setting up at each end of the pile
post about five feet above the ground,
on which put ridge pole, then lean
on this pine poles near enough to-
gethcr to hold dirt, which should be
thrown on them thick enough to turn
water. One end may be left open to
get out the turnips for use. 1t is sur
prising to see how our people neglect
these valuable crops. Nature has
done much, but man does but little.
Few countries can grow such variety
of crops, but many of them are neg
lected for the cotton, though | believe
it is slowly for the better. | neglect
cd to say that the tops of turnips
should be cut off one inch from the
turnip before putting them i'll bulk or
they will spoil. l hope these sugges-
tions may benefit some one.
j. WASHINGTON WATTS.
.Nountrille, Laurcns County, .june IL,
7SDl