The Opelousas courier., 1895-05-11
About Corn,

49, " W. w kCk
corn planted. Early planting is al.
ways desirable, for. unless seasons con-
spire against it early corn is the best
corn. But it is not advisable to plant
before the ground is properly prepared.
Corn can be planted too early; it is al
ways too early when the soil is not in
proper condition. Whether corn sh,x1ld
be planted in the central furrow, or
upon a bed has been much discussed,
but will never be settled; because thu
manne of preparing and planting
varies with the kind of soil and the
LAY of the land" To plant in the
water furrow on fat retentive soil
would subject the corn to danger from
drowning; and to plant on a high
ridge on we'll drained land would be
foolish for half a dozen reasons. AS a
general principle, the ground ought
to be deeply broken and har.
rowed before planting, and rolled
Immediately after. And all subsequent
cultivation should be shallow. On some
soils if heavy rains have occurred since
breaking the land it will be necessary
to give a deep blowing as soon as the
corn m up, and before it has thrown
out many fbrous roots. After this
shallow cultivation only should be had.
Whether corn should be drilled or
checked is another mooted question,
and distance is still another. Unless
on very rich soil. checking is best, as
it saves labor. On thin land 4x3 feet,
or avon Sv9 iS ho%fo,. fhor ~ 1oce l;c-
lance, while on much Of our rich black
soils and river bottoms the distance
should not be greater than 3H feetx2O
inches, or 3x2 feet. Avoid piling a high
ridge to the corn rows; the nearer the
stalks stand on the level surface of the
soil the better they will stand drought.
AS said before, it is very important to
have the ground in the best possible
condition, even If it retards planting a
week-subsequent growth will make
up the time. Another thing: be sure
to plant plenty of corn. 1t is bread
and meat and money. Corn is king
Farm and Ranch.
Cost of a Bale of Cotton.
Mr.. John w. Starnes, one of Tipton's
farmers, cultivated thirty-fve acres in
cotton last year and made t~wenty-one
bales. The total cost, including rent,
feed of team, labor, picking, ginning,
hauling to market, etc, amounted to
$3.50. so. He sold his cotton in Memphis
and received $525-thus losing $125. so
on the years work. Mr.. Starnes places
his land rent at 81 per acre. which is ca
tirely too much if cultivated in cotton.
Now if the land is actually worth the
amount paid it must be for some
other crop, and being a farmer he
should learn what that crop is, and
devote his labor to it. But we fear
our friend Starnes will continue to
raise cotton on his 4-dollar land and
lose another $125. The casual reader
will conclude from the foregoing state.
ment that Mr.. S. was actually $125 be-
hind on the years work, and he is il
he only made the 81 bales of cotton
He says nothing about the corn,
peas, potatoes, sorghum, vegeta-
bles, butter, milk, hogs, ETC.,
that his team and labor made
while making the cotton-all Of which
went to feed his wife and children, and
which was worth fully the $12s if he
had it all. to buy. Summing the whole
thing up, and comparing his condition
with thousands upon thousands who
are not farmers, and who are dependent
on the business prosperity of the coun-
try (of which there is none) for a liv-
ing, Mr.. Starnes is bound to admitthat
he still belongs to the favored class
and all because he has an occupation
by which he can make q living :
Covington Leader.