The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-04-11

We See any Variation III the Qepln OF
blowing, all crops being prepared fer
alike, An ignorant or indifferent plow.
man has no idea OF the Importance of,
his work. Crooked or uneven burrows,
varying as to the width and depth,
III axe the work hard on the man and
hard Oh the mule, while a'failure to as,
Certain on this point the requirements
OF the different crops to be planted Of
ten entails mnch unnecessary work,
with pa,t, uhy inadequate returns.
Good ploW.ac not only requires prac-
tice but observation as well, the close
scrutiny, which will enable the farmer
to profit by error as we'll as by success.
In their eagerness TO push on the
work, farmers often under present ur.
gent conditions, are tempted to plow
the land when too wet. No greater
mistake was ever made, for while some
thing may be gained in present speed.
the end is no amount of bother and
worry. Land once plowed too wet
does not recover during that crop sea-
son, and often its disastrous effects ex-
tend into the following year. A mis-
take of almost equal gravity is to allow
the unplowed fields to stand after
rain until hard crust is formed. If
possible run heavy harrow over the
surface before it becomes too dry. This
will prevent the crust from forming,
prevents evaporation and keeps the
land in good condition until the regu.
lar pillow comes along.
Another important point is to re-
member that at this season it is of no
benefit to turn any quantity of the
subsoil to the surface, that should have
been done in the fall 1t is too late
now for it to be acted upon by sun and
air and rain, that it may furnish addi-
tional plant food for this years crop.
For corn, plow deep, but instead of
bringing the subsoil to the surface, use
subsoil pillow, or follow the ordinary
turning pillow with a long scooter in
the same furrow, thus leaving the
subsoil broken, but in the bottom
of the furrow. This may seem slow
work when one is pressed for time, but
thorough work in preparation pays the
biggest returns. 1t has been repeated
~ demonstrated that half the area,
with proper and careful attention to de-
tails, yields greater profit and with
less hard work, than twice the number
of acres poorly prepared, insufficiently
MANFRED and hastily and carelessly
cultivated. With the low prices which
now prevail for all varieties of farm
produce, we should direct our energies
more than ever to increasing the yield
of each acre, for the cost of production
can be decreased more effectualiy in
this way than in any other.
Let US glance for moment at some
of the advantages of this plan. First,
less horse power and consequently a
smaller pillow and blacksmith bill. Sec
ond, the improvement to the land,
which instead of becoming poorer and
poorer each year, is steadily building
up under the heavier application of
manure and the more judicious man
agement. Again, a smaller outlay in
the matter of labor, just now a very
heavy and risky item, also, the ability
to select better land and better labor,
having the privilege of choice. In the
substitution of manure and improved
machinery and implements for labor
much can also be done. In other words,
the true policy on the ordinary farm
lands of Georgia is to select the best
and concentrate on them the effort and
the manure which we have been in the
habit of spreading over twice the area
The time for planting all crops has
beel of course greatly delayed, but af-'
ter our experience of last spring, we
should not be discouraged. In many
| sections of the state the corn is not vet
planted; in others, this work is finished
and the cotton land now claims atten-
| ton.
SWEET POTATOES
| should not be set out too early, though
the slips may be ready the latter part
of this month 1t is better to put out
the main crop in May and June The
labOr of cultivation is less, the yield is
equally as good, and the tubers keep
better. We can hardly over estimate the
value of this crop, and even with the risk
from loss in keeping, we would advise a
heavy crop. Hogs will gather and fat
ten on them, and there is nothing that
makes cheaper or sweeter pork than
sweet potatoes.
Again, | would call attention to bull.
letin No 25, on "Sweet Potatoes, ="
from the Georgia experiment station,
which can be secured on application to
Director R. j. Redding; Experiment,
Ga.
Don't forget the crops for the hogs.
A pasture of Bermuda grass cannot be
excelled; then the sorghum, roasting
roasting ears, spanish ground peas,
field peas, etc.
R. T. NEsBITT, Com.
FARM MODELS FOR THE COTTON STATES
AND INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION.
The department of agriculture would
call attention to the valuable object
lesson contained in the following, which
we hope thousands of farmers will
study.
One of the most interesting and in.