The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-07-09
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE,

] FARMERS Beginning to Appreciate the
Importance of the Pea Crop, Etc
DEPARTMENT. OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA. July /, 1896.
Under ordinary conditions this is the
month when well kept farm shows to
the best advantage. Our principal crops
of corn and cotton are progressing, the
former toward early maturity; the
wheat and oat crops have been or are
being rapidly housed, and the forage
crops are well under way The wide
awake farmers has taken 10 chances.
but by careful forethought has planned
for the preparation. planting and cult
walton OF each crop in its season, and
now that the battle is almost won, he
may calculate with reasonable certainty
on the returns for his years work. We
make the above statement advisedly,
| qualified, however. by the condition
that the final workings of these crops
be characterized by the same Judgment
| and care, which have marked the earlier
| periods.
| LAYING By COTTON AND CORN.
A mistake. even now. may Law
low many a ell-considered, well built
| plan. In 'laying by" both corn and
cotton we should avoid any mutilation
OF the delicate roots as carefully as we
would any injury to that part of the
! plant which appears above ground
AS rule, corn should not be plowed
J after the tassel forms, but if, from pre-
vious mlsmanagement or untoward sea-
| sons 1t becomes necessary to break the
| crust or destroy the weeds and grass,
which have sprung up, we should, to
| avoid injury to the roots and leave ex-
| posed as little surface as possible to
evaporation, set the plow to run as
shallow and as level as possible. In
| blowing at this season we should, keep
two objects in view; to prevent evapora-
tion and to promote the free access of
cir to the soil, with rs little root cutting
! as possible. OF course we should be
| guided in part by the growth and condi-.
tion Of the plant, but deep blowing at
this season will almost inevitably cause
the cotton to "shed" its young fruit and
the corn to turn yellow. We have seen
a field of the vigorous, dark green,
/ glossy cotton, so pleasant to the eve of
the experienced farmer, reduced by one
days injudicious blowing to such a
state of collapse as to appear as if sud
den blight had swept over it. Such are
the peculiarities of the cotton plant,
however. that check of. this kind is Of
ten, i'll a great measure, although never
entirely. repaired. But corn once receiv.
Ing such a setback is irredeemably in
1ured. Its season for developments COM
paratively so short that the utmost care
should be exercised in order to promote
its perfect growth. In blowing cotton
at this season some consideration must
also be given to the variety, as well as
the condition of the plant In the large
limbed, late maturing varieties the crop
should be laid by as early as possible in
order to check the leaf growth aud en-
courage the plant to begin taking OH
fruit, for when the plant is growing
rapidly it does not often form fruit at
the same time. On the other hand,
with the smaller varieties, if the crop is
in promising condition, that is, if the
| development of fruit and foliage is
properly ba anced, the surface cultiva.
ton may be continued well into August,
one shallow turrow in the middle being
all that is necessary.