The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-03-05
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

heavy, which in view Of the previous
deficiency is fortunate for the coming
years crops. But the recent continued
wet weather has somewhat delayed the
final preparations for planting. Where
there has been thorough fall and winter
blowing the farmer is relieved of
much of the vexation and worry of hur-
rieu preparation now. In such cases it
is a comparatively easy matter to COM
plete ali preliminary work.
FLOWING LANDS WHEN TOO WET.
The great danger is that farmers, who
did not take advantage of the fine days
of the fall and winter to keep the plows
going, may be tempted now to pillow
their lands when too wet. In view of
the short time before the crops are to be
planted their anxiety to get their lands
in condition to receive the seed is par.
donable. but no more grievous mistake
was ever male than that OF blowing
when the soil Is reeking with moisture
On the light sandy lands W. may ven
ture sooner after heavy rains than on
our SITTER clay soils, but even there the
greatest discretion should be exercised.
We know the temptation, when time is
pressing and the sun shining, to do this
work at all hazards. but we have seen
fields SO I'M ured by such injudicious
blowing that the effects could not be
eradicated for months afterwards, and
the crops showed "a corresponding falling
off. 1t were better to reduce the in
tended area and put the remainder in
thorough condition than to hasten over
q greater number of acres at such man
ifesC injury TO the land and loss to the
crops, not to mention the additional
annoyance and worry in the subsequent
cultivation OF such injudiciously plowed
fields.
MARCH is A BUSY MONTH
with the farmer i'll many other respects
besides the preparation of the land.
There are terraces and bitches to be kept
III order. After each heavy rain they
should be examined, all breaks repaired
and all weak points strengthened. Al
fences not III repair should be righted.
the fence rows cleared out and the trash
burned. The growth from successive
years should not be allowed to accumu-
late. nor should it be allowed to encroach
further and further each year on the
cultivated land. The fences and fence
corners should be kept clean. BY this
plan we not only preserve an appearance
OF greater neatness. but many destruc-
tive insect and fungus agents. which
are becoming menace to our agricul-
ture, are checked.
FALL PLANTED GRAIN.
If the fall planted grain is not vigor-
Gus but shows IA silky, yellow appear.
ance, it should receive Il top dressing of
some heterogeneous fertilizer, nitrate of
soda or cotton seed meal, the former to
be applied just before rain. from 80 to
100 pounds to the acre; the latter at any
convenient time, about 200 pounds to
the acre.
VINEYARDS, ORCHARDS AND GARDENS
also need looking after. All prunings
accumulated trash and refuse should be
gathered up and burned, for the same
reason that we destroy these harbors for
insect life and fungus diseases Ill our
fence corners, The fruit grower and
gardener should wage a perpetual war
fare ON these enemies, which too often
are allowed TO gain a firm foothOld be-
fore We are aware of their presence, and
then the troubles and expenses from
their depredatious are inevitable. A
touch of
wHrTEwASH
here and there, as opportunity occurs,
should be also regarded as one of the
duties of this early spring month. 1t is
astonishing the power which is in on
barrel of lime, to add to the cheerfulness
and the neatness of farm home, and
Its effect goes through the entire year
1t Is purifier as we'll as beautifier.
Where stables, out houses and even the
dwelling receive thorough coat of
whltewash. inside and out, once year,
sanitary conditions are much improved
and the risk from contagious and infec-
tious diseases much lessoned. Through
out the state March is the
CORN PLANTING MONTH
In the more southern sections planting
is already under way. Necessarily the
most favorable time for this work in
any particular locality must vary some
what with the season, and with local
conditions as so drainage, exposure,
quality of the soil. etc. Well drained,
heavy lands with southern exposure
are known to warm up more rapidly.
ana are therefore more suited for early
planting than where opposite conditions
prevail. and of course the planting sem
son opens earlier Ill the southern than
III the northern sections of the state
Methods of planting also vary with
thest conditions. We have found,
however, that on the greater portion of
our ordinary corn land the double foot
pillow does the most effective work Pre-.
surprising that the land has been thor.
oughly prepared and laid off, (and un.
less the land is rich or very highly ma
nured it is well to give plenty of dis
tance). we would plant in the water
furrow, taking care not to cover the
seed too deeply. Deep covering will do
for later planting. early corn should be
covered lightly, The double foot pIew,
If properly adjusted. does very satisfac.
tory work. leaving slight ridge on the
seed and small furrow on each side
which will protect the seed from any
excess of water settling on them. By
this method the plants will come up
slightly below the surrounding surface.
and at each blowing little dirt can be
thrown towards them until, when the
final laying by" comes. the field is left
practically level. This was the method
so strongly advocated by David Dickson.
and from which he realized such won.
derful results. He maintained that AS
the greatest danger to our corn crop was