The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-09-05
HARVEST TIME
NEAR AT HAND
Crops Now Rapidly Advancing
Towards Maturity.
FALL PLANS FOR THE FARMERS

Glover, Rye, Wheat, Oats, Eto.-Saving
the COrnstaIk-CommissiOn of Agri-
culture Nesbitt's Monthly Letter to Til
lers of the Soil In Georgia.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA, Sept. l, 1897
THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING IN FALL
CROPS EARLY.
During the early part of August the
weather, as a rule, was most favorable,
and the bountiful crops reported from
almost every section of the south are
now rapidly advancing towards ma
turity.
These favorable seasons also put the
lands in fine condition for the prepare
tory work of blowing, narrowing, etc.,
in order to be ready for the sowing of
fall crops of grass, clover, rye, wheat,
oats, etc. The burrows will turn easily
and be just at the most favorable angle
for proper narrowing, and the seed bed,
when narrowed and made fine, will be
in Just the proper condition to promote
the rapid termination and favorable
growth of the little plants. In ex.
ceptional cases farmers have already
laid the foundation for successful fall
crops by deep and thorough blowing
of the land, and with them, at least, it
now only remains to get the surface in
fine, smooth condition and then put in
the seed. The sooner this is done in
the present month the better-the ten
der plants will thus have a chance to
get a firm roothold before the early
30 ohaol1 fhoi-s or
course if this work has not already been
done it may still be undertaken. but
each days delay dlminishes the chances
of success. In previous numbers we
have dealt very fully with the questions
of preparation, fertilization, seeding,
etc.
SAVING THE CORN CROP.
We cannot believe that farmers will
persist in wasting such large part of
their corn crop, as has been the uniVer-
cal practice in the past. when once
they are convinced that the alleged
value of cornstalks is no "fake" or fan
ciful picture of impractical "book farm.
ers," but a simple. clear fact, which has
been abundantly proven. Seeing is
believing" however, and each man can
prove for himself whether it be true or
false Even at the far south, where the
climate would seem a serious drawback,
the plan of cutting down and curing
the whole stalk as been tried most sue
cessfully. Let each man at the south
but experiment in this matter with a
few rows of his corn crop and the
dreaded and laborious job of fodder
pulling" will be forever banished from
our fields. Chemical analysis has DEM
onstrated that even in the bare corn.
stalks, usually left standing in our
fields, is contained very large part of
the nutritive and fertilizing values of
the crop. Does it not seem strange
agricultural paradox, that we deliber-
ately throw away that which it has cost
us so much to produce, and which is
known to be highly valuable for stock
foodI A few additional hints on the
process of cutting and curing the whole
stalk may not be amiss, for although
much has been said and written on this
subject, the directions, as a rule, apply
to our northern and western neighbors,
rather than to our own locality, where
peculiarities of climate and sea-
son render certain variations and
precautions in the usual process
imperative. When the corn in the ear
is well glazed it is an infallible sign
that the stalk has finished it's work and
has taken up from the soil all the nutri-
ment which it is capable of doing.
When this stage is reached, the corn
tops will wither and the crop is said to
be fully ripe. 1t is at this stage that
the stalks should be cut off quite close
to the ground. A man with sharp hoe
can soon learn to cut four or five acres
III the morning The stalks should not
be allowed to lie on the ground over
night, as the heavy dews usual at this
season will prove injurious. What is
cut in the morning should be gathered
up and shocked in the afternoon. If
the stalks are very large and heavy,
fewer should be put i'll a shock than
where the growth is smaller. About
1tO to 200. or even 800 stalks, according
to size, may be safely put in each shock.
The shocks should be allowed to stand
in the field until perfectly cured-any
where from three to six weeks. AS soon
as thoroughly cured they should be
hauled to the barn and stored for future
use, leaving the ear on if desired. Or,
IT preferred. the shredder may be called
into service at once, and as the crop Is
hauled from the field it may by this
machine be converted into a finely
shredded and valuable forage. The ma
one side and the remainder of the plant,
stalk. leaves, shucks and top is utilized,
without the loss of a single part. If the
crop is to be stored without shredding
care should be taken to place each
stalk in an upright position; If laid
fiat one on the other, there is danger of
injury. If the shredder is not available
good feed cutter, which will pay for
itself in short while, as they are not
costly. will cut up the cured stalks as
they are needed into half inch lengths,
and if this is sprinkled with little salt
or salt water it makes a splendid stock
food. Analysis has shown it to be far
superior to cotton seed hulls in feeding
value. A southern farmer, who has
had much experience in shocking and
saving his corn crop, says it will facili-
tate the work If the following plan is
adopted: Take piece of scantling 1x5
inches and feet long. Sharpen at one
end so that it can be driven into the
ground. About feet from the ground
nail on two pieces about feet long.
These should be nailed on at right an
giles to the upright and to each other.
In making the shocks lay dozen or so
cornstalks at a time in the alternate
crotches formed by the nailed on boards,