The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1898-07-07
WORST DR0UTH In
NUMBER OF YEARS
The Spring Planted Oat Crop
Suffers Greatly.
WHEAT NOT so UNLUUKY


and @nce More Points Out the EN-
portance of Thorough Preparations.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA, July L, 1893.
THE DAT CROP.
The drauth which has prevailed for
several weeks throughout the state is
said to be the most severe known, at
this season of the year, for 20 years.
The wheat crop, which is much heavier
than usual, escaped with comparatively
little injury, but the oat crop, particu-
larly the spring planted fields, and more
especially those in which the seed Were
carelessly put in and imperfectly fertil-
lied, has suffered severely-in some sec
tons of the STATE may be denominated a
total failure. We need no better illus
tratlOn OF the Importance of thorough
preparation aud fertilization than is
afforded by the yields of this crop
throughout tie state. The results of
the long continued drouth have most
Sully confirmed the oft repeated asser-
ton that successful cropping depends,
In great measure, on thorough prepare
ton of the soil before the seed are put
In. 1t has been fully demonstrated that
If we take the precaution of providing a
we'll stored reservoir in a deeply pre-
pared seed bed, then when the demand
for moisture comes, and the growing
plants begin to droop for lack of neces-
sary rain from above, Mother Nature
will come to our rescue, and through
the power Of capillary action will pump
mp from the reserve supply, which we
have stored in lower depths, the life
giving, revivifying moisture so neces-
sary for plant growth. Here we have
beautifully illustrated the manner in
which the intelligent farmer may, On
the very blink OF failure, wrest
SUCCESS
from adverse circumstances. If he has
studied natures laws he knows that
when the upper soil becomes dry, if
there is a reserve supply of moisture
stored in the subsoil, the power of capil-
larry action will draw it to the surface.
But his knowledge must not stop here.
He must also have learned that it is i'm
possible to keep this moisture in reach
of the growing plants if crust is al
lowed to form and remain on the sur
face. When that crust remains and is
unbroken, no power can prevent the
evaporation of the moisture which comes
to the surface through the capillary
tubes. 1t is the farmers province and
privilege to SO break up these tubes that
the moisture may be held in check and
In reach of the growing plants long
enough for them to absorb its life giving
properties before they become dissipated
into the atmosphere. To DO this he
must by constant
SHALLOW CULTIVATION
keep thin mulch of finely pulverized
surface soil spread over his fields. The
man who thoroughly understands the
importance of this principle will never
allow a crust to remain on his land
longer than he can run a shallow, broad
furrow to break it up. The need of this
rapid work accentuates the importance
of wide cutting plows and expanding
cultivators.
has often been called the pivotal
month";" because if the work is not
carefully planned and adjusted much of
our previous effort will count for naught.
In Laying by" our crops we should re-
member that the network of delicate
roots just beneath the surface perme-
ates the entire field and that we should
be as careful to avoid injuring these as
we are to prevent the breaking and tear
ing of the leaves and stalks above the
ground.
DURATION OF CULTIVATION.
Flowing at this season should be reg
ulated very much by the habits and
condition of the different crops. For
instance, work in the late maturing,
large growing varieties of cotton may
cease sooner than in the shorter limbed,
early maturing kinds, because when the
growth of these large varieties is thus
checked they begin to take on fruit,
which they would not do to the same
extent if their luxuriant leaf growth
were encouraged by continued cultiva-
ton. On the other hand if the smaller and
quicker maturing varieties are develop
ing favorably, shallow center furrow,
even well into August, will be of bene-
fit. We should always keep in mind
that the object of blowing at this sea-
son is not to break the soil to any depth,
! inch is enough, but to keep down any
incipient weeds or grass, to check evap-
grafton and to promote the access of air
to the plant roots
OTHER WORK FOR THE MONTH.
Peas for forage may be sown until
the last of July, and if encouraged by
an application of acid phosphate and
potash, will store up in the soil for our
future use the third and most important
as well as most expensive element of
plant food-nitrogen. AS we have time
and opportunity we should also decide
on our fall campaign, what crops we
will plant and what fields apportion to
each one. ANY successful
SYSTEM OF ROTATION
must recognize certain fixed laws. The
most important Of these is that crops of
like growth and habits, extracting
the same elements of plant food
from the soil, in similar proportions,
should not follow each other, but should
be succeeded by those which, while de-
handing the same elements, will absorb
them under different conditions and in
different proportions, thus in a measure
eQualizing the draught upon the re.