The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-06-23
FARMER AND PLANTER.
SEASONABLE SUGGESTIONS.
A Few Hints to the Cotton and Corn Plant
Or that May be Considered
as Timely.
FIRST WORKING,

- NoAA Al ID Ao" IAiAIy
opened. The main crops have been
planted, are up and growing, and cul-
tivation must be vigorously pushed.
Grass is also up, the terrible May
grass, and must be promptly killed.
Where It can be reached by the pillow,
this is easily done, for it is is still
small and is readily covered and
smothered. But in the drill it may
escape and give a world of trouble
later on. Especially if the soil be dry,
it is liable to be busted over by the
hoes, and remain unseen. until a
rain comes, uncoycrs it and pushes
it into active growth. The most
grassy crops we ever saw were pre-
ce'led by a dry May. BE not lulled in
TO fatal security now because grass
makes little show. Sec that the hoes
DO their wcs'l thoroughly.
RUNNING ROUND COTTON.
1t is common practice to run around
young cotton and follow with the hoes
If the blowing is separated from the
hoeing by an interval sufficiently. long
for the grass covered by the pillow to
die, 1t may be we'll; otherwise the hoes
in good measure undo the work of the
pillow, both uncoveriug grass and remov-
ing the mulch of loose earth around
The young plants. Moreover, one can
act well hold back the hoes for any
length of time. 1t is better therefore, to
ACE in advance OF the plows. let
the latter cover up any grass that the
noes may have left and throw some
dirt to the young plants, which are
often left with the dirt so drawn from
them as to be easily toppled over. a
Kind of compromise between the two
methods may be made, so as not to hold
back either plows or hoes, by starting
noes and plons at opposide sides of the
crop, SO to speak, and when they meet.
start the plows where the hoes began,
and set the hoes to work where
the plows began. 1t is very desir-
able to follow the hoes at once
with the p!ow, and if the practice
of running round in advance of the
hoes is adopted it is well to detail one
or more plows to follow close up be-
hind the hoes, and let the others con.
tinue the work Of running round. The
crop is left in much better shape when
the pillow follows close behind the hoes.
Grass is more apt to be covered up, the
young plants are properly hiiied up
AMI d mulch of loose earth covers the
surface, which serves the double pur.
pose OF reta;ng moisture and prevent
ins more grass from coming up, be-
cause grass seed will not terminate in
loose, comparatively dry earth.
SECOND WORKING OF CORN.
Whilst a deep working of corn in its
| earliest stage Is advisable to encourage
deep-rooting, this is not advisable "a,
its second working. By this time The
| root development mas been very great
the roots have taken possession Of al
the soil within reach, and should moi
be broken Or disturbed.
We have often seen plows when
| taken out OF the ground at end:
| OF rows, with wads of corn root.
| hung an them. Surely these root:
served some good purpose in the econ
omy OF the plant and should not hay,
been destroyed. For tbs second ant
| later workings the heel-scrape answer:
admirably. especially for upland corn
| 1T will ettcc,uaiiy kill grass and weed
II these have not been allowed to max,
too much Roadway, and will leave tn,
surface comparatively level, IL very i'm
! portant matter.-Southern Cultivator