The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-06-26
THE BRICKBAT CROP"

UrlDuted to this paper during the past
year by Mr.. J. B. Hunnicutt, of
Georgia. Mr.. Hunnicutt is now edit
ing the Southern Cultivator, and the
last issue of that paper contains the
following thOught-provoking article
from his pen:
The editor has enjoyed few days
outing among the farmers. Some of
the sights are worthy of record, be-
cause they teach valuable lessons.
The extraordinary wheat crop was a
pleasing sight upon which our eyes
never wearied 1easting. The wave
ripples and the glinting sunlight were
enough to inspire q poet Not little
patches, but broad acres. Great
tields-1nile stretches of the grain
that furnishes the staple bread pro-
duct of this great nation abounded
everywhere. The Southland is not
dead. 1t has only been taking nap
1t has not lost the power to produce
wheat. Only give it a fair chance
and you will see.
A LESSON FROM THE WHEAT.
We saw fields that will yield from
twenty to thirty bushels per acre,
and, right along beside them, fields
that would not yield ten bushels.
The same soil and climate Then why
this great difference?
The answer is easy to find The
preparation was different One field
had been so plowed as to have plant
food ready for the tender roots. The
other had been so scratched that the
plant food was all locked up in clods
and hardpan. The wheat roots could
not get it, because it was not soluble.
Plenty of it was there, but being in
soluble it could do no good. The
wheat could not violate the IGU of it's
| life and use solid food.
When will our farmers learn this
great lesson: That the soil must be
ptllverized bef,re it will give up it's
plant food to the little roots.
THE BRICKBAT CROP.
The largest crop we saw in cultiva-
tion was the sun dried brick6Gt crop.
The land had been plowed when it
was too wet. The spring winds and
sunshine had done their work, and
the fields were filled with millions of
all sizes and degrees of hardness.
None of these, whether as large as a
No. squirrel shot, COW pea, a
marble, a walnut, mans fist or d
mans head can do anything toward
producing crop. They are not only
useless but a direct hindrance to the
roots in seeking food for the growing
plant. No crop can get nourishment
from a clod. Only that part Of the
soil which would pass through fine
sieve will help any in making crop.
How much of your soil will do this?
Only that much is helping you to
grow crops Everywhere, on hills
and in valleys, on upland and low
land the fields were filed with these
sundried brickbats. The only legiti-
mate result was everywhere ap-
parent The crops are small and the
plants feeble.
Occasional exceptions furnished
strong proof of the above truth.
Wherever a field had been rightly
treated. the crOD was fine.
THE CROP OF HARDPAE.
Just under a few inches Of clOds
and soil we found the hGrdpG9a. This
was the rule. In very many places
the Heaven-sent blessing-rain for
the watering of the crops had washed
off the little scratched-up soil and the
hardpan was on top. Quilted hill
sides greeted us everywhere. Where
this had been the case much of the
little plowed soil had lost all the
soluble part by washing, and only
the coarser inso1uble particles we're
left.
When will our farmer friends learn
to plow deep enough to break Up this
hardpan and stop all this washing?
When will they quit plowing up and
down hill and go only upon a level?
Good farming must begin here. We
hope the day is not far distant.
Never plow when the soil is wet.
Always plow deep when preparing
your land. Break up the hardpan
and pulverize the clods now in your
fields as soon as possible by using all
kinds of harrows, rollers, drays and
dust brooms. Get your soil deep and
fine. Then you can and will get
large crops. We shall continue this
subject until the farmers get the