The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-29
THE FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO HOUSE
WIFE AND AGRICULTURALIsT.

Cotton Late and Early Planted-Best
Method of CuItivatinE COrn-Po-
tato CuItivation-Growi CauIi-
fower-PIants without seeds.
Availability of Phosphate as Plant
FoOd-Time 10 Prevent Potato
Scab.
1t may be that considerable cotton will
have to be replanted owing to the fact
that the early paintings have been more
or less damaged by the cold weather OF
a week ago. Usually cotton is planted
so thicky it will allow of many plants
being destroyed and yet leave a sufficient
number to produce an average crop II
those that are left come at sufficiently
regular intervals instead of being crowded
all together at varying intervals.
a great many planters commence put
ting seed in the ground too early any
way. There is nothing gained by planting
cotton before the surface soil has warmed
up to the proper temperature for quick
termination. This season especially the
soil was exceptionally cold and wet on
April ! and few farmers probably made
ahead, in their hurry to get the crop in
and out of the wey. and so put the seed
into ground altogether too cold to allow
of prompt termination and normal
growth In such early planting of cotton
the plants nearly always come up irreg-
ularly and make very feeble effort at
growth.
The month for planting cotton in Mid
die Georgia is April, while in South Geor-
gia much of the planting is done in March.
In both sections it would be a good thing
if the period of planting was deferred
at least month. il would avoid ell risk
of injury from belated frosts and obviate
the necessity of replantings. 1t would
give more time. too, for the better prepar-
alton of the soil. Time and again we
have planted cotton as late as June 10 in
Middle Georgia and have been
able to compare the late with
the early paintings and in no instance
have the late paintings suffered in the
comparison. Early planted cotton-that
planted any time before the first of May,
almost invariably loses a large per cent.
OF the squares as the result of drouth
at some time in the fan. We have no.
ticed that late planted cotton-that plant
ed toward the last of May or early in
June is rarely subject to any such loss,
but holds all its squares and bolls to the
end
The cluster varieties of cotton, especial
ly seem adapted to late paintings and
these kinds planted in June will produce
more lint generally than the long-limbcd
sorts planted in April.
Farmers who have their early paintings
killed nv AOri1 frOstS ShOuid bV no means
become discouraged. There is plenty OF
time left to make good the loss. 1t is only
a question of seed and few days running
of the cotton planters. Some farmers
make the mistake OF not keeping ON hand
plenty of seed for such emergencies. Now
adays they keep a very small margin Of
seeds for use, selling all they possibly can
to the oil mills or using them for fer
tilzing. Just enough for one planting is
probably kept and so if there is need for
replauting they are at a loss for the neces-
sary seeds to replant the crop. This is
certainly very unwise In making a lib
eral allowance for tine necessary quanti-
| ty to plant their crop fully two or three
| times the quantity should be held In re-
serve. II perchance they are not NEEDED
they will only make better. seeds the next
year. for one years age improves them
for seed purposes if they are kept per-
| fectly dry.
When the soil is warm one bushe of
good seeds is ample to secure a perfect
| stand