The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-10-09
SOUTHERN FARM :: NOTES.
.d-p.@ d=-p
TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE PLANTER, S1ocxMAH AND TRUCK GROWER.
CultiyatinS Cotton Flat.

In 1901 the shortage Of the cotton
crop, as we'll as of the corn crop, was
due to drouth. This occurred early in
the season, at q time when the corn
needed the moisture most to I'LL out
the ears, and when the cotton was
making its first bolls. 1t continued
long enough to ruin the corn and short
en- the cotton crop at least thirty per
cent. This year again in many parts
Of the country both these crops have
suffered severely. It is evident that
drouth Is ore of the main factors in
shortening u corn and cotton crops
II not the principal one. 1t is therefore
an important question to solve whether
there Is any way to avert the great
losses likely to be caused every year
by drouth.
The experience of farmers In raising
other crops in all parts Of the country
shows very corclusively that to a large
extent the evil effect Of drouth may
be averted. 1t is principally a matter
Of cultivation; the method of cultiva-
ton and frequency Of it. All through
the corn belt" where the bulk Of u
national corn crop is raised, the ridge
row system of raising corn has been
abandoned years ago. They never put
a turn pillow into the ground after the
land has been first broken up. The
cultivation is always level; it Is done
with q two-horse cultivator, which
works both sides Of a row, on every
trip. through the field, and the soil is
not only made fine, but is kept Level.
In case Of drouth it is the custom of
up to date farmers to u through the
corr again, after the final working
with a c%ultivator, that pulver les the
surfaces, but runs very shallow. II
the drouth continues, they 90 through
again, and as often as it seems to be
necessary. Doing this keeps a mulch
Of dust ON the surface which keeps
the moisture from escaping and en-
sures a fair crop, even in case OF long
continued drouth.
If the land were rldeed up in narrow
ridges. it would dry out much sooner
than If kept level, and it would be i'm
possible to keep such a complete dust
mulch. That this plan accomplishes its
purpose has been shown in thousands
Of cases. In many instances where
fields adjoining were in corn, that cul-
tivated by the new system has made
a fairly good crop, when one next to
1t, cultivated on the old plan, made only
a few nubbins. We have not the slight
est doubt that the same rule will ap-
ply to cotton. Then why not adopt
the fat system and frequent shallow
cultivation for cotton, too?
The claims made for the ridge system
are that it stands wet seasons better;
that it kills the grass and weeds in
the row by wrapping them up with
dirt, and that 1t holds up the stalks
and prevents them from being blown
down, to some extent. We do not deny.
the truth Of these claims, but we do
not believe that they begin to compare
in Importance with conserving the
moisture during seasons Of drouth. And
when to this is added that the fat sys-
tenn prevents. on rolling land, much Of
the washing that is s. r%uinous, the tes-
timony in its favor Is immensely
stronger than that for ridge rows. This
matter, the preventing Of damage by
drouth, is one Of infinite Importance.
Every possible means Of abating it
ought to be thoroughly tested. The old
system has been tried till It has ruined
thousands Of plantations and thou
sands Of planters. 1t Is surely time to
get on to a new system.