Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-05-18
Good Advice on chums, Cultivation Of Soil,
Farm implements, Etc.

cublcal, for 1T Is stronger and not liza
BILE to warp. About this time of the
year the vendors Of patent churns
will start out. Do not listen to
them. Go to your hardware store
for churns and not to travelling
agents. Last year large, good
looking man, by the name of Foot,
came here with q sample ehurn, war
ranted to make butter in three min
utes from fresh milk, cream or sour
milk. He was not anxious to sell
churns, but wanted to sell county
rights. He was placed in York jail
few days ago for fraud. There is
a firm in Spartanburg that is out $25
to the same Foot. There is, perhaps,
man in Greenville who has suffered
in the same way if he would admit
it. The swing churn is also good
one, simple, easily managed and
strong. Let these fine travelling
agents alone. Buy no county or
State rights for anything.
CULTIVATE CROPS EARLY.
Farmers cannot begin the cultiva.
tion of their corn and cotton too
early. Weeds and grass are going
to come up with cotton, or q few
days ahead of it. The best and most
effective working may be given with
harrow or weeder and before the
seeds are up. Then missionaries are
needed all over the land to impress
farmers with the idea that keeping
crops clean is not the only object in
working them. killing grass is a
mere incident. If there was not
grass seed in field the cultivation
would be necessary. By stirring the
top soil air and sunlight get into it
and evaporation is cut off. The
moisture below, instead of escaping
in the air, goes to the roots of the
plants and keeps the plant food in
soluble form. Let no one get it into
his head that he will work his crop
certain number of times and no more.
After every rain it would be we'll to
run over the land and break the
crust. Of course, if the showers fall
several days in succession, that can.
not be done. These expanding har-
rows or cultivators are excellent on
smooth land. One may clean corn
or cotton row at one run. BY run
ming close to one side this week and
then close to the other the next it
will keep the top soil broken all the
time. Never plow corn deep after
it begins to send out the lateral roots
across the rows. The shallower the
better. Begin in time, work often,
keep at it. Never let a hard crust
form in the middles.
THE CROW SEASON.
At this time of the year a thought
less farmer will lose day or two
hunting and destroying a crows nest.
He will also fret and fume because
few crows light in his corn field
early in the morning and destroy a
pint or two of grubs and worms.
The crow has bad name, not on
account of the company he keeps,
for he is very aristocratic and quite
particular about his associates. 1t
may be his color that has brought
him into disrepute amongst farmers,
for it is certainly not the harm he
does. The fact is, the crow is very
much like his enemy--man. He has
an idea that the farmer ought to
strike a balance sheet and place his
good deeds over on the credit side
against his wrong doing. The ao-
count would stand about this way {:
On the credit side would be thou
sands of bugs, worms and injurious
insects destroyed. On the other
side would be only few bills of
corn pulled up and q few water
melons pecked. Spare the crows.
They do more good than harm. Gut
worms, bud worms and other insects
destroy fifty times as much corn as
the crows do.
ADVICE TO YOUNG FARMERS. y
There are hundre de of young farm
ers in the State. They begin their
work with high hopes and much en-
thusiasm. That is right. If not
thus inspired, it would be better
for them to give up farming and hire
out by the day. In the first place, if
debts have to be made for land, stock
or supplies, be sure to meet the pay
ment. If before pay day comes you
see that you will not be ready, see
your creditor, make a plain state
ment to him and have fair under
standing. Make friend out of the
man you owe. Do not try to farm
with poor, weak stock and worthless
implements. AS you purchase plows,
harness and the like, get the best.
Get those that will last. Do not buy
according to description and adyer-
tisements. If you need some special
implement that you have never tried
and any of your neighbors are using
it, take a day and 60 and see it at
work. If you find that it has been
lying in the fence corner or under
shelter without being used-let it
alone. Beware of men with patent
labor-saving implements. The hard
ware merchant can supply your
wants. Get in the habit Of keeping
tools and harness in their proper
place. Do not scatter them around.
Get in the garden habit. Never
neglect that. Get flower seed and
rose bushes and give the wife
chance. Mingle with your neigh
bors. Swap days and dinners with
them. Keep on good terms with
them. Work ahead 40 az to give
the wife q day out, even in the busy
season. Remember that when you
are in the field the long afternoons
seem to be about "a hours. In hir-
ing hands to help you make the con-