The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-06-01
SOUTHERN {: FARM :: NOTES,
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TOPICS oSTEREs7 S7ocKaAHAH0 TRUCK e8se
this soil should be given under the

this soil should be given under the
conditions named.
Answer: Much Of the so called
abandoned land in the SoIth can be
brought into condition 10 produce very
good crops in comparatively short
time. all things considered. The land
in question should first be broken deep
ly. Probably this land has not had
good plowing in twenty years: some
of it perhaps never since it was re-
claimed from the primeval forest. This
may seem like an exaggerated state
ment, but in many sections the prac-
tice has been to simply break out the
middles between the old corn rows,
bed up and replant to corn, cotton or
tobacco. Good plowing, therefore, is
the first essential for reclaimiDg the
soil. OF course, the land should not
be broken too deeply in the beginning;
say. commence with six inches, then
at the next plowing 90 to eight and
then to ten. and aim eventually to turn
the land at least twelve inches deep.
If the sub-soil is very heavy and tena-
ciouS use a sub-soil in the fall. When
the land has been thoroughly broken
work down we'll with disk and har-
row until good seed bed is prepared,
and then SOW in COW peas. soy beans
or such other leguminOus crops as will
grow to advantage in the vicinity OF
Richmond. 1t is best as rule to sow
COW peas and soy beans in drills twen-
ty-four to thirty-siX inches apart and
cultivate So as to destroy weeds and
hasten growth.
Before planting the crops it would
be advisable to use complete fertil-
izer on the land, say ut the rate Of 100
pounds of 16 per cent acid phosphate
and so pounds of muriate of potash.
AS soon as the peas or beans come up
a light application of nitrate Of soda
at the rate of 80 pounds per acre will
be an advantage on land in this con-
dition. On land cultivated in peas
for several years it would not be nec-
essary to use the nitrate, but in this
instance it will be an advantage. The
peas and beans may be grazed down
with hogs or made into hay. The hay
will bring $40 to So a ton and you
can obtain from 400 to GOO pounds OF
pork from each acre Of land and have
great mass Of vines and leaves left
to turn under early in the fall. This
will make an admirable seed bed for
winter wheat or rye. which may then
be seeded down to grass.
In the section of the State mentioned
some Of the stronger growing varie-
ties may be used. For pasture, or
chard grass. meadow fescuc, red top
and red or alsike clover may be used
to advantage When the land is in
better condition timothy may be used
with fair success. Under present con-
ditions tall oat grass, orchard grass
and red top will be most likely to prove
satisfactory for hay production. This
combination will provide satisfactory
hay.
BY this method Of treatment the land
can be made to pay something on the
investment from the beginning. and
If green manures, as provided through
leguminous crops. are used freely and
the crops raised feed on the land and
the manure put back on the soil 1t
will improve rapidly in q compara-
lively short time. AS rule these
soils need phosphates and in many
instances potash as well, so that these
forms Of plant food should be supplied
in liberal amounts. AS rule, per-
SoGs who have farms Of this kind to
deal with attempt to reclaim too much
at once. and the undertaking embar-
rasses them and proves Improbable
as we'll. Go slowly but do the work
thoroughly and remember that persist
ent cultivation. followed up with
good crop rotation means salvation
in the long run.-Knoxviue Journal
and Tribune.