The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-23
SOWING GRAIN.
Early Sowing Important-Make 0at Crop
a Specially.

Tnis is the 10 onlh 10 commence grain SOW
ing Usual y there Is an Inclination I" dele
this Important work TILL later time-eVtn
TIL November. This is because the work OF
gathering cotton Ia pressing; but this should
not prevent the cow ug OF grain. as one man
with a single or double team can accomplish
much. Tue man may be spared from In
cotton picking. while the others are eGgagfd
In this work. 1t IL u mistake to let the gain
eIiug OF The crop iuteriere with this impor-
tdnt work. II IL true, there may 0e rain, IN
juring the cotton 10 some extent. But u
lakes quite an amount OF rain 10 90 uiuch
harm and It Is never possible 10 have all Tue
eadton pick ed and housed, when every tnoIt
has been made Some will be exposed 10 The
weather, anyway. 1t IL far better 10 take
time to SOW the grain, and the better The
preparation given, the more probability OF
good crop next spring. 1fthere IL not lime 10
do any extra preparation. then II Will do just
to plow the seed IN, thus breaking the ground
only one time. On goLd SOIL this will give
good results.
or late years. It has become the practice TO
put grain in drill 8. especially oats. II IL done
10 ipreVent winter killing. This is the safer
way to plant the oat crop. II the harrow can
be used before planting. The soil will be ine d
and so q stand assured with less seed. II IL
best TO cover the seed some depth-perhaps
Two or three inches-whether broad.casted or
drilled. II the sowing Of the grain Is done In
September or October, there will be less like
nhood Of winter-killtng, as the plants will
have time before winter weather TO take a
firm hol in the ground As much care
the spring-planted crops. II is quite difficult
to make enough corn 10 last The year ronnd.
In fact, II is not necessary II grain, particu.
larly oats. is planted.
The latter supplement the corn crop. and
come at q time when q change Is beneficial.
At no time will good, thorough plowipg be OF
greater benefit than in preparing for fall
crop, but just the reverse should be true.
Thorough plowing. either with one or two
horse plows. and narrowing to break clods,
cotton seed or cotton seed meal, or acid, can
be used, either siDgly or In com binatiop. II
will pay TO do so. II looks like long time
from fall till spring, but whatever fertilizer Is
soii through the winter and be ready TO feed
the plants when gbowth commeDces in
spring. 1t IL not probable that even the nj
trogen OF cottonseed meal will be lost, unless
the soil itself is washed away. It is only The
quickly available nitrate OF soda that is best
reserved till spring and applied as top dress
ing. 1t is expensive. but those who use II
think It pays we'll. However for most per-
sons IT Will probably be economy to grow the
nitrogen In the soil by planting peas.
Many are intending To plant grain this fall /;
there are many others who are Indifferent.
These should awaken to The Importance OF
sowing some grain-particulsrly oats: AT
least two acres OF good land should be plant
ed for each work animal. More would better.
ofthe.way hooks. This would be doing an
injustice 10 yourself, and to the grain. 1t de-
serves a better fate than this. The soil of the
South is In much need Of q rotation OF crops,
and by sowing grain this TALL step In that
direction will be taken. After the grain next
spring will come pes-crop, and after that
perhaps another cotton crop:
Oats should claim the largest share OF at
tantion, but II there IL a good loan or red
clay soil, wheat may be safely planted.
Should rust come In the spring, II will not
generally be destructive. All the home ma
nures should be carefully saved and applied
TO the grain crop. and then as much OF the
commercial kind as can be used.
II will pay the farmers OF the South to be-
come grain farmers as we'll as cotton farmers.
T. will be best for the man, and for the land.
Farming is q business, and as such must be
that will help to make 1t profitable and easier
should be encouraged. Grain growing will