Southern world : journal of industry for the farm, home and workshop. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1882-18??, November 01, 1882, Image 3

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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, NOVEMBER 1, 1882. 8 meat, first, in placing in order furniture, pictures, busts, brackets and various knick- nacks that tell so much of the refinements of a true home wherever it may be, or however bumble, and a little labor in directing the formation of flower beds and walks around the bouse, and setting out roses and budding plants, in rooting and planting oleander slips, in sowing thunbergia and other rapid growing vines, in procuring from the neigh boring hammocks yellow jasmine, creepers, scarlet honeysuckle, bona noz and other thrifty vines to the manor born. They all looked very small and puny at first, and it seemed almost ridiculous to hope to see the oleanders become trees, or the vines cover the latice-work around the porch, or to dream that the two-feet high orange trees, set out from a grove near by, would ever be large enough to support one orange, not to say thousands of that luscious golden fruit. It will be just four years this present month, since this work of creating a home out of the wilderness was commenced; the oleanders tower aloft higher than the roof, and mingle theii fragrant pink flowers across the carriage way. The roses —that came to us in cigar boxes—run riot over frames and cover one end of the house, reaching above the attic window at the peak of the roof and disputing the march of a noble English ivy; verbenas cover the ground in luxuriant masses never seen at the North, petunias flourish and bloom, sometimes becoming perennials, while for six months or more, phlox of all conceivable colors and shades, make the ground ane bril liant mass of color, sowing itself season after season, just as buttercups, daudelions, vio lets and daisies dot the fields at the North. The viues have clambered to the very top of the lattice in one tangled mass, and spread out below into a dense moss of foliage. The evening jasmine towers above the piazza roof, shading one end completely, and tilling the air with much delicate fragrance, almost too powerful however, as the sun goes down. More important than all, the back-bone of a Florida home, the orange grove trees have aspired above their two feet stature into goodly trees of eight to ten feet high; lime trees, one foot high when planted four years ago, tower to the attic windows and are loaded with fruit; guavas, grown from seed sown two years ago, this season bore fruit enough to supply the table, Florida lemon trees are loaded with yellow fruit, and some tine budded aorta will bloom a few months hence. All this in four years from the wilderness, with no commercial fertilizers, and on excep tionally poor soil. So you see it is not so fearful a thing as it looks to be, this making a home in the Florida woods. We have not thus related our own experi ence from egotism, but because we could bet ter thus depict the methods and result of in telligent, refined labor, and so dispel the dread that is doubtless felt by many would- be Florida settlers, at the idea of starting a new home out of virgin materials and on virgin soil. Following Far lata Furman. The Katonton (Ga.) Chronicle gives the fol lowing colloquy on the Btreets of Milledge- ville between a Putnam farmer and a gentle man Bitting in front of a store near the post- office: Putnam farmer.—*' How is that Furman can get kainit at about $14 a ton, and they want to ask me $35 in Eatonton ?" Milledgeville man.—“ I don’t know. Do you want to farm like Furman ?” p. F.—“ Yes, if we could make money like he does, we all better go at it.” M. M.—" Now look here old man, you bet ter let well enough alone—farm like Fur man! and I will be swamped if you don't wear patched breeches the balance of your days." P. F.—“ Do you reckon so? By George, I don't want my breeches to be any worse than they are now.” M. M.—** Then be content and let Furman farming alone, it costs him 30 cents to make a pound of cotton." p. F.—“ Yes, but PU be blamed if I ain’t going to try it anyhow. You’ll be surprised to see me come rushing down from Putnam in a few years to Milledgeville drawn by a coach and four I” M. M.—‘‘Yes! very much surprised.” The circumstances that once surrounded our fathers no longer envelope us. Times have changed and we must wake up to that change, or we will be left in the race. We have a glorious country—glorious in its cli mate—glorious in its soil, and hallowed to us by those tender and endearing associations that ever duster around the name of home. £jwnrtnw\t. Farm Work for November. SOWING QBAIN. Owing to the dry weather that prevailed during the greater part of October, a large portion of the area intended for oats must be sown in November or lie over until after Christmas. If we were asked whether it would be better—all things considered - to sow in November than defer until spring, we would answer, yes, it would be wise to sow now, even in Middle and North Georgia and corresponding latitudes, provided the seeding and manuring be heavy and the vrain covered rather deeply. Where all other circumstances are equal the fall sown are so much more certain of a good yield than spring sown, that it is better to run the risk of winter killing—which is all that is to be feared. The plowing and harrowing is a good preparation for spring sowing the same land in case of winter killing; and the seed will not be a heavy loss with the present plenty and low prices. Of course in further South, November is about the best time to sow. OATUKRINQ COTTON. The weather, since Sept. 10th, has been ex ceedingly favorable to the rapid maturing and opening of the cotton, and November will find but little in the fields to pick. The work, however, should be pressed just as rapidly as may be consistent with proper attention to other duties. December is usually an unfavorable month for any ex cept heavy, active work, and the cotton re maining on the stalks until then will be injured in value much more than the extra expense that may be incurred in getting it out now. CANE AND SIRUP. The season for grinding cane and making sirup in the sections where the “ribbon cane” is planted, is now close at hand, and all ar rangements should be perfected for the work, so that, when it is begun, there will be no clash or unnecessary interruption. Let the fuel be prepared, the mill and kettles, or pans, overhauled, barrels made ready. The improved evaparators are far superior, for sirup and sugar making, to the old style iron kettle. The well made and mounted 2-roller Southern mill is about as good os any and costs less than the Northern made 3 roller, iron frame mills. In making sirup and sugar a saccharome- ter is so convenient and reliable that when once tried it will be found indispensable. It is a gloss Instrument costing about one and half dollars, and is used just like the gravity test employed by dealers in spirits. The saccharometer is placed in a deep cup-full of the nearly finished sirup and the height at which it stands—as shown by the graduated scale on the stem of the instrument—indi cates when the sirup is “done," thus ena bling the operator to make, with certainty, any quality desired or a uniform quality. POTATOES. In a previous number we were somewhat particular in suggestions about digging pota toes. At this writing no frost has yet occur red sufficient to arrest the growth of vines. But after Nov. 1st it is not safe to postpone digging, and if the ground is dry and growth suspended, the crop should be housed at once. Those having a surplus of potatoes will do well to enquire into the matter of freight rates to the northwest, with a view to shipping to that Bection. Mr.' Joseph M. Brown, General Freight Agent, Western aud Atlantic Railroad, has arrauged a liberal tariff of rates with special view to encourage and facilitate profitable shipments of this crop, and we have now before us a copy of Special General Tariff, Jto. 1. The rates on po tatoes in car load lots(24,000 lbs.) to several points in the North and West are as follows: From Atlanta to Cairo, 111. 20 cts. per cwt. “ “ “ Chicago, “ 30 “ “ “ “ “ "Cincinnati, 20" “ “ “ “ “ Louisville, 20" “ “ Dealers in provisions should examine these rates aud make an effort to inaugurate the business of shipping potatoes to these distant markets. They are lower than liave ever been offered in the past. We presume corresponding low rates may be secured over other or connecting routes by dint of effort. The opportunity afforded to develop the western market for our potatoes should not be neglected. SOWING GRASS. September is the proper month for sowing grass seeds of all kinds, but October is quite as favorable a time provided the winter does not prove es vere. Up to the 19th of the past month the ground bas been so dry that it was hot practicable to properly prepare it and see urea stand, where the work was not done in September. In the lower portion of the Gulf Slates grass seeds may be sown even in November with fair prospect of suc cess, tevere cold being the only danger. Heavy seeding and good manuring on well prepared land are the prime requisites to success. THE HOG PEN. As the weather grows colder a large quan tity of corn or other fattening food will be necessarily consumed in laying on a given weight of flesh and fat. Au ear of corn fed in October is worth two fed in January. Push the hogs, giving them all they will eat and changing their food occasionally. Try a mixture of cotton seed meal with potatoes. The meal is well suited to producing flesh as well os fat. Give charcoal frequently and occasional meal of turnips or collards. Get ready to kill by the first good cold spell which almost invariably occurs about the middle of November. There is little gained by feeding fat hogs in cold weather—better put them in the smokehouse. K. Green Oats. Editor Southern World.—Please answer in your next issue, about how many pounds of oats—cut in a green state, or just before maturing, for hay—can be grown on one acre of land that will grow three-fourths of a bale of cotioa? J. H. IIines. Aiken, S. C. Answer.—It depends very much on the kind of oats whether low growing or tall. We cannot give an exact or even a very sat isfactory answer as we do not remember to have seen a table showing the relative weight of green and cured oats. It would probably be near the mark to say that such an acre of land would produce not less than six to eight tons of green oats—cut at the stage firmaking hay, and that when cured would weigh from one-third to one-hulf as much. R. Editor Southern World—Many of our farmers say, from experiment, that cotton seed is not a good manure for barley. Is that so, and if so, why ? When is the best time to plant Bermuda grass, in the fall or spring? J. N. C. Due Weet,S. C. Answer.—We have never before heard that cotton seed was not a good manure for barley, and know of no reason why itshould not answer as well for oats, a grain of simi lar character. The chemical composition of barley, oats and wheat is so nearly the same that a manure that is good for one will be good for all. Oats require more ammonia and soluble silica and slightly more lime, and rather less phosphoric acid, but the dif ference is too small to indicate any material diflerence in the composition of the fertil izer required for each. Burley is more par ticular as to soil, and does not yield satisfac- factory results on poor land. March is the best time to set Bermuda, but It will do well if set in April, May, or June if not very dry. In the southern part of your State any time during the first four months of the year will do. B. Uesult* of Co-operation. Editor Southern World.—I wrote to you giving a synopsis of what our Grange at this place had accomplished, f. e. we have organ ized a Farmers Co-operative Store which has now been in successful operation for three years. It affords me much pleasure to in form you that the store is still booming; but that’s not all, I told you of another enter prise which we had in contemplation and that 1 wanted some advice from you on the subject, (which you kindly gave and I take this opportunity to thank you for it), a steam mill and giu. I promised to write to you and let you know of our progress. I have waited this long awaiting the development of our undertak ing. We commenced on a capital subscrip tion of four thousand dollars, and by the first of June we had on our grounds a 30 horse power engine and saw rig which cost over two thousand dollars. Our machinery is all on brick foundation and in an open field. Without even a shelter over the engine, we commenced to saw lumber. To- duy we have a commodious bouse, two stories high, 60 feet long by 32 feet wide, to gether with a shed 60x32 to cover engine and saw rig, all of which is covered with an iron roof, the iron alone costing over three hundred dollars. The lumber which we con sumed in the building, (all of which we sawed ourselves), Is worth in this market over five hundred dollars. We have just stopped the saw and commenced to gin, for which purpose we purchased a seventy saw Carver gin with feeder and condenser com plete. The gin has been running just three days. The first day we ginned and baled out nine bales, the second, we ginned and baled out ten bales, the third, we ginned and baled out twelve bales, and our foreman asserts that he will gin twelve bales every day with ease, from sun up to sun down. But to-morrow is mill day and as we have a first class eorn mill, made by Manmon & Nordyke which also rests on a brick foun dation, a number of the association will be present to see it make a start, which we feel assured will give satisfaction. The gin, mill and press will be run simultaneously. AVe have been able so far to pay off all bills and accounts at maturity, and by the 1st of December next, we will not owe a dol lar on the whole enterprise. What do you think? The association is not satisfied yet. They sav they must have a Plantation cotton seed oil mill also. So Mr. Editor I will have to call on you again for information. Where and by whom are these Plantation mills manufactured? Please auswer at your earliest convenience and oblige. Jno. T. Malone. Capleville. Tenn. DEKALB'S MODEL FABMER. Editor Southern World.—At each month ly meeting of our Farmer’s Club at Decatur, a committee is appointed to visit and report upon the farm of one or more of the mem bers. The committee appointed for that purpose visited the farm of Mr. George Webb, and to any farmer who is considering seriously the question, whether farming can be made to pay upon ordinary soil, the re port of the committee will be of exceeding interest. “ Mr. George Webb’s farm inspect ed—10 acres in cultivation with one mule He harvested 250 bushels of oats on 9 or 10 acres, 43 bushels of wheat on 4% acres, 12 acres in upland corn, 4 acres in cotton, in fine condition, (August.) While not a carpenter, Mr. AVebb built his dwelling house and picket fence around yard and garden, all of which are painted. He has au orchard of 250 trees and a small vine yard. He owns 65 acres, 50 of which he pur chased in 1870, on credit and paid for it wholly from the products of the farm. He has one mule, one cow and several hogs. His farming tools, buggy, wagon and stock are all well housed and preserved. His fences are in fine order. He has eleven large gates and many small ones all swinging upon their hinges, instead of dragging upon the ground." The discussion of the report drew out the following facts: Mr. Webb uses the gourd for a dipper. He is at home when not away on business or at some meeting of his church or Sunday- school. Coming to maturity during the " war be tween the States ” and marrying the year after its close (1866) he found it necessary to attend school four months in 1868. At the time of marriage, neither he nor bis wife had aught but their scanty wardrobes and 2 beds of the Confederate make. For four years after marriage he labored for wages or on shares on the land of others. In 1870 he bought 50 acres on time and paid 8 per cent, on the purchase price; with a small mule given him by his father and 16 acres of open land he went to work with a determined spirit and paid $200 on the land the first year and in 3 years paid every cent of the amount due. His wife being in feeble health necessitated the employment/)! con siderable labor in the house and the payment of doctor's bills, so it will be seen that he succeeded by square, hard and constant work and severe economy. After this his wife received from her father’s estate as her share, 15 acres of land, and a buggy which to-day looks like anew one. From 1870 to date, Mr. AVebb has never bought $5.00 worth of meat, but has sold as high as $40.00 worth in one year.. Mr. Webb states that his money is raised about one half from cotton and the other from farm, orchard and garden crops. He sells something every month. In January 1882 he sold about $10.00 worth, February $36.00; March, April and May $2.50 each, June $10 00, July $14.00; August $22.00. The products of the poultry yard and sur plus butter belongs to his wife and she uses the money to pay for necessary labor about the house and dry goods. Mr. Webb keeps a memorandum book in which he records all money received and paid out. To a member of the committee he said that then his Indebtedness was $12.00. He is liberal in all matters of charity and religion. There is probably not one acre of what might be called rich land on Mr Webb's farm. It was worth $650.00 in 1870* but could now be sold, easily for $1,650.00.' Its productive capacity has been increased fourfold. He has no advantage in any re-