The Southern agriculturist. (Savannah ;) 1868-????, September 01, 1872, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Wheat Culture. The experience of tlio pr\st few years has completely exploded the theory which used lo he so generally entertained, namely, that wheat is an uncertain crop at the South, and that it does not pay to raise it. The wheat harvest of this year has been unusually abundant, and wherever the greatest pains were taken in the preparation of the land, selection and sowing of the seed, application of ma¬ nure, rolling, etc., there the yield was largest and most remunerative. The time is now nearly at hand to prepare the land for seeding, and those who desire to reap abundantly next June, must see that the pre¬ paration now is thorough, and by thorough preparation wc mean, close, deep plowing, complete subjugation of weeds arid grass, deep subsoiling, as fine pulverization of the soil to as great a depth as possible, and a lib¬ eral application of manure suited to wheat, where the land is not naturally rich. Soil for wheat cannot be too fine and comminuted, but it must not be left too loose and open, as is often the case with stubble land. It should bo worked down to make a good bed, and this can bo most effectively done by the use of the harrow or the roller. Where stubble is turned under, if the work has been done so as to turn the stubble under completely, the rest of the preparation should be done by the harrow,leaving the roller to finish the work. To cross plow stubble, where it has not had suffi¬ cient time to become perfectly rotted, makes the land too loose, and makes it liable to “heaving'’with frost. The harrow comminutes the soil and the roller compacts the seed-bed, pre¬ venting heaving. The first plowing or breaking the soil must, however, be close and deep. Scratching the sur¬ face, leaving a hard, impenetrable pan two or three inches below the scratch¬ ed surface, does not give the seed-bed to which we refer. We have raised some large crops of wheat to the acre, and our mode of preparation was to break the land with a two-horse turn plow, as closely and deeply as possi¬ ble, making a Brinly subsoiler follow tlio turn-plow in every farrow. We then harrowed the land with a heavy harrow, and, when we had time, cross harrowed it, thus leaviug it as finely pulverized and as mellow as possible. Where the land was not naturally rich enough our practice was to scat¬ ter broadcast over the surface, as even¬ ly as practicable, from fifty to seventy five bushels of green cotton-seed, and plow them under at the first plowing, and then to scatter and incorporate with t!» surface soil by the first liar rowing, a mixture of 100 lbs. Peru¬ vian guano, 200 lbs. of dissolved bones or Charleston superphosphate, 50 lbs. of salt to the acre. We advise all who sow wheat to do so in drills, and not broadcast. The drilling saves more than half the seed, it gives plenty of room tj the roots, allows the air to circulate ficdy, and if the drills be left sixteen or eighteen inches apart, per¬ mits a cultivation of the ground, and the extirpation of ail weeds and grass. A wheat drill is not an expensive im¬ plement. There are several pateuts, all of which, so far as we have seen, do good work. We ad vise our friends to buy drills without the “guano attach merit,” which is sold with many of theni, and which is said to distribute the fertilizers in the drill, at the.same time that the seed is sown and covered, We regard these attachments as val ueless. They do not distribute the manure, and if they did, we are op posed to drilling manure for wheat. Wc have no faith in any but broadcast distribution, for the reason that the fibrous roots of wheat extend in every direction, far beyond the narrow limits of a drill, and need food quite as much after they have spread as before. Drill manuring gives the crop a rich,break¬ fast, but nothing to eat for dinner or supper. It is better than no manure, but that is all. The seed should be carefully selected and thoroughly sift¬ ed and cleaned. Thus all email and imperfect grains, and all cockle and other weeds will be thrown aside. It takes very little time to do this, and in no case should it be neglcctcd Aftcr this is done, the seed should bo steeped in a solution of blucstonc for ten or twelve hours before sowing, and then dried by rolling in plaster. After the seed is drilled, the finishing touch should be given by passing over the field with a heavy roller, leaving a compact seed-bed of finely pulverized soil, and an even surface. We would also recommend the sow¬ ing seed grown in a different soil and climate, instead of that raised at home. Wc arc satisfied that this improves the quality and quantity of the yield, and arc strongly inclined to believe that it is a preventivo against rust. Such at least has been the experience of many skillful farmers, with whom we have conversed on the subject. Ex. Let us Reverse. Of all classes or professions of men, the planters are the only exceptions in forming combinations for their own protection and interest. Individuality of thought and action, and “what I know about farming,” seem to be the great trouble among planters. Rut the present system of fanning must be acknowledged by all a perfect blunder, deficient in intelligence, wisdom and practical mind sense, thinker and it re¬ quires an astute or to mark the downward course we have been pursuing since the war. W e must reverse, or wc are irretrievably ruined. Smaller farms, more pasture, more stock, more small grain and more manure will solve the problem o( our success as farmers. Let us sec. Nature furnishes us in the atmosphere ninety-live per cent, of all the elements that enter into the production of plants and vegetables. Oaut we furnish five ? To make our soil fertile, wo must supply what is uot contributed from the iuexhaustible sources of Naturo’s laboratory.— These are potash, phosphate, lime and azote, as given in the formula of George Viile. Supply these when they are needed on your worn-out and exhausted lands. Make manure at home and buy all the chemical fertili¬ zers you arc able. First, to make j manure, we must have stock mules, • horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Sec j ondly, to support them, we must have S forage and pasturage. Sow down onc ! third in small grain, one-third in corn j and one-third and feed in the cotton. hmd liberally Rotate that the crops Ireland, third of feeds you. In one ! the product of each crop is returned to the land. In the South, the land is worked to death till exhausted, and then turned out to grow up in old fields. We often think what a profli¬ gate race wc Southern people are, in¬ habiting a land rielrin all the elements of nature, soil, climate and production A land of gonial sunshine, health and beauty, teeming with fruits and flowers the most ravishing to human senses, with mountain and valley scenery, lakes and rivers that fill us with their grandeur, and we appreciate with God so little gratitude the beauties that has lavished upon us.— Talbotton Standard. Practical Hints Mules. on Training I have read an article in your paper in regard to break, ng mules. To succeed in manugiug mules, we must thoroughly understand the nature of the one particular mule in hand. There are as many different disposi¬ tions among mules as among men ; in fact, a mute is not g creation of God, but an invention, 1 might say, of man, and has no settled conviction o! right or wrong, only as taught. Usually, however, they are apt scholars, and learn meanness much more readily than is safe or profitable for the owner. It is necessary to begin right,or tho auimal is spoiled or. the start. When the mare has foaled, do not by any means, or under any circumstances, allow it to live more than two days, if you cannot haudlo it with safety. Handle it continually, uutil it is two years old. At that age begin the breaking, which, if properly douc, will require a good year. This may seem long, but not a day too much for a spirited mule, and not enough for a lazy one, as this class, like a lazy man, never will learn to do any kind of work right. During the first year, they may be kept at light work every da}% if desired. Presuming, as a matter of course, that tho mule has been carefully handled and thoroughly broken in halter and bridle, we may place it in harness, ard allow it to become accustomed to it. When it will walk around without fear from tho harness or operator, wo may bring out our steady old mare, and carefully get the mule beside her, and attach them mule to tho wagon, being careful that the is not frighten¬ ed. This may be dme very easily, by the mule’s best friend standing at its head to keep its attention engrossed. When ready to start, unobserved say not a word, but with a whip, by the mule, tap the old mare. If they start, tho mule will want to run ; if so, allow the mule to ‘go it.’ Mules don’t like to run, and usually will not go above ten rods. On the ether hand, should the mule refuse to go, you must sit down in the wagon and wait, Have the forethought to pro- j vide yourselves with reading matter When that mule gets ready, it will go. Nothing but good resolution and pa tience are requited to complete the work. Whipping is not admissible in any 2 Ycnt, as the mu’e docs not realize what the application is for, and think¬ ing it means fight, will forthwith assume an attitude of delence, and thus we get the kicking mule. When once put in harness and hitched to a wagon, neither remove, water nor feed it, until it goes. I once kept six green mnles standing alt night in harness, would hitched to a load, because they not all go at the same time. When we made our appearaneo in the morn¬ ing and started them, they were not only ready, but anxious to do anything we asked. I could write all day about mules. I like good mules, and have bad to do with very vicious ones. Will at sonic future time write in regard to the after management, if desired. \Y oi k them the first year with a horse. Thornton, in Western Rural. - •* ♦♦ -- Causes ol Dow. If dew fell, it would fall for the same reason that rain falls; but dew does uot fall—it is simply a deport of moisture, always contained in the air to a greater or lessor dogtec. and which, when there is euough of it, will always form on any cold body exposed to tho moist air, in precisely the same way that a cold bottle or stone, taken from a cold cellar and suddenly exposed, in tho shade, to the moist, warm Summer air, will be¬ come wet; this is not sweating, nor docs this moisture come out of the bottlo or s’one, as many people be¬ lieve, but from the air. It is far the same reason that moisture will con¬ dense against the window panes when the air is cold out.side, and moist in¬ side, the moisture slowly freezing, while its deposits form crystals of ice, which we so often admire in Winter. When the weather is cool enough, the moisture deposited will even freeze* on plants and grass, and then wc call it hoarfrost; if it does not freeze, it is simply dew. The only point left to he explained is, why does the ground become so cool during the night, so much cooler than tho air above it, ns to cause the latter to deposit its moisture? ibis was fur many years a vexed problem, till Wells first sug¬ gested the radiation of obscure hear, which takes place from the surface of the earth, through tho clear atmos¬ phere into the space ab jv°>, and so causes tho surface to beo one much cooler than the air itself, lie demon¬ strated this by means of thermometers placed at different bights, and also by tho (act that dew is only deposited on cloudless nights. WheD there are clouds, the reflect the heat, or prevent it from escaping. The surface of the earth thus being kept from cooling, no dew is deposited .—Manufacturer and Builder. -- ----.- By good nature, half the misery of human life might be assuaged.