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416 A RANDOM SHOT. Editors Southern Cultivator I feel de sirous of holding communion with all the one horse planters throughout the So-Called, for my sympathies are in full accord with them, and se lect by your permission, your most excellent and welcome journal as the medium. Let us ex change ideas, revise and correct each other’s pro gramme for the ensuing year—adopt that which is good and applicable to our own peculiar local ity and circumstances, and reject that which is, not applicable. I conceive that every planter of forethought and consideration has, ere this laid down for himself some particular mode of operation for the next year—how much he wish es to cultivate—of what he will plant—the kind of tools to be used, and kind of fertilizers. And if we can be of mutual aid, let us discard all forms and ceremonies, and do our level best. — r I here is no class of people in greater need of aid, sympathy and wise counsel, than the indus trious energetic one-horse man. The merchant tells us that the country is bankrupt; the factor tells us he is in receipt of none of our esteemed favors; public rumor tells us that cotton is tlat and not likely to recover, owing, we were told some time back, to the European war and low price of gold, but of late to the huge crop that is made; and common sense tells us that we are in a scrape. In this section, it is impossible to hire help, consequently every one has to cultivate his patch with his own labor, assisted by his family, and I think there are but few families who are in possession of a small lot of ground who are not able to support themselves, with their labor and energies well directed. I propose to give my individual programme for the next year, sub ject of course to improvement from the sugges tions of others more experienced and of deeper forethought. Plant this fall about one acre in cane—rows six feet apart. By having the rows this distance, you can make a crop of corn be tween them, and cut off the stalks after the corn hardens, and lay your cane by in full time to make a good crop. This year’s experience has demonstrated that fact to my entire satisfaction. The use of stable or cow-pen manure improves the cane very materially. One acre in cane will make sugar and molasses for your family, and enough to sell to pay for the cultivation. Let the neighbors combine, if desired, and purchase a mill which will cost from $75 to $175, owin- SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR Ito the size and quality; or the biggest one-horse | man in the neighborhood might make the pur cliase, and his neighbors might assist in taking off and grinding their crops, with but little ex pense and no outlay of money. So much for the sugar and molasses, which every family feels compelled to have, and which draws so heavily on the small amount of rents that we receive.— Plant about eight acres in corn, plow deep and subsoil deep. By all means prepare the lot well. If you have not the fertilizers to mix with the soil in breaking it up, it pays well to apply at different times as you cun save it, even when the corn is bunching to tassel. We will get from 30 to 50 bushels per acre. Plow deep and subsoil about one acre for Chinese sugar cane. After the land is broken up and pulverized well, sow broadcast for forage, for the horse, sow and pigs. There is nothing, in my judgment, that keeps the hogs growing and more thrifty as a summer and fall diet than the sorghum. It is line for all kinds of stock and requires no farth er attention than given above. With these sim ple items of home products, we are beyond the reach of want. As for cotton, I will suggest that we plant one, two or three acres, as circumstances may justify. Prepare well the ground intended for cotton, and with the application of home manu factured compost, we can safely calculate on a bale per acre. The kind of seed to be planted is a considerable item. I prefer the Dickson Se lect it matures more rapidly and earlier, which is very important, and bears crowding hi the drill and rows more than any other variety with which I am acquainted. Tlius much for the cotton, which gives the means #o purchase flour, (lotliing and other necessary comforts for the family, and a little left for the Doctor, and to liquidate old claims, if any. m I have no experience with the patent fertilizers, except Zell’s AmflMted Super phosphate of Bone, and confess that I am much pleased with it. I applied 300 lira, to tho acre, putting it deep and bedding on it. There is. however, no necessity for us to go to the expei*e of buying patent fertilizers, if we will but exer cise a little common sense, and go to the trouble o looking up and housing the wastage about our barns and lots, which I think is ample in nine cases out of ten to satisfy annually the de mands of the amount of land designated above. There is also the cotton seed to look to, and of equal importance, the corn-cobs. I mentioned