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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. ATLANTA. GA- TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 1880.
SUCCESSFUL FARMERS.
SHORT TALKS WITH FARMERS ON
FARM TOPICS.
A Ti itfrtrrf— Mid Bs$t*matle Booth Carolina
r»rm*r-Thn Oat Crop and Sow to Mui|« It—
Jctenaiv* Farming — Dairying * n ***•
South-A Talk on Corn Planting.
A Caroline Farmer,
<Iitrr.Nvn.LK, H. C.—Mr. F. E. McKcn/.ic Is
thf name of our most progressive, systematic
and scientific fanner in this county. And as
you have asked me to write yoi about six or
Keren of our moat snccesafitl farmers, I have
picked him out as nty first. Mr. McKenzie is
a man of very few words, consequently, to
find out what he is doing and lion* bo in doing
it, you have to ask him tho questions and he
will gladly give yon all the information you
want on anything in his line. I paid Sir. Mc
Kenzie a visit some months ago, and I will
give to your many renders what ho is doing
at d how lie does it. Mr. McKenzie lives
about eight miles south of Greenville,
r „ tj.f. (irernyille and Columbia railroad.
IIis fain* contains about five hundred
sere«, of whieh •. , .V)«< res is in a high state of
cultivation: of that 250 acres, forty acres is
goon neck bottom: tho remaining 210 acres is
rery rolling upland. Hix years ago it would
take three acres to make one halo of cotton
with the aid of three sacks of guano. The first
thing that Mr. McKenzie did wan to have all
of Ins uplands well terraced, which he did by
ecromenring at the highest point in his field
with u two horse plow, throwing two furrows
together on a perfect level across his field,
having a terrace every three feet fall. Jfo did
his terracing with a tfieodolyte which cost $50.
The Hostrom automatic lovel will do tho same
work equally as well and only cost $7, manu
factured by the Ihistrom Automatic Level
company, of Nashville, Tenn. I nin using ono
and l find it docs the work effectually and so
simple that tho most ordinary farm
hand «an operate it. Mr. M.
has now had his land terraced
about three years, and I honestly believe ho
has not had a single drop of muddy water to
leave his land. His crops tell tho effect of
deep plowing and level cultivation, for last
year.'he made 1,200 bushels of wheat on GO acres,
(which was 20 bushels |»cr acre) 2,00) bushels
of eats on 00 acres, (winch was 40 bushels par
arre) <*0 hales of cotton on GO acres, (which
was cnc hale per acre) 2,000 bushels of corn on
40 acres, ' which was 50 huslicls per acre). Ho
made all of this on 210 acres; tho other 10
acres which makes his 2.'*0 acres in cultivation,
he has in clover, sweet potatoes, beets, water
melons. etc. 1 believo this cropping will com
pare with some of your Dixons and Furmans,
of your state. Now how did ho mako that GO
hales of cotton on thoso Go acres? He novor
plants the auiuo land in tho aamo crop two
year* In succession; ho follows cotton with
wheat, and wheat with oats, and so on back
to cotton again. No toii see, ho always has out
stiibhlo for cotton. Ho thus prepares bis cot
ton ground: He opens bin rowsfourfeot apart
with a common shovel plow and one horse, ho
then follows in that furrow with two horses
hitched to n subsoil plow, and continues thus
i util the hulks are all broken out. Ho does
this in February or Mnn-h ; ho then puts his
guano in this furrow, 400 pounds to trio aero,
of his own make, undo out of kalnot, acid
phcsplmte and cottonseed ineal; ho says inly
ing th< in himself and doing his own mixing
his 400 j-oumlx, costs him about $.*.50. the
amuiLt he puts on cncIi aero; ho puts this gu
ano in with a Wilson cotton planter, which is
ppl!cd by ono horse, 'and has
a neat subsoil plow behind, which
thoroughly mixes tho guano with tho soil,
which Isa big thing for tho cotton in dry
weather. He then covers this guano with or-
diiiaiy shovel plows, plowing out tho middle
with the sumo plow. JIo then plants his cot
ton reed on this flat bod with this Wilson
plsutnr. and always planting tho be«t of sood;
generally plants from tho 15th to tho Inst of
April. At soon as ho can see his cotton from
one end of the row to the other he commences
to i mi around it with small plows,hoes follow
ing. leaving the cotton to one stalk every 12
indict As soon as through the flrat time ho
E mn Hrk with sweeps to running aronnd, the
ors following, rutting out ©very other stalk,
which leasts his cotton 2 feet apart in tho
drill, his rows bring 4 foet wide.
He then lirrs bis cotton onto more and plows
It as nr*ran hrxjtii after every rain, which ia
generally six times, twice in a row. Ho culti
vates fa*!, shallow «nd level, always leaving
hi* gr< tind level, uml has for the last three
years, Yy this process, made one bale weighing
420 pound* to tho acio. Ho always follows
cotton with whett. Ho to got rid of the cotton
atslks, he first knocks them to pieces with a
stick, then rnns over tho remainder with a
cotton stalk cutter w hich cuts them to pieces,
then puts all of bis cotton seed that catuo off*
of his cotton oil tho wheat land, which Is about
2? bushels per acre, and plows ootton seed,
stalks and bolls all under at the natno tlrao
with a two-horse plow shallow. Ho sows ono
bushels of tho Bill Dallas wboat to tho acre,
covering It with tho acme harrow.
Now for his mode of making oats. In Sep
tember ho turns his wheat stuhblo with two-
horse plows, then sows about one and a half
bushels of tho ml rust proof oats to the aero,
covering them with an armo harrow. Mr. II.
aays be finds it best to not plow tho land too
deep for oats and wheat, a* they do much hot-
ter after shallow preparation, lie cuts his
wheat and oais with a reaper, binding with n
separate binder pulled by ono hone.
Now for hla corn crop. Ilo nukes hia corn
on forty acres of good creek bottoms, lie tint
breaks his land with a two-homo plow as deep
aa two homes can null it, then run* the acme
harrow over it twice, then opcnrwith n shovel
plow his rows fivo feet apart, putting 400
pound* of hia guano per acre in with tho Wil
son cotton planter, which mixes it with tho
soil, as it did tho cotton
ground, he then throws ouo
frtrrow ou that guano with a tongue plow, nml
plants his seed com in tho Airrow Clio tongue
plow made, and coven tho coriyvitli ono Air-
row with a tonguo plow, and hi soon as tho
coin can bo sren ho runs the smoothing harrow
over it, after which he plows it with sweeps
until laid by, aud then at the last plowing he
sows two bushels of tx.uaper acre, leaving them
iiu the laud to supply vegetable matter; ho
leaves hia corn :’ feet in the drill, 5 foot rows,
and made 50 bushels per acre last year, and tho
roru was badly damaged by overflows, lie
will make 00 lmj>hcls per acre this year. He
pays strict attention to cleaning out of his
ditches, cleaning them out after every over
flow, no difference if it is every week. Moat
of our fkrmcra half clean their ditches every
•wing (about March) and if a
big overflow cornea the first of
April, they dont pretend to clean out tho ditch
•gain, think that once ought to stifllee, etna©-
quently they make uoconi. put all the blame
on the Almighty, none on their lazy sclv.s;
then they want to go west. I have now given
toy<
nure
fern
broil
tiom
tbei
Ms
len how Mr. M. ma
cultivates hia dif-
ray as loan. If my
their own calculi-
s beat way. Mr. M’s,
Uenaive plan. Mr.
ter, or with hired
nvei
boar
with
•r
ir
labor. Me employs eleven hands by the year,
_» hand per year, they
cultivates his crop
h you will see is a
ibout twelve acres
» small amount
ran stir it itumedi-
always keeping his
different from the
from 25 to 30 acres
am 12 to 15 bales of
ml* all the time over
il make a bale of
nts. And then at
tales from hi* crop
t> all ease, and be-
the spring to plant
nying a great deal,
si of lot and cow
to do nothing else
litter ana ma-
only
of gi
a ten
steel
most
to th
cot to
work
cot to
ham
and 1
aides
his a
Mr. J
mans
both
nure.
Itfisi
ready
m, litter and ma-
id of cattle, of which
milks and finds n
..ilk and hotter ho
has to spare (after supplying his Auaily). at
J’eidmont, which is only two miles from him.
He superintends, with the assistance of his
ton, the whole farm. He says ho never rents
an acre to a man to cultivate that has stock of
his own, for be is constitutionally opposed to
deep plowing.
Hoping you will pardon me for the length
of this letter, I will say good-bye for this time.
Jlespcctftilly, Mountaineer.
The Dead Oaf*-Dow Shall We Recuperate?
At the request of The Constitution I will
state ns well and briefly as I can some crops
which may be used to advantage upon the
land that was in oats, to compensate as far as
possible for the great loss the whole country
has sustained by the universal destruction of
that invaluable crop. Happily, in our benefi
cent climate, wc have a wide choice. There
are many valuable resources hero wo never
use to any extent, only because we havo
much to choose from. I assume to state a
I ait only, and such as seem to mo to W tho
most available for early and sure returns
The matter is a quite serious one, and if other
suggestions and bettor oner can be elicited, I
will gi t as much benefit from them perhaps as
one else.
I is to ho aupposed (hnt all who can do so,
growing more out* now, as far as possible
vail of the chances for a spring crop. That
is usually a doubtful crop with us; though but
recently an experienced neighbor of mine has
raid that be remembers perfectly well spring
at* were a great success after the destructive
reexo of IMS. There are too nauy, unfortu
nately, of small farmers, who cannot sow
again now, for lack of seed and labor; and
some also who will not take tho doubtful
chances on the soring sowing*. Additional
acreage in corn will be the first and most obvi
ous retort. Tho more the. better of it, and I
have no suggestion to offer about that except to
name pea* in the same connection,which may b©
always added at Minall cost, making abundant
turns; and also to say that part of tho
irn cron may well bo planted with new soed
of some good variety, northern raised, such os
yclloiv Dent, or white Dent, or Blount’s white
prolific, or the Golden Beauty, which is only
nn improved sortof yellow I)cnt. All these
kinds arc largo cars and good grain, and if tho
reed ia direct from higher latitudes, tho crop
planted in March will mature fully in July.
They get ahead of our usual summer
droughts, and in my experience
havo never failed [to mako sat
isfactory returns. The Blount whito gives av
erage over two (2) good cars per stalk, but the
grain is not as heavy as the other sorts named,
it makes more foliage, and is therefore tlio
best sort to drill or sow for forage Throe
bushels per aero in 24 foot drills, cut for fod
der when it blooms makes many a ton of the
bert quality of forage. Tho cost of
new seed for regular planting of corn, on the
old rule of one bushel for tea acres, Is say .*10
cents per acre, aud tho advantago of a few
acres to mature to early as July, Is very con
siderable.
Next in order it seems to mo our old com-
iron speckled pens, (or whip-poor-wills) con
stitute a ready and easily avuilablo resource.
Nearly everybody bus this seed, or get it
cheaply. They can bo planted almost any
convenient time, a good reliable, accomodat
ing sort of a crop. Very little work Is required
about them, and they yield early, first a good
crop of pcn.H to pick, and soon after a second
grow th that may bn gathered, vines and all
together, making a forage that lias auhstauco,
on which working stock will keep in good
order.
German millet is ouo of tho moat valuahlo
forage crops wc may have, maturing early,
and like sheaf oats, is both
grain aud fodder, sufficient
for all working animals. It is sown In April,
when danger of frosts is past, in drills or
broadcast; three or four pocks per ucro (costing
usually $1.50 to $2.00 per bushel). Tho growth
Is luxuriant, tho handsomest crop to look upon
when it heads out. that I know, and If tho land
is good tho yield is very abundant. Cut and
cure aa bay, when tho seod are In the dough
state. This crop is a very sure ono too, pro
vided only Itho month of May Is not very dry.
Early amber cano Is another crop that comes
In early, thf grain of which is a very good
feed, and the cron is available as green food in
every stage until it matures. 1 find an acre
of It a valuable adjunct always. I feed it In
moderation to my mules, green, and find no 111
effects, even when they are doing the hardest
S lowing. Mila cattle and hogs do well on it;
I is sweet and fattening. If all Is not nseed for
green feed, the heads or soed maybe cut, and
then the whole stalk cured in shocks for fod
der, and If cut in a feed cutter, to short
lengths, is well eaten by mutes until it gets
very dry and hard. I usually drill about a
half bushel of iced per acre, in three foot
rows, but by care Ail use half as much seed will
make as good results.
Next in my estimation comos the new sor
ghum grains, Millo Maize and Kaffir corn
that Dr. Watkins has developed. Millo, we
know pretty well, after somo years experience.
It Is tellable for cuormou* crops of fouder,and
in ordinarily favorable seasons, will also yield
largely of grain, and both fodder and grain
are good, available for feed for everything,
man, t>enst and fowl. But It is a slow growth,
matures at tho remotest end of summer.
Right there is tho suporior advantage claimod
by Dr. Watkins for his now specimen, tbo
Kaffir corn. That docs not stool out from tho
root liko Millo, but grows ouo stalk, erect.
Stock y, not very tall, ie disposed
to branch from tho top, and
produces heads of whito grain liko tho
millo. It will mature in July a crop of soed
brads of equal, if uot greater value then
millo and more abundant in quantity. Tho
first aerd heads umy be ent when the grains
turn white, showing signs of maturity; other
new heads will come. This method, Dr. Wat
kins states, secures the largest yiold of tho
gram, hut ho thinks tho total results in grain
and fodder are larger by cutting down tho
ffiat growth for fodder wlieu it ia In bloom,
and let tho second growth como on to mature
grain and fodder in the fall. His directions
for planting are, in April, three foot rows, tw o
or three seed in a place, distance only twolvo
inches, thin to ono stalk If the land is thlu, if
it ia strong land two stalks may bo loft. Tho
cultivation ia like corn. Now, having stated
this much at length, bccauso tho grain is new.
if any one dot's not Ailly understand tho best
use of It, I'hope Airthcr inquiry will bo ad
dressed to Dr. J. II. Watkins at Palmetto, Da.,
and ho he asked to answer through Thr Con
stitution for Airther public information. He
has said this grain will mako better returns
on very thin land than any
other crop we can plant; and
that is a good thing to know of it, for we havo
much “thinness of land” to contend with
There was a great deal of inquiry about the
Kaffir, but this statement in its favor i* liable
to lead some people to expect returns from i.
on land too poor to plant in any seed whatevero
Trosinte ia one of this clawi of new forago
crops, that for forage probably excels all oth
ers, and, by those who have used it, is recom
mended ns very superior green forage. If it
is tried, it may he for forage only, for in this
latitude it will not seed. T hear that it has
been got to seed in Florida, and perhaps may
yet do to here. It requires good soil and ma-
uorc.
The conch pea will be found the greatest
producer of vine, but not reliable to seed ex •
cent in the latitude of lower Georgia and Flo
rida. In 18N4 1 made seed here, plentiAilly.
but In 1885, on the same land, tha frost
caught the immature pods. If these
pets are planted, two in a hill,
six by ten feet or 10x10 foet, one pint of them
will about plant an acre, and they will cover
the land with vine as well aa a bushel and a
half of any other pea. On good land the vine
runs thirty to forty feet and more, and when
they do fruit, there’s plenty of seed. The
vine runs tloae to tho soil, too doselocnt
with a mower. They may be pulled for hay,
but I value the Conch pea moat for the amount
of shade and^vegetable matter it gives to tho
soils* manure. Koran orchard it is an excel-
lent crop. I planted them in a field of water
melons last year, at the last plowing, two seed
in each hill and three seed between each two
hiUs and they took the land well, and tbo
great mass of vino was over the field soon af
ter the melon crop was ovor.
In this connection everything is in order
that foods any sortof stork, and saves corn.
Therefore I make one other suggestion in
behalf of a food crop for hogs. For this
purpose liberal plantings of potatoes
will be advisable. Also Chuffcg, which foreac*
of cultivation, and reliability of yield, sad fat
tening qualities, arc hardly exceeded by aoy
crop. The new Spanish ground pea, is also
worthy of attention. It is a variety tlixt
makes a small pea, bnt a great quantity of
them, and all solid, no pops. It is convenient
because you may take yoor time to plant, from
April to July, and they will yet mature a full
crop. Also because the growth ia erect, and
all the cultivation may be done with a plow;
and if any gathering of the peas is to be done,
this kind all comes when tbo root is pulled
out and are easily picked of by the haudful.
I have not beat d of auy person using them
that is not well pleased with them. One gen
tleman of Chesterfield county, 8. C., Mr. V. P.
Clayton, tells me he gathered forty bushels
from one bushel planted Jane 27th on oat
stubble.
1 will forbear, having already written quito
enough. Many other suggestions might bo
offered, because we havo here a climate that
admits the successful use of more things than
one can write about, all more or less valuable,
and useful in a degree to supnlemcnt our
wants. The absolute total loss of all our oat
crop, is more severe than any man knows, ex
cept the poor farmer, who depended on it to
carry his stock through. For him it menus
big loss, heavy privations, many a bard lick of
extra work, even if by extra work he can
weather his way through and make his crops.
City folks, in general, don’t appreciate tbo
hardness of the blow, nnloas they are familiar
with the ins and outs and downs (I can’t refer
to ups just now) of tho planting busiuess. I
will be highly gratified if any suggestions of
mine will help some one to pull through the
trouble and loss; and am pleased to offer them,
on the invitation of Tub Constitution, for
whatever they may be worth to tho reader.
Respectfully J. If. Alexander.
Augusta, (ia., Feb. 5,188G.
Diversified Fanning.
Cluttsville, Ala., February 4, 1880.—EJI-
tors Constitution: Dear Sira—R. M. Thompson
moved into this neighborhood about ten years
ago, ana bought s piece of very poor land, and
began diversified fanning. The land he bought
was poor. Every ono who had proceeded him
on that farm hail failed to
ronka a docent support for their
families. A sort of a ham) to mouth mode of
living. Everyone thought that Mr. Thompson
would follow in the wake of his former poss
essors. In other words, they thought he could
not make a living on the land. He had no
money, and was a stranger, and for a while
could not get credit, but finally succeeded in
raising money on a mortgage. Ho had energy
and pluck. He went to work with
both and ha* succeeded beyond the most san
guine expectations of his friends. Today his
f troperty is more valuable than most any farm
n Cluttsville precinct. Land that was worthless
u few years ago is brought into a stato of iiigh
cultivation. Swamps has been cleared up
and drained and produce an abundant har
vest. Hedaefields, though too poor to reclaim
has give place to waving grain and luxuriant
clover, or fleecy cotton. He has bnilt two
mills on the creek thst rnns through his farm
rthere no one had ever thought it possible to
get a practical mill seat. He is doing a
nourishing business in milling as well as farm
ing. farad that ten years ago would not
make two hundred pounds of seed cotton por
acre, will now make eight hundred pounds.
Land that ten years ago would not make two
bushels of wheat per acre will now mako
twenty bushels.
He makes large quantities ofliomcmado
manure, and when that is exhausted uses
commercial fertilizers. His mode of cultiva
tion is about the *amo as Kelly’s, varying only
with the season. He uses the acme harrow
instead of the drag.
The groat secret success of Mr. Thompson
aiul sons are that they work six days in tho
week and work with a vim, do not fool away
their time. They are liberal to the church,
liberal to the poor and all charitable Institu
tions. Out of debt, live at home and as
contented as this life can afford. Observer.
Com Nantiug.
Cohutta, Whitfield cdunfty, On* Tebruaiy
1.—Editors Constitution: Us the tlme for oom
planting draws near I thought a few remarks on
that subject might be pertinent, from ono who has
tried and found successAil, the plan which I pro
pose to put before yourreaders. In this fast ago all
branches of business are making long strides to
wards perfection, and In a measure have out
stripped sericulture, the great sheet anchor of
national prosperity. I grant much has been done
in the way of Improved machinery and labor-sav
ing Implements, tho preparation of the soil, and
scientific fertilization has received considerable at
tention, but hero progress seems to have fallen
back Into the ruts of half a century ago and there
stuck fast; as much as to say, that “my daddy
carried a pumpkin in one end of the sack and a
rock In the other, so can I.”
Science has been brought to t«ar in fertilization
and labor-saving, and why not In the plan of cul
tivation let us as fanners make a untied effort to
attain a higher standard In the cultivation of our
crops by studying the laws of nature.
props by studying the laws of nature.
(Mir fat henfof a century ago had the virgin soli of
this fair lanu to delve thclrbiill tongue and snovcl
plows into, regardless of the consciences, ror
they had nothing else to do when one field began
to waste but clear another. Not so now. wt have
not got the forest* to go to for fresh lamb, we have
to build up the old waste pine aud broomsedgo
Helds. >Ve must be on the alert, and rotate, fertil
ize and cultivate our crops, so as not only to hus
band our soil’s present fertility but to Increaso It.
M’ould not a system of level cultivation aid very
much In husbanding the soil and add much to Us
fertility? Hut to this 1 will refer when speaking
of the plan 1 propose to adopt for the cultivation
of corn. The thorough preparation of tho soil, for
the first r*— *- * u * 4 - —“
mittrd by .
distance shall we give our com?
i what
ft ou the quality of
will produce! good
t each way. In thin-
crop*, at a distance of four feet each way. In
ucr roils from four and a half to five feet; In rich,
moist lands from three to three and a half feet,
very itch mul moist bottoms may produce good
corn even closer.
To insure a good crop, distance mun be given,
sml if the reason is dry you muy expect a reason
ably good yield, and if the seasons arc good the
yield of com will be greater than If crowded, for
ns much nutrition is required to produce a stalk as
nn car of com. This statement is no guess work,
for 1 have tested it by actual experiment.
If farmers crowd their com they will often be
dlrappolntrd in realizing a good crop, for wc have
more dry reasons than wet ones, therefore wc ought
to plant for dry reasons, aud if wet ones come we
•re not disappointed, but leali/e a good yield.
The next polut that demands our special attention
is how the seed should be put in so as to secure u
good stand.
For early planting a long scooter plow should bo
used In opening for the com, which will break the
land deep and not leave too deep a furrow for the
com, which should not rest, when covered with a
small plow, more than two inches beucath the sur
face, that it may receive the warmth of the sun so
that it will germinate soon and not rot.
Later planting, after the land is warm, raavhe
deeper—sav to the depth of three Inches. The
rows should be laid oil straight and uniform.
The coni being planted, our next object i* to meet
Its wants. As soon to the first stalk* are up, it
should be run over with aboard, Mich ss I* some
times used in covering cotton; or ir the surface l«
baked by heavy rains, a one-horse harrow may lie
better. This treatment brushes off the young grass
and weeds, that arc coming up atul also allows
tha young corn a better chance to get up. The
com being up with two or three blades, the culti
vation should begin: and here I would introduce
to the reader who has uot tried it, the plan of level
cultivation, a system having many advantages over
the old scooter and shovel plow, as l think, having
tried it two years. itwri amt
1 adopted, for the want of a Irettcr plow" uuc
whlchwas made by my blacksmith by my direc
tion. The plows were duck-bill coulter*, five sat in
a stork like a one-horse harrow*. It wa* made ad
justable. There plow* can be made to go lathe
ground to almost any depth you desire. Oue round
will plow out a four foot middle. It can be run
hist as rlore to the com a« you wish and not ©over
It up. There D one fault to that arrangement of
the Plows, that the one running next the corn 1«
behind and leave* a small open furrow next the
com.
There arc, to my mind, many advantage* in fa
vor of level cultivation. I will speak or some of
there advantage* aa they prerent themselves to my
mind. The speed with u ldch you can plow a crop,
one round to the row: with tho scooterlt took two.
That will allow a farmer to riir hi* land oftener, a
yenr Important Item in farming. Vegetation never
thrives well under baked or crustedland. It pre
vents the uprising of the moisture from beneath,
ar.d also prevents the dew and atmosphere from
penetrating the earth to feed the plants.
There plowing* should be repeated every (waive or
fourteen days until com is taareling. Tha level
svatem has this advantage over the old system:
M hat rains fall an the fields can settle around the
com. and in flset it fills every part of it so that it may
ba retained, thatit may supply the wants of the grow-
tha sun andearning the ratnsur ran from tha
to the middle ftirrow. conducting the water
rapidly out of the field and with it much of tho
soluble Plant food, which should be retained to
supply the wants of the growing crop.
There is oneotber advantage^ 111 the level system
of cultivation, that I wish to allude to, that per
tains to the crop wbichfrnay succeed the com. The
G reralling opinion In this community Li, if wheat
i to follow com, that the land should not be plow
ed but harrowed after the stalks are removed, so as
to have a loose surface to insure it to cover well
by the drill. Sown with drill that only loosens a
small space and the wheat roots soon roach the
firm earth, and will not spew out so bad during the
winter, io you see that the level cultivation leaves
the land just In the fix for the drill. J. F. G,
Intensive Farming.
Mr. J. B. Hunnicutt, in the Newnan, Ga.,
Advertiser, says: ...
Having received many letters of inquiry,
how tb raise corn on the intensive system, I
have concluded to answer through your col
umns, if you think tho matter of suflicient
interest to give it space. I know you are
ready to publish any plan which you think
will help the farmers.
I plant double rows because I cannot get
stalks enough on an acre by any other plan
and still have ventilation.
I. Lay off row* six feet apart, sub-soiling
each row, ami put in compost pretty heavy,
say 500 pounds per acre.
2. Bed on this, sub-soiling each furrow.
3. J^ty off rows 1H inches apart on either
side of the composted furrow and put 150
pounds per acre of good standard guano or
phosphate, just as for cotton, and drop corn
18 to 24 inches apart in each row and cover
lightly.
4. When tho corn is well up run one fur
row, with a very long narrow plow between
the narrow rows and follow with hoes. This
completes first working.
5. Ten days later run the same plow In the
snnte furrow again, and run a common 24 inch
scooter around on the other side of the corn
and follow with hoes. This completes second
working.
G. Ten days later rnn around tho Insido
rows with a larger plow, throwing fresh earth
to tho corn, and in this furrow put 500 pounds
per aero of compost and plow out middle with
scrape or sweep, and follow with hoes. This
completes third working.
7. Ten days later take a large shovel plow
and run a good furrow In tho middle of the
wide rows and put 150 pounds per acre of
gtiano in this furrow and run around that
furrow with broad scrapes (so shallow as not
to cut many roots) until you get as near the
corn as you wish. This complotes the fourth
plowing, and lays the crop by with a slight
rise in the middle of the wido row, and a
slight depression toward each corn row.
Now let us seo what wo havo done. The
corn has been cultivated with 14 furrows to
six feet rows, and threo or four hocings, each
very light, but very essential. And, as to
cost, wo havo cultivated much cheaper than
the usual plan requires. We havo invested
about $10 per acre in fertilizing and $1 in
work, thus:
First manuring, 500 pounds compost $2.50
Second manuring, fto pounds guano 2.50
Third manuring, 6C0 pounds compost 2.50
Fourth manuring, 150 pounds guano 2.50
Total manuring 910.00
Labor In distributing manure 91.00
jjiborin hoeing. 75
Labor in plowing 2.50
Total cost of labor per acre — 9 4.00
Total cost per acre 14.00
What return do wo get for this heavy invest
ment of $14.00 por aero—more, perhaps, than
tho land was worth? With three drv sum
mers, seven, nine and eleven weeks drought
respectively, tho writer gathered between
forty and uftv bushels of good hcavsr corn
per aero. Take the lowest figure, forty bushels
per acre, and the cost will be 35 cents per bush
el. If you make 50 bushels the cost will be
only 28 cents. If the season should be favora
ble and yon make GO buihels per acre, then tho
cost is reduced to only 224 cents. But this is
not all. Yon have a very heavy crop of fodder
and your land ia doubled in value; every acre
thus treated is worth $2 to $1 before, and will
continue so for years.
My experience is that this is the cheapest
plau for raising com on upland, the best plan
ror manuring poor land, less liable to suffer
OUR OWN COLUMN.
Short Talks With Our Readers
on Matters of Interest.
from drought ul th. only way Jo compel, them, and tho universal verdict Is that It is
•srlth western eorm'/W^mdK mi 8ui ofw 1 the best pm ever offered for the money. Hero
old rats or we camt keep up with the western • * *' * *
wagon.
All I aik of sny man ti to (ire this plan a
fair trial before condemning it. Do not let
your prejudice against double rowed corn pro-
est corn you
every new idee, but "prove nil things, and hold
Out to that which Is best”
"Cheep bread” must be the foundation of ell
reel, suostentiel prosperity In eny end every
egriculturel community.
Whet e flood Fenner Can Do.
Qraittvills, Oa., February ".—[Special.]—
To ehow whet a former can ao when he will
work right the rerord of Mr. Henry T. Shares,
who lives three-fourths of a mile cut of this
town, did last year will suffice. Ho made on a
two mulo form forty-throe bales of cotton, av
eraging G00 pounds each; 300 bushels cop; 150
bushels wboat: 700 buihels oata; 300 bushels
potatoes; peas by the wagon loads and fodder
and shucks In proportion. Mr. Shares did not
make this by comlug to town twice each day
end titling about In the shade end complain
ing of herd times. He made It all by getting
up early and going to work and looking after
bis farm interest.
The Home Bulletin presents somo successful
clovrr growers to tbo public. Several yean
ago Funnhauscr fi Gibbons sold Mr. H. \V.
Dean, of Floyd county, $500 worth of clover
and gnuasecd. The second year Mr. Dean cat
off 100 acres, about 150 tons, besides pastur
ing it heavily in the fall. Mr. I. D. Gailliard
cute two and a half tons of clover per aero and
sells it for F.M a tan. Colonel D. B. Hamilton
Ian large clover grower. Mr. C. M. Mar
shall hat a perfect staud of clover which was
sown last spring. He says with two cuttings
it will produce three to four tons per acre.
The beauty about clover In Floyd county, he
says, it that It does not run out, while in Vir
ginia and other states, It rnns out every two
or three yean. Mr. It. S. Zubcr, who has
been living iu Floyd county thlrty-ulne years,
says that when he first canto to Floyd there
was uot a sprig of clover in the county. The
first wss brought hero by Mr. l’ruson, who
lived on the farm now owned by General
Cumming. Mr. Funkhauter said that he had
not seen a time in winter during the last fonr
years that clover would not bring a ton.
.Ivraey Cattle.
The Jersey tale that is announced for the
10th of March In Atlanta, will be the first
semi-annual sale of the Georgia Jersey club,
and will be made up of the best animals ever
offered at a public sale In the south.
Leonidas, son of Signal, and half brother of
Teallla, will be offered by Woodward and Mc
Clellan. andTenilla herself will be offered by
Mr. J. B. Wade These two animals alone
would make a aalo notable. Seme of Tennlla's
daughters, and I .eon bias's daughters and
grand-daughters will be offered. Jndge Hop
kins will offer several Stoke Fogis heifers,
among others two of the daughters of Matilda
Fourth. This cow Is now making
a wonderful record. In nine months the has
given 13,000 pounds of milk, which is over
thirteen times her weight. She has, therefore,
yielded rarh month nearly one third more In
milk than her weight. In nine months she has
made T'-T pounds of butter, and In January,
the ninth month of the test, yielded sixteen
pounds end tlx ounces of butter e week. The
value of this enormous yield of milk will be
understood when It is known that less than
two gallons of Jersey milk nukes a pound of
butter, while it takes five gallons of Holstein
milk to make a pound of butter. Mr. Peters
will offer some fine Coo measles and St. Hetias
from his celebrated herd.
Mr. James R. Wylie says; “All these animals
will be offertd at abeolate sale. The club un
derstands that times are hard, and do not look
foV high prices, bat we are determined to sell
every animal offered, no matter what the price
may M. We consider this the best method cf
bringing buyer end eeiler together. In order
to prevent the sale being rained by a prepon
derance of young bulls we have rated that to
enter one bull, a seller most eater four heifers.
Mr. 8. H. Phelan.—The most important
point about the sale la that no animal can be
entered that was not born end bred in
Georgia or tbit haa not been in the state for
24 months.
A Handsome Colored Poster.
Wc have a large handsome poster, printed In
red and bine, for every ono of our agents. It
is tho banner of Tsc Co.nstitotion and every
agent ought to have one or two put up ia the
post office or neighborhood store. It helps
wonderfully. Have you one? If not, send at
once and we will mail you one. If you havo
one and could uie another ono well, send for it.
We want every agent to.haveone of our illum
inated posters.
'Please Renew Tour subscription before your
time Is out This prevents your missing a single
number. The printed slip on yeur paper tells
when the time is out. Renew at least one week
ahead, and bring a new subscriber with you.
A Cloud of Witnesses.
Wf. claim that Toe Constitution is tho
best family paper in America, and that if you
take It you will bo delighted with it.
Don’t take our word for this. Hero is what
our readers say. They havo tried and they
know what it is. Wo could fill a page with
just such letters, hut these will suffice to show
that our readers believe The Constitution is
the best paper in America.’
J. H. Woods, Grape Creek, N. C.—I am taking
three other paper* and consider The Constitution
better and chcupcr than any of them.
VHToniA I‘•i f*. Desoto, Iowa.—I have been asttb-
rr riber to The Weekly Constitution for one y
1 think It is the best paper 1 ever saw.
J. II. Ezem., Sniithboro, Ga.—I send you three
sub.«crit>cr*; will rend you more soon. " * *■*
years old, have taken and read a
pen*, but The Constitution is a Ail
of all of them.
published in the United States.
R. A. Bethune, Snyder, Ark.—The Coxstitv
tion is, according to my Judgment, the best, paper
that comes to this office.
For Ovor Two Years.
The success ofTiiECONSTrnrnoNWaterbury watch
Is amazing. By the hundreds they have gone Into
every state. Why not? A good watch, accurate
timekeeper, for 92.50 Is a miracle.
But docs it last? That is the question often asked
Hero is an answer from ono who has tried it:
Editors Constitution : Two years ago I bought
one of your Watcrbury watches, which has given
perfect satisfaction. It never has stopped a minute
and kept perfect time. I certainly recon *
these watches to your readers. C. D. Bcxi
Atlanta, Ga., formerly Pennington,
nere Is plain testimony. For over two yean this
little Watcrbury has not stopped a minute. Not a
cent has been spent on repairing it, though in the
same time Mr. Ball spent 925 getting his wife’s gold
watch repaired. At the end of two years tMr. Ball
says: “I wouldn’t take 920 for my Watcrbury if 1
couldn’t replace It.”
Our Watcrbury is tho best Investment you 'can
make. You ought to have one. Your wife ought
to hare one. Your son ought to have one. Only
3,25 for the watch, chain; charm and The Con
stitution one year. Where can you beat that? Or
•2.60 for the watch and chain and charm alone.
Bend at once and get one.
Our IIS Gun.
The twelve dollar double-barreled breech*
loading shot gun that we put on our premium
list a few weeks ago has caught the public,
and seems to be gotting almost as popular as
The Constitution, We have sold scores of
is one of the many letters which each day’s
mail brings us. Read what Mr. Rivera says,
and then decide for yourself:
H. 8. Rivers, Falrburn, Ga.: This certifies that I
purchased ono of your 912 guns a few weeks ago.
1 have used It bosfdo a 940 gun, and find it equally
as good. It gives satisfaction In every respect.
How to Save Thirty Dollars.
The sewing machine monopolists are howl
ing and rubbing their sore spots bccauso The
Constitution is selling for $18 with the
peper thrown in, a bettor machine than the
Singer, which is sold for $45.
Last year wo sold about 2,000 Constitution
machines. Each machine was sent out with
this guarantee: ’Take our machine, put it
alongside cf any machino that cost $45; work
them for ten days. If ours is not bettor, in
looks and work than the $45 machino, we wftl
refund your money.” Under this guarantee
only one of the 2,000 machines was returned
and wo hear that one came back from a sewing
machine agent. We are selling more now
than ever.
If you want to save $30, buy our machine.
If you havo $30 to throw away, pay $15 for ono
not as good as ours. Sco what those who havo
tried oui machine say about it:
W. J. Gray, MrAdeiisville, N. C., February 3
Constitution 1* by far the 1
have ever read.
D. J. Vickery. Quitman County, (is., January 27,
lSHl.-Gems: The reiving machine, got of you,
fame to hand in good condition, etc., it Ls every-
thltigy° u claim for it. Tho samo machine, ‘
ct, from *10 to $60. iTiie Constitution deserves tho
patronage of all honest men. Thank* to you for
your valuable pai*'r atul machine.
J. M. Dri-on, LaFuycttc. Texas, January It,
Wfi.—The Constitution high arm re wing machine
lliat 1 ordered for Mr*. M. J. Briton, some time
rir.ee, was received all right. It Is pronounced
first class by all who have seen It. It is all that
The Constitution claims It to be. Permit me to
extend you Mrs. Prison's hearty thanks for a ma-
~ innpij cheaper than she could have
i>(nution in every respect.
A Handsome Seed Catalogue.
We have put received from Johnson & Stokes,
the well-known seed growers of Philadelphia, Pa.,
their Garden and Farm Manual for ISM. It cann< >t
isil to prove of interest and will be mailed free to
sny of onr reader* who write for it.
Itroom Corn Culture.
Office of the Logan Broom Company, All ra
ts. C*., February H, I8NS.—Editors Constitution;
Plcsre state to the fanners of the south that our
manual on “Broom Com Culture” will be ready for
dUtributiou on the 15th of this month; that they
can prepare the lgnd In the same manner a* for
sorghum or Indian corn. We have a small quan
tity reliable reed which will furnish at St per
bushel. One bushel will plant ten or twelve seres.
Order* for *eed should bo filled at once. Respect-
folly, The Logan Broom Company.
,teffiSvto, 1 ton*™
F I
for 1 A. $n.oo. Spanish
O. Tati
ajsssss
i Ml IMrrrhtm u tW* rra««*| u Umr
urrvfettn •« •«» magmm, m WW*v tmA w SSc. frr S ■
Mention this |spez, jan»-wkp2t cow
Peterfcin Cotton Seed.
FORTY PER CBHTOF NET LINT.
APKN GROWING, PROLIFIC UPLAND COT-
U ton, yields abundantly, bears drought better
than othe r sorts, large bolls, easy to gather. Small
seed well linted, staple equal to best upland*, and
1.250 to 1,800 pounds yields 600 pound* net lint.
Many excellent planters have said it is tho
ONLY REALLY IMPROVED COTTON.
Letters from nearly every southern state' report
uniformly in favor of every claim made for this
reed, many over 40 per cent of lint, none lev* than
87 to 38,
SEND FOR THE CIRCULAR
and see the statements of yield per acre, and yield
of lint, made by men who have tried it. Every
sack bears the brand of J. A. Peterkin and hi* Clip*
pfiig agent, B. E. Clark.
TAKE NO OTHER.
Price, 91.50 per bushel.
J. H. ALEXANDER
Augusta, Oal
General Agent for Georgia and all Points West,
N. B. To supply more distant point*, agencies
will be established in some principal cities in tho
several states, of which notice will be given ou ap
plication.
Mention this paper,dec!7 sun4t wky8t
KAFFIR CORN.
, 1 pound 9L42, H pound
GARDEN AND FIELD SEEDS,
Grasses and all Seeda of Forago Crops. Nearly
everything desirable; both old and new. Priced
list on application _ J..H. ALEXANDER,
Sfentlon this paper.
Seed store, Augusta. Ga.
Jan7—sun4t wkySt
WHOLESALE HEADQUARTERS
FOR PURE EASTERN
Seed Potatoes
We have bought and shipped 2,000 barrels
SELECTED EASTERN EARLY ROSE,
BELECTKD EASTERN EARLY GOODRICH.
SELECTED EASTERN EARLY PKKRLB88.
SELECTED EASTERN EARLY QUEEN OF THE
The last named Is a new variety somewhat like
the old yellow Pinkeyes.
We are prepared to sell In carload lots delivered
at any depot In Georgia, Alabama or Florida.
W.F. 8TOKESACO.
Wholesale Reed Potato Merchant*.
Also Wholesale Fruits and Produce generally.
Atlanta, Georgia.
P. B.—Don’t be deceived Into buying cheap west
ern, so-called, seed which are dear at any price.
lALLKINDSOl’l
SEEDSlPLANTS
T. W. WOOD & SON9,
Who’.i.I. tad E.UII Sced.min. Richmond. V*.
Mention thU ptper.JtnlO-wky'm
THE GREAT COTTON AND CORN
FERTILIZER
MANUFACTURED BY
GEO. W. SCOTT & CO.
ATLANTA, GA.
TT IS FOR SALE AT MOST OF THE THOMI-
1 nent towns in Georgia, Alabama and South
Carolina. If no agent at your depot, write for cir
culars containing analysis, results of contests for
premiums In 1884 and 1885, and
LIST OF PREMIUMS FOR 1880,
To GEO. W. SCOTT & CO..
Mention this paper. feb2-wkyJm
GUAN0H3UAN0J
•"Sterling!” “Lockwood!”
T AGAIN OFFER MY POPULAR BRANDS OF
1 Fertilizers (“Sterling’' Guano, "Sterling" Acid
Phosphate and "Lockwood" Cotton Grower to tbo
trade In Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.
These goods are too well known and timo tested
to require any extended notice. They will be kept
up to their old standard of excellence, and I will
sell them to reliable dealers and merchants (cash
or on time) at as low a price as is !Conslxtent with
their high quality. For terms, prices and analysis
P. O. Box 244.
Mention this paper.
! NECESSITY TO THE FARMER!
By which the coet of fottllltero may be reduced to
8BQ.SO
Per ton. Its Introduction will mark a new era In
agriculture. Send for circulars to A. A. Do Loach A
Bro.. Atlanta, Ga., Manufacturers of Waterwheel's
Hills, Millstones, etc.Jan5wkly
■Badillo Improved Chester I
Th* test lief in tb* world. Nell
SfiiSlapeibd
cf tfcU Uo.%
kshh
IwkrTnin’tm Mn
Farm Loans.
PNEY TO LOAN.
5 years on Improved Farms
in the counties of DeKalb, Cobb,
Bartow, Floyd, Polk, Troup,
Henry, Clayton, Newton, Mor
gan, Spalding. Coweta, Pike,
.lonroe and Walton. C. P.
N. Barker, 31# Peachtree St;
ACHE HARROW.
Whether row keep cneer mow
■m should have Tlie Dairy
t'orld, the leading Dairy
Journal published. . .
Will save you hundreds of I
dollars yearly. I
Tester, pnee $1. for Testing milk of 6 cows at
once; one "Perfect” MilkiagTube,price75^*
for cows with sore or obstructed teats, and to
werent milk fever; one cony "Hazard's Boner
Making,” a practical guide tn good dairy*"**
wice 35c., anu Tlie Dairy World* price
me year to same uddre**—all for On* DotUfc VI
AiJm. THE DAIRY WORLD,^ ^
Mention thfop*pcr. fthfi-vkjU
