The Atlanta constitution. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, February 09, 1886, Image 2

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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