Newspaper Page Text
2
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1887.
FARMS AND FARMERS.
Short Talks With Farmers on
Farm Topics.
THE FARM AND QUESTION BOX.
Should thePlotr Stop During Drouth—Theo
rist ti. Facta—Various Questions
Propounded and Answered.
Should the Plows Stop During Droughts.
II the weather is very dry and the fields
clean, is there anything gained l»y continued
plowing? Farntont differ on this point. Few
test the matter by direct experiment, such as
plowing part of a field and leaving a part un
plowed, and then measuring carefully the
yield from each, and until this isdono wo shall
not be able to reach very positive conclusions.
•One is very apt to pursue tho name plan con
tinuously. If ho begins in his early fanning
lifo to plow his crops by routine, without ro-
gard to peculiarity of seasons, ho will bo very
apt to oontlnuo doing so alibis lifo. Hence
Ills experience will bo one-sided. Another
Starts out with the idea that It can do no good
to plow, if no rain Inis fallen since tho last
plowing, nml ho continues on that
lino, waiting for a rain before ho plows
again, lleuco his experience 1* one-sided
also. Tho truth is that, fanners, while claim
ing to 1* very practical, havo a good many
theories, and souiatlmes r.tlck to them pretty
tenaciously. It is pro|icr that they should
have theories; people in all associations have
them and act upon them. How could •
■tart out to do anything without a theory
to wldch is the best way to do it. Tho point
to bo guarded is to test theories by results, and
Hot hold oh to them if they do not come up to
the test. Wo are very prone to tiecoino wedde *
to theories; the fanner nlxivo nil others ought
to guard against this tendency in our nature
because nature, with which he has to den
■o much, inarches uniformly on in her fixe<
prescribed ways and pays no attention what
ever to his preconceived notions.
Yet in the absence of well established facts
tho liest wo can do is to theorize
fully and cautiously, and then follow tho lead
of that one which, everything considered, op
pears most reasonable. Let us apply this to
the inattor in hand. Shall wo continuo to
plow crop* If no rain has fallen since tho last
plowing, mid tho laud is perfectly clean -
What to tho object of plowing during cultiva
tion? First, to kill gross mid weeds; |but in
thin case none nto present. Hccond, to break
the crust and have n mulch of pulverized
»t the surfuco. In tho case sup|msed there is
Do crust, and the mutch Is already present. Is
them anything else toltoaceomplir lmhty plow
ing undersuch circumstances ? We havo heard
1 farmers say: ”J*low In dry weather; It will
bring up moisture from below.” Bo It will, If
you plow deep. You will bring
op moist soil from below and
leave it at or near tho surface, whore its moist-
nro can readily *vai>oralo and pass off into the
air. Is anything gained l>y that? Btirring
the soil deeply in dry weather, only makes it
dry off tho faster.
If otir premlacs aro corn'd wo see nothing
to bo gained by rqx'oti d plmvltign during pro-
tmetod drought, and If not tho lutior expended
lx jjltt no much h«t. lint tl l» exceedingly Ini
portant tc bo xttte Hint our prom Inc. »« cor
net, that there no no young weed, or griux
itartod, hut ecorccly vlulhlc, only welting for a
lain to take powcaelon of tho loll, Tho far
mer who la enught napping on this point and
(top. fill plow a k rory apt to tuffer. Kxaiulne
carefully and aeo It tliore la no young gran
lurking In tho duaty surfuco; If there la, when
t doos coma It will make great headway
o cron iaii be gone over with
W.L. 3,
\ TUB ffAltai AND UMMTIOK BOX.
Itr. fir. r„ Jones, conlcwcd Iho highest and
ttfist agrlt’HlIurul anlhorlljr lu Ilia Rotlin, preside,
over Ihto <lc|Niitmctit. lie solicits practical sug
gestion* from formers sod others Intemted.
i T. D. M„ Xdiiuis, Mbs.: 1 have a lino cow that Is
Rratigcly affoctod. About three weeks ago one side of
her Img swelled up nnd she nave bloody milk from
•tic teat, which beenmu ropy in a day or two. I
wed coal oil ou It and it po*«od away. Blnee then
•ho bus had a* had cough, and mattering at tho
fyea, has a sleepy look, and hangs her head when
Handing. ] am giving sulphur and rosin, about
two spoons of each, onco a day. Please tell mu
What aits her and what to do? Would you um> the
latlk? Bhccata hearty, and lias not failed in her
tntlk, tail scums to get worse—looks worse about tho
•yes tills morning. A .Aloud of mine hasouo wluwo
bag U now in tho (kune condition mino was three
frocks ago. Wo arc afraid it is souto ucw disease.
1 Tho trouble In bag Is evidently inllainmation
far gorget. This is sometimes produced by feed-
•' ing very rich nitrogenous food, as cotton seed,
or cotten wed meal. Somo cows can cat quite
largo quantities of theso without injury
other* tolerate only small rations of them.
Cases have been published recently whorecowi
Were supposed to havo beep poisoned from eat
Ing tho refused nmsli from breweries. ThU is
also olio of theso conccniratml nitrogenous
foods, and invertlgntlon bos shown that it was
excessive feeding with it, and not any poison
ous qualities, which produced tho sickness.
We mention these, things tocallyour attention
to Uivnt as possible sources of tho troublo with
pour cow. They dernngo tho whole system
mud uioy show their effect in derangement of
one or more organs.
f A. V. F., Wilke* county, N. t\: I would he pleased
tohaveyuur opinion of oar method of cultivatiuf
•oru In this kM Ion.
Our land*, tho valley of the Yadkin river, may 1<*
divided Into two Chiracs; fant, tho Muck sandy
loam, xvhleh Is very fertile, producing from SO to GO
bushels per acre, and then that which lias a greater
per cent, of vibite sand. We plant in rows :i^ to 4
Iffet apart and 1 to 3 feet between the hills, one
•talk In each. At firct plowing wo run around with
bar to tho com, throw Ing tho dirt from it; second
the suuc way, rumilng close to the com, which ex-
pasta tho root a good deal; next time turn tho wing
and throw dirt to tho uom, and fourth the same
fray, plowing out the middles. When the crop Is
usually “laid by,”. If It la beginning to allk out, tf
pot we plow through again.
• We om tfw "IHiItt" plow Aw bre«k(uf and run
ning around, and then the doubk-tont stock.
, la the draught of the “Dixie" as light as the old-
fashioned tw toting or turn aliovel ? What month is
Dm best time to row grass and clover seed, ami if
pawn with wheat can it ho cut after the wheat Is
harvested?
V 1. Barring and plowing deop tho drat time
nay bo *dmtsstblo—it may do little harm; but
deep plowing and break lug of root* after that
fa objectionable. Tho sweep, or somo equiva
lent, shallow * tinning plow is called for after
tho tint working, and the com ought to bo laid
by, if anything, licfore the tassels appear. This
mode of cultivation is shown by direct experi-
menta to produce largor yields thou lire deep
plowing, h»ot cutting method.
- 2. If the ground is autticiently wet and the
trCather uot too hot, Bcptcmbrr i* Uie best
month to sow gross and clovrr. Next to Sep
tember he latter part of February and first
half of March. If they oro sown with wheat
they win not yield much of a cutting the first
year, unless the land is exceedingly rich. Sown
by themselves lu full they tnako a fair cutting
ll»e next sprfe;£.
M. F. ft., Newton, Mta.: 1 have a mule Hist has
fcad something mooring on the upper eyelid for
throe m miL-, uuirh extends from one comer of
the rye to the other, and is as large as a hickory-
put—the surfaceallek, uutll a few days ago, when
It began to blred. fan you give me a remedy that
frtn remove It?
Should take It to bo a cancerous tumor, and
Will have to be removed by knife. But for Its
hfoxiiidty to the eye you might apply ararnic—
tae drachm to lard four drachms, rubbing It
well on and around base of tumor onco a week
till it comet off.
W. U. A., Equality, Ala.: Find inclosed a stalk
of gnus that I found about my potato bod this
spring. What is it and its use? It has roots similar
to reed or cane and aprouta at each joint—many
sprouts or shoots.
Plant sent is the noted Johnson gram (sorg
hum halapenae)—a very great pest in gardens,
orchards and cultivated fields, but a hardy,
productive forage plant when properly man
aged ; but the land mast be turned over to it
In perpetuity. It makes good forage if rut
just before the seed head appears: cut later It
la woody and of littlo value. On good land it
may be ent three or more times in summer, if
rains are abundant.
Benton, Beott county, Mo.,0. B. G., Fair Forest
Rpartcnburg county, wishes hi know how to get rl '
of musk ram. I am a professional trapper am
would say: Purchase two dozen No. 1 steel trap*,
set traps on aud about their feeds, chunks and <
the end of logs, where they use. J. K. Deatox.
Subscriber, Bowman, Ga.: Mr. ft. IV. E. inquires
how to euro spavin ore horses' hind leg. Catch
toad frog, split it open on belly, put it oil the kn<
on the leg, bind it there tightly, and let It stay ten
hours. Keep this up for seven days, and I will in
sure a euro. It will not remove bump, but cure it.
Du not let borso gnaw lb b. 31. b.
It. W. Rogers, Taliaferro county, Ga.: To destroy
tnttsk rat* take an old bcctpim or box about thirty
inches long aud twelve inches both ways Insldi
Rink It in the earth near the water, or where they
use most big a hole In the ground and put the
end that has the head on down in the ground till ft
Is about sunk level with tho earth. Bo s
where the water won't rise in the box. It must be
clear of water all the time. Put sour com, upplc-s
or musk melon rinds In the Mix. The rats will get
In the liox to get the bait uiid can't get out. They
can't live anything that is hard and straight and up
and down. When roasting ear* coino bait
them. When I wus gatnerlng corn l/»*.t fall I
caught flYc rats In ono night. It Is n good plan
when you find one in your gum to let it stay
other nlglit, ns inoro will go to it. You may catch
them in atucl trap* by placing under water where
they aw, but the gum In the surest plan.
F. H. Please tell tnu what I ran put on her-
mu.la gm>s to kill It out, or whether there I.* any
thing that will kill it except taking It up by tho
roots.
Nothing will kill lierniuria gross, that will
not kill tho land at tho satnn time. Plough
ing up and bringing It to the aurfaco in hot
dry weather, is tho most pr.iticablo and effect
ual method of destroying it.
Mrs. T. A. M., Cottage Mills, Ga.: I desire to ob
tain a littlo Information regarding poultry. Last
year, for the first time, my chickens were exceed
ingly unfortunate ami out of a hatch ofr<00 I only
succeeded In raising about 1-0. ThLi year I am un
dergoing the sumo misfortune. The malady is en
tirely new to nic, on it In to every cue else to whom
I lmvo referred the matter. The fowls grow oil'at
first as nicely ns could be desired and seem perfectly
hcnltlily, but when they attain theagcof*nmo2%
or 3 mouths, their head aud nock feathers begin to
sited off and continue to do so uutll they frequently
lieenmu entirely hare all over, and tho hide lias a
dry scurfy appearance slmllur to a mungy dog. The
bfu-k of the neck draws until the head Is oil out of
position, aa though tho rear of tho nook was too
short
They continue in this condition several days and
then die, but they nover “droop" nor loso their ap
petite, but seem |icrfectly hearty and cut ravenously
up to tho very last. I dissected ono a few days ago
and found It worms in hi* intestines, some as long
ns three and a half or four Inches. Now, I want to
know If you can diagnose their caso for me, nnd
give me a remedy for them? Does the disease pro
duce tho worms, or vice versa? Please Inform mo
where I can obtain a reliable work on poultry rais
ing, their diseases and treatment, a good work that
you cab recommend.
Have never aeon a com) exactly liko tho ono
you describe, but tbo symptoms point to tho
presence of lice. There are a number of kinds
of thoao animals that infest chickens—ono
foods upon ntul destroys their feathers.
A gontloman In Augusta, Go., wroto to tho
Poultry Keeper, published at PhUadolrife,
Penn., as follows; “Would like to ktsJJT*
what is tho Matter with my chicks. About
flvo wooks* old, they soein to droop a fowdnys,
get very poor, although ent heartily most of
tho timo, and finally dio. * • Havo ex
amined, but can't find any Hco or mltc9. A
ben luts just died. First begun to mope about
nml droop a littlo, ato very well, hor comb
turned white, thou died. Commenting on nbovo
tho editor remarks: “Mr. M. says ho has ex
amined for llco nml mites, which wo do not
doubt, but tho symptoms show that liuo are at
There is a kind of louso you must
find—ho gets down closo to tho skin at tho
luuto of tho feathers of tho heml nml neck, nml
■ like tho skin in color that if ha kcop*
sllll you will uot seo him. Add fivo drops of
carbolic ncld to a tnblcspoouful of lard and put
about a drop of tho'lnrd on tho head, neck ami
vent. Then dust in among tho feathers with
insect powder,"
Wo know no book which fully moots your
wants.
W. A. II., Wales, Trim.: Can yon tell me tho
best time to cut briars to keep thorn from coming up
again. Is there any particular month to destroy
em entirely ?
No, wo cannot. Constant grubbing during
tlie months of Aitgust, September and October
might destroy thorn.
Enquirer, Bailey, Miss,: 1. Docs clearing land when
io sap to In tho timber Injure it* productiveness?
win having some cleared, ami some of my neigh
bors say U will not produce as well ns If It was
cleand when the mp was down. If they are right,
‘ it* explain why.
What do yon think of marl that analytes ns
below, at fit)a ton?
ANALYSIS Or WlltTB MAUL
Rand 16.91 Vc
Water * *
line..
1.20 ’po
.... 81.20 vc
...» 20.10 Vc
.... 4.W V<*
Riilphur 1° add
0.61 VC
.24 VC
1.10 %»c
00
.11 VC
Total - lW.OOVc
The sample was quite dry and of Irregular physi
cal constitution. It was pulverlml and thoroughly
mixed beftwe selecting sample for analysis.
It is the rtrhcst marl known to mo In the rtate, or
the United State* John A. Mykks,
State Chemist.
1. This is ono of tho fAnciful notions orbing
from tho Imperfect knowledge of tho
u.rture of plant*. The common idea
that tho sap ascends from tho
■oil in tho spring, mid descends into tho soil
Again towards winter. It is true that substan
ces are taken from tho soil and carried up into
the plant during spring and summer whilst ac
tive growth Is progre&*i»£—but after these sub
stances get into the plant they are not re
turned to tho soil again, except so much of
them as ore contained in the leaves which fall
tho ground. Little or nothing goes back to
the soil through the roots.
2. It Is a most excellent article, and compost
ed with uutcli or vegetable matter ought to givo
good results—not very promptly however—tho
second year more perhaps than the first. If it
conveniently located, not involving much
hauling U would not bo dear at $10.00 a ton, it
ery fiuely powdered. The coarseness or Cue-
of tho article affects its value greatly.
L. O. Bridewell,Poanregord. Miss: I have prepared
the following comport for half an acre of strawbere
1,000 poumU «t*bk‘ and eovr lot manure, one
Ired pounds tine ground bone, one hundjrd
pounds Colton seed meal, twenty fire pounds muri
ate of potash, and twenty-five pounds nitrate of
soda. Is this, chemically considered, a good fer
tiliser for strawberries? Would an addition of fifty
pounds arid phosphate make It a more yerftet fer
tilizer for the purport*? My object is to get the most
perfect fertilizer for strawberries. My land ft good,
rolling, pine and oak growth, with light, inclined
sandy surikee, and ted clay fub-eoll.
\Ye have not experimented ourselves suffi
ciently to decide what is tlio best manure for
strawberries. Neither have we seen results of
sufficiently careful experiments anywhere to
decide the matter. General experience, how
ever, seems to indicate that in our southern
climate tho strawberry will not bear a* heavy
applications of stable mannre a« it will at tho
north. Tho effect of overdoses of it seems to
lie the production of foliage at the expense of
fruit. In the neighborhood of New York city
strawberry beds oro covered three inches deep
with stable manure, and tills worked into tbo
soil to a depth of five or six inches.
The compost you have prepared is a very
complcto one, contains everything which a
plant needf, and very well proportioned. From
general consideration* should conclude that it
would suit tho strawberry admirably, and only
two changes ore suggested—an increase of
ground bone, making it 200 pounds instead of
100; and, lid, reserving the nitrate of soda and
applying it o» a top dressing just after tho
plants bloom in tho spring. Would not add any
add phosphate on light sandy soil. Bone is pre
ferable to it on srrch ko?R Work tho miuitmt
veil into tho soil before tho plant* are set out.
Tho strawberry Is a deep rooting plant, and
the manure should not be entirely at or near
tho surface. A little powdered charcoal
around each plant sometimes gives most ex
cellent results.
J. fi. Briggs, Anderson county, S. C.—I have a very
no crop of union* till* year, nnd I wish to know
wliat time they fL-#uld be taken np «»ut of the
and ii ho the lest way to put them up to
keep them through the* winter,
Gather when tops turn yellow and shrivel
up. Spread out on ground in layers ono onion
deep nml not touching each other. Turn them
every dey or two to facilitate drying. In
•iglit or ten days they will Ire dry enough to
house. Spread them in layers not over six
inches deep on slatted shelves in a dry airy
placcso they can'get air from below as well ns
Cut off tops before putting on shelve*.
In winter spread out In cellar nnd when
weather gets very cold cover with a little
straw, but bo careful not to got them too
. They will stand much bold. Nover
ltundl.- them when frozen.
G. K. R-, Hickory, Mb*: Flense let me know if
knflir corn nltont waist high to g»H*l feed for horse*.
Cannot answer from experience, but infer
from analogy, tiiat it has not reached it*
maximum nulritioiisness at Hint stage. All
the sorghum family tiro most nutritious after
tho seeds form.
Subscriber, York, Go.: Will It Injure corn rocut
oTtlie stalks just above tho car—and at what stngfi
should tho cum, bo in ? or when to do it?
If tbo corn is well beyond the dough state
and is getting decidedly hard, littlo injury re
sults from cutting off the tops. Northern
farmers usually cut tho wholo stalk down just
after tho grain “glazes"—which means is
turning hard. They cut mid shuck up tho
wholo stalk end cure it as forage, and their
com scents to fill out well. It is a much better
plan titan to pull tlio fodder. Whenovcr
fodder may bo safely pulled tho tops inny be
safely cut off.
Jackson County,! Ga. In reply to O. B. G., of how
to kill muskrat*. I have been troubled
uncwlint myself with them n* a crock fl<
through my land. I have had my best com nnd
oat* eut down by them, until I found a remedy. It
Is simple nnd effective. Find the trail, cut down
tlio bank near the trull ubovc water mark so us to
make a step lit the bunk, then take some comtrcad
cruuths, and pluco on this step, also a piece about
as largo as a walnut, in which make an Incision and
place some rough on rat*. They will cat combread;
don't think they will ent any other halt, as 1 have
tried apple*. If you fiolson one you need not dread
them any more that season; they will decamp.
JAMBIQ. ItAXSCY.
8. L. .It, Marion, N. C: 1st, I want to know the
best method by whlak hlllxMo laud can U» kept
from 1 washing. >•}
2. If ditching should 1)0 your sitcffor,
plcnso state what grade they should hare to thor
oughly drain nml not wash?
a What is tho most successful way to bring old
fields that .havo been washed, to a stnto of cultiva
tion?
1. Terracing land Is now generally conceded
to lm tho most effective preventive against
washing. Last summer wo in.‘‘peeted a largo
farm where terracing had been practiced for
•omo fifteen years. Bart of it previous to that
time had been scored with great gullies, but
at present nono wore tola*found. Il was in most
admirable condition though very hilly and
broken. Tliore was not oslnglo hill* side ditch
on tho place. Tbo rule, generally adopted is
to lay off line* of level (strictly) at such die*
tancos apart that there shall lm a fall of thr> o
feet between thorn. A bed Is thrown up along
tho lino of level, throwing two furrows on an
unbroken strip about a foot wido. The.su beds
•ro to l>o permanent, never disturbed any
more but allowed to grow up in weeds and
grass, to bind tho soil with their
roots nnd net as filters to water
coming down upon thorn from above. All
rows nro laid off by these horizontal l*eds, in a
»paoo between two of them a part by tho up
per, nnd a part by tho lower, so that if there
be any short rows, they will fall In the middle.
Tho plowing, both lit preparation for and in
cultivation of tho crop, continually shifts the
soil down hill, but tho process may bo hasten
ed by always breaking tho laud with a liiilsido
plow, throwing the dirt down hill all tho time,
if tho permanent horizontal beds get broken
through by heavy rains, they must Ik* repaired
and strengthened. They will require looking
after until they become firmly established.
2. liiilsido ditches, If properly constructed,
may also do much toward tho preservation of
tho soil. Even where terraces are used it Is
well to have ditches to cut off water from un
cultivated slopes nbovo cultivated fields.
There are two conditions essei rial to proper
working of liiilsido ditches: ono that they bo
deep and large enough to carry off all tho wa
ter in tho heaviest rainfalls. If they ever
break over they do more harm than good. Do
not depend on damn on the lower side to hold
the water. Sink tlio ditch itself deep enough
below the natural surface and if you choose
throw tho dirt taken out on tho land above
the ditch, not iu tho shape of a damn there,but
scatter it broadcast. Tlio other condition L)
to leave a strip two or three feet wido along
the upper margin of tho ditch, not plowed, in
order that water may not wash it readily, and
that it may grow up in gra-s and
weeds, to filter out soil that is being
washed down into tho ditch from above.
Ditches should havo good fall; say, on medium
slopes, ono foot in sixty. On very strop slope*
still more. Even where ditches are used, rows
should bo run on a level. Horizontal row* U
an essential thing on a cotton farm under any
system. On lauds tilled with grass and clover
roots, and occasionally under the plow, they
are not so important.
3. Tho first thing Is to terrace them and be
gin horizontal plow ing at once. Where tho
terrace border* cross gullies, strengthen them
with rocks, logs, brush, etc. Fill in tho gul
lies a* much a* pcssiblo with trash of every
kind, and then cut down their sides and fill in
enough to enable yon to ply across them. This
last is of first importance. Plow the edges in
creasing but lift tho plow over tho middle.
Subscriber, TUomzston, Go.. Please tell me how
to extermiuste Hoc now on cotton and killing it
out; also liow to nuike that which to now clear of
them remain *\ Dry weather will not do it, ss wc
have been try tug that for the last ten days.
Plant lice can b« killed by certain tub-
stances, but whether they could be applied
economically, that is to toy, so as to pay oh
field crops, is doubtful. Tho two substances
found most efficient to kill lice are decoctions
of tobacco and keroeeno emulsion.. IMo
stems or other refuse tobacco stuped in hot
water antil it becomes very strong is often
used for the purpose. But tlio kerosene emul
sion is superior to it. As the latter is one of
the very best of Insecticides, wo givo
method of preparing it: * Tako ono
pound of hard soap or ono quart of
lye (soft) soap, add ono quart of water and
boil until the soap is dissolved; then one pint
of kerosene is udded, and the two thoroughly
mixed. The thorough mixing Is all important
aud should bo done with a force pump or
syringe, the churning being continued until
what druggists call an emulsion is formed.
When properly done the oil and soap will not
separate upon standing. It can bo put in bot
tles or Jugs for future use. To apply mix 1
fifteen quarts of water with one quart of the
emulsion. The application is the' difficult
part. It should l»e very thorough, and tills
thoroughness can only bo attained by a strong
syriuge or force pump, which sball forco tho
liquid into all nooks nnd corners of tho leaves
and branches infested—some instruments in-
ented for applying poisons to the cotton eat-*r-
pill.tr might answer in this case, hut whether
tlio destruction of the lice will pay for cost of
instrument and labor of applying tlio emulsion
unsettled question. The cost of the
emulsion alone is very small.
J. M. P., Glendale, Ark. Please tell me wliat will
cure footevil. I have a mare that took it’a week
it lm* gone nil round her hoof. I have
tried several thing*, but it gels worse all tlio time.
Wc understand “footevil" to begin in tho
soft part* in tlio interior of the foot, and grad
ually works up and out where tho hair and
hoof join. If there is a soft swelling below,
cut into it and let tlio pus escape downward.
Inject into any holes which may ho present a
solution of oncounco of white vitriol (sulphate
of zinc) to four ounces of water, onco a day.
Or you might try dropping 8 or 10 drops of
muriatic acid onco a day, fur a few days, into
any opening above the hoof.
G. A. G. ( Currituck, C. If., N. C.: 1. Can you tell
ic how to gel rid of or destroy sweet fluff/ I have a
pond in my field (about % of an acre), width mokes
it look very badly, and would like to get clear of it.
2. In making comport during summer nnd fall of
woods mould and rich dirt, would the use of lime or
plaster be of any licncfit to it, or would it be better
to keep hogs penned on it three or four month* and
then dig up, say January or February following?
What would Iks bent to mix with it then, with or
without bog manure? I wish to apply compost to
Irish itfriatoes and other truck.
1. JWo cannot, will Homo reader whonen,
bo kind enough to givo information asked for.
!. It would iinprovo tlio moss quito do
ck idly to mix limo with it, say flvo bushels
(slaked) to fivo two-liorso wagon loads of
mould aud earth. Mix thoroughly. It would
bo well, in addition, to pen hogs on it, for tho
sake of the manure they would add to it. But
in cither case, with or without tho hogs, it
would bo necessary to add a good deal of con
centrated fertilizing material, to mako a first-
class compost. Bear In mind that tho most of
tho compost, after nil, is simple dirt. There
would l»o present a certain percentage of
tablo matter, or linmus, but it would not ho
large, and would not furnish necessary quan
tities of phosphoric add, potash
or nitrogen. Theso in some consecrated
form, would havo to ho added to It. Toatwo-
liorso wagon laud of compost (about 40 bnsliols)
add say from BO to 1U0 pounds of cotton seed
meal (according as land is rich or poor), 150
pounds of acid phosphate, and 100 pounds of
kainit; tlio last, if soil is light and sandy, nnd
apply this to ono aero in tlio drill. It would
bo a fair average manuring. When you recall
tlio fact tlint tlio soil of n new-ground to tho
dopth of tlirco to four inches is mado of just
such materials os you speak of (vegotahlo
mould and rich earth), you will appreciate how
largo quantities of tlio proposed .compost (be
fore concentrated fertilizers nro added to it)
would lmvo to bo applied to on aero to make it
productive. Ono huiidrod and fifty wagon
loads of stnff would not, when spread out,
cover on acre more than two incites deep.
A FLEECIER STAPLE
Than the Ordinary Product of tho
Common Cotton Fields.
CROWN IN THREE SOUTHERN STATES.
Sen Inland Colton, It« HLtory. II. Cnltlra-
tion, Wliat ft toil, to Crow It, nnd
Wliat It I. Worm In tlio Market*
Subscriber, York, Ga.: 1. I havo a homo that has a
cough; don’t think it is distemper. What I* good
for it? 2. Also a mule that is always foaming at tlio
moutltor hloblxjring. Is that healthy? • What cauvcs
It, and what will euro it?
1. Givo night and morning ono drachm of
indido of potassium and half a drachm of
pulverized digitalis in a bran mash. If there
Ls any enlargement of throat on outside, rub
with Komo stimulating liniment.
2. Constant and excessive slubbering is ex-
haunting and weakening to an nniinal. It
may como from several different things—
most frequently from eating certain plants at
certain stage* of growth—as second crop clo
ver, iespedega, white clover, etc. Sometimes
from a soro mouth. Cannot tell what is tlio
cause in your mule, and cannot givo a remedy.
Generally when tho existing cause is removed
tlio troublo ceases.
A. M. W., Carsonvlllc, Ga.: Will you please give
directions for prorogating tho Lccontc pear from
cuttings. Best limo ami how to put them out.
Have tried it two years with very poor success.
Give the modus npcrandl.
Mako cutting* about a foot long. Cut off
tlio lower cud with a slanting cut opposite a
bud and bury in soli iu upwright position leav
ing only ono bud above surface. Ground
shoal'd bo deeply nnd thoroughly prepared and
if necessary enriched. Plant In rows three
feet apart, cuttings n foot a part in row and
cultivate well from early spring till autumn.
November is tlio best timo tu put out the cut
tings.
Subscriber, Bowman, Ga., to Mr. G. B. O., Bslr
Forest, B. C. You cannot poison muskrat*, but you
an sicken them with Rough on Rata. l*ut a mo lo
orate amount In corn dough mid lay about where
they do tho mischief; they will cat it nnd leave.
Strychnlno has no effect. Or you can trap the
muskrat with small steel traps. Set t lie (nip in their
slides on the bank, and cover up with loose dirt, so
mi see no sign of trap. Needs iotnW. jl» a-
catch them every time. D. 31. D.
THE FARMERS’ CONVENTION.
An Interesting Programme of Exercises Pre
pared for the Convention.
Commissioner Henderson and tho attaches
of tho agricultural department liaro prepared
a very interesting programme for tho approach
ing convention of farmers. Of course tlio
programme is not obligatory and may bo
changed as tho circumstances may demand.
It is necessary to tlio success of tho convention
that something of the kind bo prepared, and
tlio programme prepared is os follow*:
1. The existence and extent of agricultural de-
pree-lon in tho cotton states Assigned to North
Carolina.
i General view of the causes and remedies. As
signed to TeuncsKO.
a. The exact object that a former should seek to
accomplish, and good management in aflccting
these objects. Assigned to Alabama.
4. Government, in Us relation to agriculture. As
signed to Georgia.
•&. Tho use or commercial fertilizer*, in relation to
present condition of agriculture. Assigned to
ii Carolina.
, “All cotton;" Its relation to the present condl-
t of agriculture. Assigned to Mto^issipid.
There is one crop raised in Georgia that nets
the producer more money than any other pro
duct of the fields. It is “sea island cotton,"
called so because it was formerly raised on tho
islands off the coast of Georgia, South Carolina
and Florida.
“There Ls no good reason now why this name
should be still applied to it, for of late years
tho cotton of this peculiar variety has been
grown with great success as far as forty miles
4rom the coast. ‘Sea island cotton,’ however,
is the way it is known In commerce, and tho
name is aliout as good, and perhaps more sug
gestive than any other that could Iks employed.
“Few people in Atlanta have seen this varie
ty of the fleecy staple! It is fleecy, for it* iibro
is almost two-thirds longer than that ortho
ordinary product of the common cotton fields.
It is valuable fur several reasons, mainly be
cause it is difficult to grow, there being few
localities that will produce it. Its pqpluction
in tlio United States Is confined to tho tlirco
stairs of Georgia, South Carolina nnd Florida,
and no where else Ls it grown, savo on the his
toric soil of Egypt, where a coarser and less
valuable variety is produced in limited quanti
ties."
Tho speaker was a south Georgia planter
who annually produces several hundred bags
of sea Island staple. .What ho did not know
about its cultivation and value was, ordinarily'
speaking, not worth knowing.
“How many bags are grown?”
“Tho three states I have named produce
about 47,000 Lags, worth, at tlio average price,
three and one-quartor million dollars. An
ordinary bag of sea island cot
ton weighs about .*180 pounds.
It is not packed as tightly ns tho
common staple, because it Ls thought that com
pressing the halo injures tho fibre lory materi
ally. Taking tho prices of late years as tho
average, a bag of sea island Is worth about $72,
or twice as much as common cotton; indeed, it
is a littlo more valuable, for tho bags are not
as heavy. In ginning tlio cotton a special gin
is used; it is necessary' to get the seed extrud
ed w ithout injuring or cutting tho fibre. An
ordinary gin would play havoc with sea Island
cotton. Theso special gins nro costly, and are
not numerous, therefore it Is usual in country
places to buy sea island cotton in tho seed nnd
ship it to some place where it can ho ginned.
Tho process of ginning is slow, ono bog a day
being about tlio capacity of an ordinary gin.
Tho machlno is called a ‘roller gin/ and is
mannfacturcd only in England and Connecti
cut. Tho seed arc pulled out—not cutout,
“What dock it cost to gin a balo?"
“The sinner will gin tho bale for tho seed.
Tho seed are very valuable. They are round
almost, and black as tar. They contain more
oil than ordinary cotton seed; tho hull encas
ing tlio seed is very hard, and a bushel is worth
considerably more than a bushel of common
seed. There are only two cotton mills in the
United States where tho seed are manipulated,
ono in Brooklyn, Now York, tlio other at Mad
ison, Florida. Tho bulk of tho seed go to
England, where tlio oil is extracted. It is
used in making finer grades of toilet' soaps,
and Is also largely consumed under tho name
of ‘ollvo oil.' when treated to a thorough
process of refinement it cannot bo distinguish
ed from pure olive oil, nnd those claiming to
know pretehd that for all purposes it is Jnst as
good, and really possesses some properties oliyre
oil has not, and therefore is betto^. Anyhow,
Beware cf Scrofula
Scrofula Is probably more general than an,
other disease. It is insidious In character,
and manifests Itself in running sores, pustular
eruptions, bolls, swellings, enlarged Joints,
abscesses, sore eyes, etc. Hood’s Sarsaparilla
expels all trace of scrofula from the blood,
leavlog It pnre, enriched, and healthy.
«I waa severely afflicted with scrofula, and,
over a year had two running sore* on my neck.
Took five bottles Hood’s Sarsaparilla, and am
cured.'' C. B. tovejor, Lowell, Mass.
C. A. Arnold, Arnold, Me., bad scrofulous
sores for seven years, spring and fall. Hood’s
Sarsaparilla cured him.
Sait Rheum
Is one of the most disagreeable diseases causei
by Impure bipod. It is readily cured by Hood!*.
Sarsaparilla, tbo great blood purifier.
William Spies, Elyria, 0., suffered greatly
from erysipelas and salt rheum, caused by
handling tobacco. At times his hands would
crack open and bleed. He tried various prep
arations without aid; finally took Hood's Sar
saparilla, and now says: “ I am entirely well.”
“My eon had salt rheum on his bauds and
ou tho calves of his legs. Ho tood Hood’s
Sarsaparilla and Is entirely cured.” J. B.
Blanton, Mt. Vernon, Ohio.
Hood’s Sarsaparilla .(
Bold by all druggtot 3. £1; six for $5. Mado only
by C. I. ROOD & CO., Apothecaries,Lowell. Mass.
IOO Doses One Dollar
POULTRY.
B. Credit; its relation to tho present condition of
agriculture. Assigned to Louisians.
0. Kxteoslve and Intensive tanning. Assigned to
Florida.
K10. blvmity of crops, as promoiive'of agricultural
prowrity. Assigned to Texas.
These various subjects will be discussed by
the prominent farmers from the various states.
Of course, afiefr tho bOrson whom the commit-
tea shall have selected to address tho conven
tion upon the particular theme furnishes tho
prepare*) essay, the discussion will tlten l*o-
come general. It L* lupposed that nfcw tonic*
will spring obt of the various debates, and in
way it Is hoped to touch ftpon mativ, if
this v
not all,*of the causes that are now thought to
be concerned In the fxtoteuco of tho present
State of things. Indications are that a large
convention will assemble, and it is thought
that excellent results will follow.
it ls.lirst-]#40 oil, nnd brings a good price.
“A ton of cotton seed of the sea island
variety Is worth anywhere from $!) to $20.
Where it lins to bo sent a long distance to mill,
as it does in Georgia and Carolina, it is not
worth as much n* it will bring, in tlio neigh
borhood of Madison. As a fertilizer it is more
valuable, containing more ammonia and
phosphoric acid."
“Where is the most sen island cotton pro
duced ?"
“Valdosta is tho largest market in Georgia,
Blackshear, perhaps, coming next. Tlio crop
lias largely increased in tlio past five years.
Five years ago Plerco county did not grow
$3,000 worth of tlio long staple; this year hor
crop will go over $100,000. Everywhere that
tho land will produoo it, it supplants ordinary
cotton, and it should do so.
“It only costs aliout ono cent moropor pound
tornlso it,ami what dor.s'it sell for? Within the
past ten years it has nover boon lower than 18
cents, and bus commanded SB cents per pound.
It makes one think of war times to hear of .*V5
cents being paid for a pound of cotton. It
docs not require much more to grow it, ami
you sen it i* much more valuable. Its cultiva
tion docs not require any more fertilizers.
Cultivated in tho samo way, tho only differ
ence manifested is in gathering tlio crop.
“It costs inoro to gut it out than ordinary cot
ton. Thu bolls do not crack wido open liko
tho plain sample, and tho fibre has to bo care
fully extracted. It will not do to pull it out
ns is done in ordinary picking, for such method
would injure tlio fibre. Tho care that must
bo exercised in gathering the crop makes the
work of tho laborer slow, and consequently ho
must ho paid more per pound than for ordinary
cotton. Right hero is the only differenco that
amounts to anything in tho cultivation of tlio
two varieties. Perhaps, this littlo additional
cost of picking is mado up when tho process of
packing takes place. No tics nro placed about
sea island cotton, the bagging drawn aliout tho
balo closely, and secured by cord or stout
twine."
“Who are tho largest purchasers of ‘sea
island?"
Owing to tho extraordinary length of tho
fibre and its unusual texture, sea island cotton
is especially adapted to tin* manufacture
of lino spool thread. Tho island* on tho coast
produce tho finest grade, and this grndo is used
for the manufacture of exceedingly fine sew
ing silk, and in the production of silk* and
laces. Tho other grades are used for tlio
coarser grades of spool cotton.
“Being thus employed, the largest buyer of
sea island cotton in the United Btatc* is J.
& P. Coates, who, perhaps, tako np the bulk
of tho cotton placed on tho market here. Of
courso a great deal of it L, exported to Eng-
lLslx manufacturers. Egytiau cotton, common
ly called'long staple,* is sent to England; its
grado Is coarser than ours, and cannot com-
peto with ours iu finer manufactures. Ouc-
third of our crop L* exported either to Eng
land, and one-third is divided between Ireland
and France. That which is exported never
gets on our market.
“If we had more gins for this peculiar pur
pose, and had several mills f»>r working up tho
seed, I think our crops would bo largely in
creased. Pierce, Appling, Coffee, Ware and
Berrien, and tho sea islands grow it in the
largest quantities. But an immenso territory
capable of producing it in the finest quality yet
remains unoccupied. That territory will bo
covered when the facilities for marketing be
come more perfect. And I believe they will
be more numerous and better prepared in a
year or two. And then—"
“And then?"
“Why, then, the production of sea island
cotton will be ouc of the largest interests in
Georgia, and wliat is still more cncour.t; *
one of the most lucrative I** H. H.
An Industry for Southern Development-
Wealth for Our Farmers and Fancier*.
A series of v&luablu papers on Southern Foultry
Culture, contributed by b. W. McGregor, the poultry
editor, is appearing in tho Southern Farm, Mr.*
Crndy’s new agricultural journal.
The article iu the May number is on “Tho Man-'
ngement of Sitting Hens." Its prelude ls as follows: (
e are of opinion that the south W'ill find that’
of the gateways to solid prosperity wilt be tho
development of tlio poultry industry. Dr. Rpalding’d
unchallenged statistic s show that the annual poul
try values of the states, Including fancy poultry,
amounts to £000,000,000; wheat comes next,$188,000,-
COO; lmy, $106,000,000; cotton, $110,000,000; and dairy
produets, $231,000,000: and notwithstanding tha
enormous total credited to poultry, it is tho only
one of all our agricultural products we do not ex
port; but on the other hand we nro now bringing
into tho country from Canada, France, and othel
countries well nigh on to 20,000,000 dozens of eggj
annually. The poultry raised south compared to
what is raised north is very littlo and wc want ttl
reverse this. Dr. Spalding is au Illinois gentleman/
but in a communication to us personally, he avows
his belief that the south is the great coming country
for poultry. An extract in our last number by. Mr.
Fred E. Rebel, another Illinois gentleman, wh<F
stands high in tho poultry world, reads: ' •
“The states of Georgia und Alabama, are bom
poultry elates, nnd nil they need is. Hint the inhabi
tants there should take, hold of ‘chicken raising*
with something approaching the business energy
that characterizes their commercial and manufac
turing aflhlrs. Tho climate could, not possibly
be improved on for the purpose.
Ii tho people of those states will give poultry cul
ture tho necessary attention, tho timo is not fof
away when they will lie able to supply all the vast
territory included within tho limits of tho United
States with eggs and market poultry, stopping the'
importation of many millions of dozen of eggs an-'
nually from foreign countries, giving us fresher and
cheaper egg”» and at the same time realizing hand
somely on tho capital aud labor they may have In
vested."
Wc supplement theso opinions from northern gen
tlemen with an expression of opinion by our friend
D. 3Iorrison, of the Atlanta Poultry and Pet Stock
Yards. Within five years ho believes this country
will 1)0 the poultry breeding section of the union.
Instead of our buying fine poultry from the north,
northern people will buy fine poultry from us. Out
dimnto will enable us to get out birds early In thrf
season, and have them ready for early foil shorn
Also for tho same reason, both for fino and market
poultry, wo will bo able to compcto very advantage!
ously on prices.
Wc are of course confining ourselves to tlio agri
cultural aspect of tho south’s Aiture. Wo trust that
manufacturing and mining will keep us in a peri
pctual boom. It is our agricultural interests that
arc inclined to lag behind, partly we suppose from
the absence of more ontcrprlso on the part of our
formers, aud partly from romoof our staple products
not yielding wider margins of prollt. Fruit and
track funning have done fairly well, but our formers
want something that can be mado a universal in
dustry with them and readily adapted to their cir
cumstances. Then; to only ono thing that will meet
this, and that Is poultry. As wo havo proviouiljr
pointed out there Is wealth in this business, and it'
is an industry that never can bo monoplized by tho
fow*, aud the markets never get glutted. ,
Wo would advise all interested in poultry In any
way to subscribe to the Sqjrthem Farm. The in*'
structlonslu the Poultry Yard of tho present issue,
if properly applied, even to a small flock of fowls,
would many times repay a year’s subscription.
From all over the country wo ore continually re
ceiving expressions of.iirufse for the Form. Wo bo-
lieve it to inil it to tho purpose of tho projoctori
to make it, ^Rliy of the highest position fu ngrieul-
tural Journal tom. The subscription price, prepaid*
is $l.W, or with the Weekly Coustltufo, |UQ.
Do Not Let Your Prejudice Stand Between
your suffering child nml tho relief that will be'
absolutely sure to follow tho uso of MRS.
WINSLOW’S SOOTHING SYRUP. 25ccnU
a bottle.
SEDGWICK STEEL WIRE FENGEi
Pimples nr d blenUhcs of the
»kln.* Is^t a v ash cTpowdlr
to Cover defects, but a renu K to cure. .Securely
mailed, for 6oc. U. C. Urn. V A C -, Toledo, O.
Nt nro this paper. raayy-w by foam
HOT SPRINGS AT HOME.
Me.Ueatcd Bathes cure l:L_.,.r.at: :u, etc. Send
for circular* Address Dr. O. W. Snyder. *H
South LUmSMh street, Chicago, IU. wky
j. Th* best Farm, Garden, Poultry Yard. Liva'
%>cli«>l Lot, Park and Cemetery Fencer-and Gates.
Perfect Automatic Gate. Cheapest and Neatest
Iron !> cnees. Iron and wire Summer Houses, Laws
Furniture, and other *rire work. Best Wire Stretch
er and Phcr. Ask dealers in hardware, or addreuu
JBEPOWICK BROS., Richmond. Inp»
W ANTED-A MAN IN EVERY COUNTYnJ
Georgia, Alabama, Routh Carolina and Missis
sippi to canvas for tho “< 'ulquitt Fertilizer Factory.”
Liberal commissions. Colquitt Chemical Co., 40
Marietta street, Atlanra, Ga. d H wky 2t a
TOMA DAY, 8AMPLESWORTH
$11, Fit EF. Lines not under the home’*
fed. Write Drews tor’s Safety Rein
Holder Co., Holly, Mich. Name thll
$5
MEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY
IU MUSIC, FINE ARTS, ORATORY,
A A Literature, EnsIUh Branches, French, Ccraatu
Italian, etc. LARGEST and Beat Equipped In tto
World. lOOIiutroctors.SISC Students last year. Board
and Room with Steam Hrat and Etoctric Light.
Fall Term brains Sept. 8,1S67. RTd Calendar frceTAS-
drass L TOUlwKJB, Dir., Franklin 8q., BoeTox, Maas.
June IS dly 2 m sun wed—wky6t c. a w.
dnrd'Wagon Co.
mv
1:
■ you. Call and sec them. 39,41 and 43 Decs-
W. L. DOUGLAS
$3 SHOE.
only u BEAMI.ES3
Shoe In the world.
Finest Calf, perfect fit, and .
warranted. Congre?s Button A
and Lace, all styles toe. As <V