Newspaper Page Text
4
THE SOUTHERN WORLD, .JUNE 1, 1882.
your own hypothesis, might be of use to the
former, and they might make the Signal
Service of some importance to him also, if
the latter would extend its helping hand to
wards them in furnishing data, such as you
speak of. You gave me a hint I never
thought of. But you may bet your bottom
dollar, that you are right about Gen. Hazen’s
reply. Capt. Howgate's criticisms on Ven-
nor, just at a time when he was stealing the
l>eople’s money, show that the so-called
“wepther prophets” <bave no place in the
sympathies of the Weather Bureau. It has
no use for those who promise more and ac
complish, to say the least, as much as itself,
in agriculture or for the farmer. But if you
meant to make the issue of comparative
merit in the pretensions of either, I am
ready to meet it by facts. G. It. C.
INQUIRY COLUMN.
Wheat In Mississippi.
Ed. Southern World—Will you or some
one, answer the following questions or give
tlie information asked for below ?
My home is about the center of I’ike
county, Mississippi; my farm is situated
about one mile west of the Bogue chitto riv
er; my land is all up-land, with a red, stiff
clay subsoil; my land is a little sandy, rather
thin. Now, I want to try a few acres in
wheat, and the questions I want answered
are:
1st. What time ought wheat to be sown ?
2d. What variety is best adapted to our
Southern soil?
3d. How ought the land to be prepared ?
•1th. What kind of fertilizer is best?
And any other information will be appre
ciated. I am delighted with the Southern
World and think it the best agricultural
journal I ever saw. Bespectfully yours,
Holmesville, Miss. H. P. L.
Answer. 1. Our correspondent's furm be
ing about the thirty-first degree of north
latitude, we would say that wheat should be
sown in December—certainly not earlier.
2. The experience of Georgia farmers has
been favorable to the “Bill Dallas” wheat, a
variety which originated in Lincoln county,
Georgia, many years ago, but not brought
prominently to notice until within the last
five years. It is a full, plump-grained, am
ber colored wheat, tolerably early, with tall,
stiff straw, and is very hardy to resist dis
ease, especially rust. Seed may be had in
season, of Mark W. Johnson & Co., of At
lanta, Ga.
3. The land should be prepared by grow
ing a hoed crop, as cotton, during the sum
mer. Then plow close and deep, with long
scooters; sow wheat and fertilizers and har
row all in together
4. Cotton seed at the rate of thirty to fifty
bushels, or more, per acre, will generally
give as good results as any manure, but we
would recommend a compost of acid phos
phate of lime, cotton seed and stable ma
nure, equal weight of each, and apply four
hundred to six hundred pounds of the com
post to the acre. A standard or high grade
ummoniated dissolved bone gives good re
sults on wheat.
Finally, we will be permitted to say, that
we do not wish to be understood as recom
mending the culture of wheat below latitude
33°. There are exceptional localities where
it will pay to sow a few acres, but as a gene
ral rule, the crop is too uncertain and not of
sufficient importance to justify its general
culture so far South.
The soil described by our correspondent-
sandy, underlaid by a stiff clay—is adapted
to wheat, provided it is high and dry. Such
soils are occasionally found in Southwest
Georgia: say in Randolph, Stewart, Thomas
and Brooks, where wheat often succeeds
reasonably well, and occasionally fine crops
are grown. But, on the whole, we think that
flour is one of the articles that a cotton far
mer can afford to buy, especially if he will
produce all his corn, hay, bacon and lard,
sirup, butter, milk, etc., at home. There is
such a thing as attempting too much in the
way of ‘diversifying crops." If a farmer
keeps up his stock of mules by home breed
ing, produces beef, mutton,bacon, butterand
milk, fowls, honey, fruits and garden vege
tables and all the food consumed by his farm
animals, he has got his hands pretty full and
can well afford to buy his flour, sugar and
coffee, tobacco and a few other articles of
which he need not consume large quanti
ties. K.
Dissolving Bones.
In answer to one of your subscribers, I
prepared a large quantity of bones in the
following manner: First I made large heaps
of the bones, Intermixing with splinters of
lightwood to ignite. Let them burn just
long enough to crumble. I then took one
bucketful of sulphuric acid and three of
water in a barrel and put In as many bones
as would dissolve, and then spread on alter
nate layers of cotton seed. It makes the
finest manure I ever used. A. W. L.
Monticello, S. C.
[The plan given above is open to the ob
jection that the ammonia of the bones is
entirely lost by burning them. The ammo
nia in fresh bones amounts to from 3 to 4
per cent, of their weight. This loss, how.
ever, is to some extent compensated by the
greater ease with which the acid attacks and
dissolves the bone ash, the resulting product
containing a greater per centage of soluble
phosphoric acid than in the case of coarsely
broken raw bone similarly treated. Great
caution must be used in handling sulphuric
acid, as a drop of it burns the clothing or
skin, and would destroy the eye-sight or
greatly endanger it.—R.]
Watermelons—Topping Cotton.
Ed. Southern World—I have two ques
tions to ask the many readers of your valu
able paper—one about watermelons, the
other about cotton:
1. I have heard that a watermelon vine
should not be turned to work it. Will some
of your experienced watermelon raisers say
whether they turn the vines in working
them or not?
2. What I wisli to know about cotton is
whether it should be topped or not, and at
what time 7 Yours truly, J. M.
Reply: We invite our readers to com
ply with the request of J. M., by giving
their experience or the points in question.
1. In our practice we always avoid mov
ing the melon vines as faros practicable. If
thought necessary to move them it should
be done with great care and tenderness and
the vines should be replaced after plowing
without inverting orbrusingin the slightest
degree. A very common practice is to lay
all the vines along the row—in order to
plow the middles—and leave them thus
crowded and matted. This should be
avoided. On the whole we think the vines
may be moved and replaced without mate
rial injury, if very carefully done. We
seize the opportunity to drop the caution
that tbe melon patch should never be dis
turbed in any way while the vines'are wet
with the dew or from a recent shower.
2. No rule can be given ns to topping cot
ton. Sometimes the operation pays and
sometimes it does not. We believe it rurely
results in injury however. The best results
have usuully been attained when the crop
is in full vigor of growth and the plants
have attained size sufficient to sustain and
mature a maximum crop. This period will
usually have been reached about the middle
to the last of July. The theory of the op
eration of topping is, that the growth of the
weed is thereby checked and the energies of
the plant are concentrated in the forms and
young bolls already set. According to our
observation the operation of topping is
never beneficial except on comparatively
rich soil and where the growth of the plants
is correspondingly luxuriant.
Let us hear from our readers the protand
coin. R.
Compost.
Dear Sirs : Will you please give us through
the columns of your esteemed paper the
best formula for a compost heap, and state
explicitly its general management. I wish
to use cotton seed and lime in its composi
tion. Corn, cotton, and vegetables were in
jured here by frost on the 16th and 10th
inst. Wheat looks very fine and will do to
harvest in ten days; oats are growing finely;
good stand; red clover and plenty of fruit*,
people are working with a vim.
John Whitman.
New Market, Ala.
Reply : In response to the above we give
the formula recommended by the Georgia
Department of Agriculture, and used by hun
dreds of farmers in Georgia for several yean
past. It is as follows:
“Formula for Comporting.—If the stable
manure and cotton seed have been preserved
under shelter, use the following:
FORMULA NO. 1.
Stable Manure JIM lb*.
Cotton Seed (green) .6901b*.
Superphosphate 700 lbs.
Making a ton ot...» .2,000 lbs.
Directions for ComjMiiting.—Spread under
shelter a layer of stable manure four inches
thick; on this sprinkle a portion of the phos
phate; next spread a layer of cotton seed three
inches thick; wet these thoroughly with wa
ter, and then apply more of the phosphate;
next spread another layer of stable manure
throe inches thick, and continue to repeat
these layers in the above order, and In pro
portion to the quantity of each used to the
ton, until the material is consumed. Cover
the whole mass with stable manure, or scrap
ings from the lot one or two inches thick.
Allow the heap to stand in this condition
until a thorough fermentation takes place,
which will require from three to six weeks'
according to circumstances, dependent upon
proper degree of moisture, and the strength
of the materials used. When the cotton seed
are thoroughly killed, with a sharp hoe or
mattock, cut down vertically through the
layers; pulverize and shovel into a heap,
where the fermentation will be renewed, and
the compost be still further improved. • Let
it lie two weeks after cutting down; it will
then bo ready for use.
The following plan of mixing gives equally
satisfactory results: Mix the cotton seed and
the stable manure in proper proportion,
moisten them with water, apply the proper
proportion of phosphate, and mix thoroughly
shoveling into a mass as prepared.
There is some advantage in this plan, from
the fact that the ingredients are thoroughly
commingled during fermentation.
For Cotton.—Apply in the opening fur
row 200 pounds, and with the planting seed
75 or 100 pounds, making in all 275 or 300
pounds per acre. If it is desired to apply a
larger quantity, open furrows the desired
distance, ana over them sow, broadcast, 400
pounds per acre; bed the land, and then ap
ply 100 pounds per acre with the seed.
For' Corn.—Apply in the hill, by the side
of the seed, one gill to the hill. An addi
tional application around the stalk, before
the first plowing, will largely increase the
yield of grain.
If the compost is to be used on worn, or
sandy pine lands, use the following:
FORMULA NO. 2.
Kninit
Prepare as directed for No. 1,
the manure and cotton seed with
moistening
a solution
of the kainit instead of water.
Muriate of
potash is the cheapest form in which potash
can be used, but kninit supplies it in a bet
ter form and combination for many plants.
If lot manure, or that which lias been so
exposed as to lose some of its fertilizing
properties, is composted, use—
FORMULA NO. 3.
Kainit
Making a tun of .2,001)lbn.
The sulphate of ammonia und kninit must
be dissolved in warm water, and a propor
tionate part of each sprinkled upon the other
ingredients as the heap is prepared. Apply
as directed under No. 1, to cotton and corn.
To wheat or oats, apply 400 or 500 pounds
peracre, broadcast, and plow or harrow it in
with the grain.”
It is perhaps well to remark that it is by
no means important that the proportions in
tbe several formulae be accurately followed.
The cotton seed and stable manure may be
varied in quantity, according to circumstan
ces, within a wide range, but it is well to
conform ns nearly as may be practicable to
the proportions given, as the result will give
the elements of value in about the proper
relative quantities. It is not advisable to
use lime in composting cotton seed, stable
manure and acid phosphate. It serves no
good purpose in such a compost heap and
had better be applied separately if the soil
requires it. R.
The people realize that there is a large and
growing immigration to Florida from South
ern States. A correspondent writes that
there is a steadily increasing influx of new
comers from Florida’s nearest neighbor, and
the next census will show a considerable
number of Kentuckians. Over all the nu
merous avenues leading into this State from
Alabama and Georgia, over all the many
wagon roads, there are constantly arriving
vehicles loaded with the effects of their own
ers, wending their way to some of the lower
counties. From each wagon you will see
protruding the heads of a buxom woman aud
half-a-dozen tow-headed children, happy and
contented pioneers, requiring but few of the
luxuries of life, and sturdily benton making
new homes and conquering the wilderness.
Along the line of the railroad from Mont
gomery to Selma, the Advertioer says, crops
are reported in a satisfactory condition, de
spite the heavy rains and overflows of the
spring. The oat crop is very large and in a
safe condition. An unusual amount of com
has been planted, and if gathered all right
will make the farmers independent of West
ern com cribs.
§ortimHnml §tpurtment
Utilising the Fruit Crop.
There is a good crop of fruit set this seas
on, and the owners of orchards should com
mence at once to prepare to utilize it either
by selling the fresh fruit or by evui>orntiiig
it for market, or avuiling themselves of both.
It will be too late to make preparation to
market the fresh fruit to the best a'dvuutuge
after it ripens. If it is to be shipped to dis
tant markets, the boxe s should be in readi
ness before the frhit ripens, that it may be
picked just at the right stage for shipment
and properly assorted and packed for safe
•transit. It is now generally conceded by
those having experience in shipping peaches
that one-third bushel boxes are best. These
are made on a large scale in Georgia now,
but the boxes should be on hand before the
fruit is ripe.
Freight can be saved by buying the boxes
"Hat,” or not put together. There are thous
ands of bushels of seedling peaches in the
South, which if properly handled might be
shipped profitably. Indeed, there are many
seedlings which are equal in size, quality
and appearance to the best of budded fruit.
The culling and sizing of the fruit is of
great importance. If this is not properly
done the whole will sell at the price of the
smallest.
All that can be profitably sold as fresh
fruit should be so utilized, and the balance
gathered just as they begin to ripen, butbe-
fore they are soft, and dried in some one of
the numerous
FRUIT EVAPORATORS
now on the market. These are now con
structed so cheaply as to be within the reach
of any one who has as many as fifty bushels
of fruit available for such purpose. Some of
them are so constructed that vegetables of
all kinds can be evaporated and pressed fur
winter use, when, by first souking to replace
the water taken out by the evaporating pro
cess, they may be used us fresh vegetables.
There is one now on exhibition in the
office of tlie Department of Agriculture in
which the heat can be so completely con
trolled that bread or meat may be baked in
itby replacing the wire frames with stove
pans. It dries one bushel of green fruit
per hour ready for market. There are many
Others on the market, most of which give
satisfactory results. Every farmer who is
the fortunate owner of u good orchurd
should own u fruit aud vegetable evapora
tor. J. 8. N.
The Apple and Its Enemies In the Mouth.
The United States Department of Agri
culture is doing good work by its investiga
tion of the insect enemies to vegetation, but
there is yet a wide field of investigation in
viting its labors. It hus quite thoroughly
studied the habits and rneuns of destroying
the cotton caterpillar, and the scule und
other insects which injure tlie orange trees
Indeed It is ever watchful of the interests
of Agriculture and Horticulture. The field
however, is too wide to be occupied in a
short time.
The apple has few serious enemies iu the
Northern aud Middle States, but they are
both numerous audforiuidable in the South
ern States. So formidable indeed, that un
less some means of destroying them can be
devised, we plant in vain
The wooly aphis attacks the trees iu the
Middle States and we presume, in the North
ern and Western States also, but the winters
are so Bevere that it is not so destructive us
farther South, where the winters are so mild
and short that the insect is able to continue
its ravages throughout the year, and conse
quently fatally sup the vitality of the trees.
This insect attacks both limbs, leuves and
roots, but their principal and most destruc
tive work is done on the roots, which they
suck and destroy their vitulity. Their
presence may be detected by tlie white,
downy appearance of the insects themselves,
which often cover the surface, feeding roots,
and by the knotted condition of tlie roots
themselves resulting from the work of the
insects.
No varieties of apple trees Beeiu to be ex
empt from the attack of these formidable
enemies. They may be seen on the buds of
the trees in early Spring and through the
Summer in the crevices of the bark and
about wounds made with the pruning knife,
When mashed, the bodies of the intects
which are concealed under tbe white down,
present a red appearance.
No successful means of destroying these
pests on the roots of the trees have yet been
discovered, though they are almost as des
tructive to apple trees in the Southern