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THE SOUTHERN WORLD, JULY 1,1882.
Farm Work for July.
The farmer* have great reaeon to be grate,
ful for the excellent seasons that have gen*
erally prevailed so far. We hear of no
drouths or other extended disasters
to the crop. May waa too cold for the
thrift of the cotton plant, and the un
favorable weather extended to the middle of
June, resulting in a backward condition of
the cotton crop generally. But, by way of
compensation, the cool wea'ther has been just
suited to the healthy development and matur
ity of the best crops of small grain ever
grown in the South.
COBH.
In the Southern portion of the southern
world, this crop has already received its last
working and the yield is now dependent on
tiie seasons. Farther north the first days of
July will find the farmer laying by corn. It
is well understood by all observing farmers
that the last working should be very shallow
and not delayed beyond the period of tassel-
ling. It Is important that any large bunches
of grass that may have been left by previous
workings should be removed. A sort of
broadcast hoeing will not only add many
bushels of com to the yield, but will put the
field in much better condition for a succeed
ing crop. Peas may be sown broad cast at
the last plowing with great advantage to the
soil. It seed are scarce it is better to sow
thinly—even no more than a peck to the
acre—and seed the greater area, since the
whole is to be plowed.
COTTON.
The main object of culture this month, as
in tho last, must be to induce good growth
of weed and steady, healthy development of
squares. Cotton generally, is much smaller
than usual at this time, though planted as
early as usual. The plants, therefore, are
old enough to be fruiting rapidly, and the
danger to be apprehended is that the rapid
development of forms, blooms and bolls will
dwarf the plant and prevent a full crop.
This may be measurably prevented by fre
quent and thorough cultivation, plowing
rather deeply during the first part of the
month. The plan of rapid cultivation,
which we have heretofore described, may be
adopted with great advantage for the re
mainder of the season. With comparatively
Bhallow sweep culture it is a waste of time
to use a plow cutting less than eighteen to
twenty inches, and with a plow of this width
it Is equally wasteful to run two furryows in
a three-feet row at one plowing. To obviate
this loss of effort, let every other row be
plowed on both sides at one going over.
This puts one furrow In every middle, and
effectually stirs nearly the entire surface.
Next time the alternate rows should be
plowed in the same way, and soon until the
final plowing, when the sweep or cultivator
should be run in the center of each middle.
PEAS.
It is still timely to sow peas for green ma
nuring, and the fields that have just yielded
a crop of wheat or oats for the same, should
now be sown to peas, and be permitted to
grow a crop for their own benefit. For this
purpose we incline to hold that the old
whippoorwill pea is the best variety for ordi
nary upland. They are hardier, grow better
on poor land, and are much easier to plow
under. Where there is time sufficient, we
think It is better policy to allow the vines to
mature a crop of peas to be gathered by hand
or pastured with hogs, and the debris turned
under.
roBAox chops.
German millet, sorghum, forage corn, etc.,
may still be planted, but the later the plant
ing the richer the ground should be in order
to insure rapid and full development and
large yields. We have succeeded well with
sowing of cat-tall millet even as late as tho
tenth of August, for green soiling, or feeding
green.
Now Is the time to put In crops of com,
millet, etc., for ensilage, and advantage
should be taken of spare time during the
summer to prepare silos. We are not pre
pared to advocate the general adoption of
this system of preserving forage, but would
advise those of our readers who can well
afford the loss of labor (if unsuccessful or
unsatisfactory) to make trial of a silo this
fall. t R.
North Georgia.
The mountainous region of Georgia, in
some respects, Is the counterpart of Switzer
land in Europe. The Blue Ridge moun
tains here reach their extreme Southwestern
limit and break up into a series of radiat
ing or parallel‘ridges, detached peaks and
mountlets, with narrow valleys and pure
sparkling streamlets between. These give
great variety and picturesqueness to the
landscape. The old mining town of Dahl-
onega nestles among these hills at a distance
of twelve to fifteen miles from the main ter
minal spur of the Blue ridge. It was set
tled, we believe in 1836, when the first dis
covery of gold was made in Georgia, and
rapidly grew up into a place of considerable
importance, which was much enhanced by
the establishment of a U. 8. Branch mint
for the coinage of the precious yellow
metal that was found to be so abundant.
Dablonega itself is located on hills that are
rich in gold, and it is not uncommon for
the boys to pick up small nuggets of the
metal in the gullies and gutters of the town.
The Hand canal one of the most Important
works for the development of the gold mines
flows through the outskirts of the town and
completes its full course of twenty-five
miles within a few miles of the town. This
canal brings water from near the base of the
mountains and supplies several mines at
different points in its course. The water
is thrown up by strong steam pumps into
rude reservoirs built on the apex of a hill to
be mined whence it is drawn through gates
and sluices and used to tear down the hills,
expose the ore, and finally to carry it with re
sistless and tremendous force down the hill
side and into the stamp mill. The ore is
simply dug from its bed broken into con
venient sized pieces and thrown into the
sluice. The water is then turned on from
the reservoir and the mass of rocks, earth
and gravel is impelled by the force of the
water to the very stamp battery itself, where
the obdurate rock is pounded into fine sand,
and the glittering particles of gold collected
upon silvered plates of copper. Time and
space will not suffice to give a detailed de
scription of the various processes.
The old mint was discontinuedat the close
of the late war, and as a result of the per
severing efforts of Hon. Wm. P. Price, the
buildings were donated for the use of the
North Georgia Agricultural College. They
were entirely destroyed by fire several years
since which greatly embarrassed and crippled
the young college, as the property was not
insured. By dint of renewed efforts of
the citizens, beaded by the Indomitable Col.
Price, and aided by a moderate State appro
priation, a very handsome and substantial
building has been erected on the ruins and
is now nearly completed. The North Geor
gia Agricultural College has already proved
a great benefaction to this part of the State
in spite of its embarrassments; and with
reasonable aid from tho State toward the
completion of its buildings and grounds
and the proper equipment of its several de
partments, will prove a most powerful fac
tor in the moral, social and industrial devel
opment of the mountain country of the
State. r.
INQUIRY COLUMN.
Editor Southern World—I see In your
last issue of the Sodthxbn World an article
in which mention is made of yellow Lupine
as a hay producer, also, as a green fertilizer
it was superior to Red clover In Increasing
the fertility of the soil. Will you please
inform me where I can get it ? What soil Is
it best adapted toT Will it do well in this
latitude here in Southeast Alabama?
Please give me a full description of it
whether annual or like clover has to be
planted every 4 or 5 years? If you cannot
answer these please ask some of your sub
scribers to answer them for you. I am go
ing into the stock and grass business and
feel much interest in any information you
con give me on tne subject. Respectfully
Midway, Ala. June 1882. A. G. Jordan.
Reply: Yellow Lupine—Lupine Latent
has been grown for centuries in the South
of Europe for green manuring. It is an
annual plant having yellow flowers and
bearing seeds in pods or legumes, and is
well suited for the above purpose especially
on thin sandy soils and a comparatively
warm climate. We presume it will do well
on the sandy soils of Southeast Alabama,
but doubt if it is superior to the common
field pea with which all are so familiar. We
cannot say where seed can be had. Any
reader who can give further information
about the Lupine will confer a favor on Mr.
Jordan by giving the same through the
columns of the World. Our correspondent
in going into the “stock and grass business”
is on .the right line. There can be no true
farming without stock and grass. R.
In our next, we propose giving an account
of the Colorado Dairy Rancho of W. J.
Camp, near Covington, and of the Dairy
farm of J. B. Wade, in DeKalb county.
^jorliculturnl gjtynrtmmt.
drape Culture—Inquiry from Talbot
County, Georgia.
W R. G., Geneva, Talbot county Georgia:
—“Several of my friends living along the
railroad are projecting large vineyards and
desire to be more fully posted than they
are. They wish to know:
1. Wbat are the best market varieties?
2. What would you plant for a succession ?
3. How to gather, pack, etc.
In fact they want to know everything nec
essary to a successful prosecution of the
business. They believe there is as much
money in grapes as there is in peaches,
pears or any thing else. I request that you
write out a short but comprehensive paper
on grape culture and give special informa
tion concerning the points named.”
WHAT TO PLANT.
No matter what kind of fruit is to be plant
ed, success will depend upon a proper se
lection of varieties. A vast deal of time
and money has been wasted in the 8outh by
a failure to properly appreciate the import
ance of such selection. The results of the ex
perience of grape-growers in Georgia indi
cate the following varieties as the most
profitable for market. They will be men
tioned in the order in which they ripen, and
the per cent of the vineyard recommended
to be planted in each indicated in num
bers:
MARKET VARIETIES.
Hartford Prolific, 6 per cent This is a
black grape with medium sized berry, com
pactly set upon the bunch which is gener
ally of good size. The vine Is a vigorous
grower and a liberal, though not an abun
dant bearer. So far, it is the earliest grape
having sufficient merit to justify its culti
vation. The principal objection to the
Hartford is the tendency of the berries to
drop from the bunch when shipped. The
quality ot the berries is not first-class, but
being early they command good prices.
Perkins, 10 per cent., is edible sometime
before it is entirely ripe—indeed, is to many
tastes, better than when fully ripe. This is
a light colored, quite showy grape, which
though not of first quality, sells better than
any of the black grapes. Last season they
brought ten cents per pound more readily
than the black grapes did five. The bunches
arc very compact and seldom fully should
ered. When perfectly ripe they are very
showy. The skin is thick and hence not
so subject to the attack of birds as other
varieties. The vine is a very vigorous
grower, hardy and a liberal bearer.
Ives Seedling, 25 per cent, is very black,
colors up long before ripe and is conse
quently generally marketed in a green con
dition. This fact has created a false impres
sion, as to tho quality of the grape, which
though not first-class is very good. The
Ives 8eedling bears shipment well, is an
early and heavy bearer, probably the most
reliable grape we have. The vine grows
vigorously and is hardy.
Concord, 20 per cent, is a large black grape,
covered with a whitish bloom, bunches large
and generally well shouldered, presenting
a very handsome appearance. The Concord
bears very heavily and ships very well. The
skin of the berries is very thin and often
bursts after a rain when they are ripe. They
are very subject to the attack of birds,
wasps, etc. The vino is hardy and a very
rampant grower.
Delaware, 20 per cent. This is tho queen
of table grapes and commands the top of the
market The grape is small, pale red, deli
cate and delicious in flavor—it grows very
compact on handsomely shouldered bunches.
Unless heavily pruned it is disposed to over
bear. The vines grows very slowly and hence,
do not come into bearing very early.
Wilder, 5 percent, resembles the Concord,
but the berries are larger—vine a vigorous
grower but not so productive as the Con
cord.
Diana, 5 per cent, berries medium in size,
pale red and very closely packed on the
bunch—indeed too closely, vine a good
grower—grapes ship well.
Goethe, 10 per cent, very late, berries
large, very pale red when fully ripe—some
times a grayish white if ripened in the
shade. Quality very superior—comes in
after the other varieties are exhausted and
commands a good price. When ripened in
paper bags, will remain on the vine till
October. The vine is a vigorous grower—re
sembles the Concord in appearance.
There are other varieties which should
have a place in every vineyard. We were
asked for the beat market varieties—we have
given a list of tried varieties. There are
others which promise to supercede some of
those mentioned, but we could not advise
their use further than for thorough exper
imental present. Among these new varie
ties possessing superior merit, but not yet
sufficiently tested, arePrentis, Duchess, Gol
den Pocklington, Lady Washington, etc.
Among the other tried varieties of which a
limited number should be planted are, Lind-
ley, Maxatawney, Merrimack, Salem, War
ren, Black Eagle, Elvira, Catuwba, etc.
FOR WINE.
Clinton, Norton’s Virginia, Ives, Delaware,
Concord, Warren, Lenoir, etc. All of these
varieties are good for table use os well as for
wine. Of those mentioned, Clinton, Nor
ton's Virginia and Delaware are especially
reccommended for wine.
PREPARATION OF TUB LAND.
This should, if practicable, be commenced
at once by planting peas in drills two feet
apart. These should be well manured with
acid phosphate to cause as great a growth of
vines as possible. One plowing will make
the pea crop. In September or October when
a few of the pods are ripe turn under the
vines and sow twenty bushels of air-slacked
lime on the surface of the ground. When
the vines have thoroughly rotted, subsoil
the land as deeply os possible, check it off
8 x 10 and open out the checks a little deeper
than the land is broken. In the openings
apply bone meal and ashes and mix thor
oughly with the soil. If bones can be got
ten, break them up and put a half peck of
them in every hole. Fill up with top soil
or, if it can be had, with mold from the
woods. During any open weather in the
fall or winter plant rooted vines and cut
back to two eyes, pressing the earth firmly
about the roots.
Cultivate the first season asarow of cotton
and plant peas between the rows, manuring
them well. Allow the vines to rot upon the
land or plow them under in the fall.
Subsequent treatment, pruning the vines,
gathering and packing the grapes for ship
ment, etc., will be treated in the next issue
of the World. To cover the whole ground
would require too much space in one issue.
J. S. N.
Toads In the Garden.
We hear and see a great deal about pro
tecting the insect destroying birds; we even
see occasionally a piece in the agricultural
journals headed "a plea for the mole,” follow
ed by an argument to prove that the villainous
little blind creature does not injure vegeta
tion; but we seldom hear or read of the
services rendered the farmer and horticul
turist by the despised little toad, while we
wHl venture the assertion that in any given
area in this country, the toads destroy more
insects injurious to vegetation than do the
birds in the same area, and that too without
doing any mischief, as the toads live entirely
upon Insects while the birds, with few ex
ceptions, do not; and as to the mole, wo will
guarantee that if his case should come before
a jury of intelligent farmers or gardeners he
would be found guilty of criminal destruc
tion of vegetation and especially of seeds.
Not so with the toad, which subsists entirely
upon insects. Not only do they subsist upon
insects, but they destroy those which the
birds cannot reach—those which depredate
at night, when we and the birds are asleep.
So highly are they appreciated in Europe
that they are there an article of merchandize.
The market gardenehs near London, En
gland, purchase toads from the Continent at
four pence each.
A toad put into a hot-bed will effectually
protect the plants from the ravages of in
sects, and a number of them in an ordinary
garden will materially reduce the number
of insects and thus protect the plants from
their ravages.
So far from participating In the common
feeling of contempt for the humble little
reptile, we have a profound respect for him
on account of his friendly services in aid of
our perpetual warfare upon insects injurious
to vegetation. Instead of being kicked and
trod upon, he should be protected by all
good citizens. Any one, who will take the
trouble to watch a toad for one hour some
summer evening, will be astonished at the
skill and celerity with which the little ap
parently slothful creature captures its un
wary victims. Very close attention 1b neces
sary to see the operation, so quickly its long
tongue is whipped out after its prey.
FROM TUB BOO TO THE TOAD.
There are some facts connected with the
natural history of the toad which may not
be familiar to some of the younger readers
of the Southern World. The female toad,
when the period of incubation approaches
completion, seeks water, where she depos
its her spawn in shallow places winding the
spiral heeds of eggs around the grass, where