Newspaper Page Text
4
THE SOUTHERN WORLD, JULY 15,1882,
mould our public school system; with such
capitalists as Huntington and Gould, surely
with our public lands unoccupied, millions
of cattle sheep and horses, iron and coal
mines, we can safely say we are upon the
threshold of a grand future.
INQUIRY COLUMN.
Large Yields of Oats,
Editor Southern World.—I see in your
most valuable paper, of June 15tb, mention
of enormous yields of oats by various gen
tlemen of your State and elsewhere. I hare
been an oat raiser for a number of years
and never have been able to secure such
immense yields. Hoping you will allow me
the kind privilege of securing information
through your paper, I have the following
questions to propound to my brother far
mers who have been so peculiarly blessed
with those big yields of oats, and those
questions are:
1. What kind of soil sown in? 2. What
variety of seed? 3. What amount of seed
sown per acij? 4. What kind of fertilizers
and how much applied per acre ? 5. What
time Bown?
If any one will be generous enough to
answer tbe above questions it will be greatly
appreciated, and 1 have no doubt but wbat
it will prove a blessing, not only to me, but
thousands of others. The oat crop in tills
section is very good this year.
J. L. Blanks.
Hurricane Creek, Lauderdale county, Miss.
Wo trust that several of our most success
ful oat growers—those who have made large
yields ulluded to by our correspondent, and
can tell him how to do likewise. The above
letter arouses a slight suspicion that the au
thor is somewhat doubtful in regard to the
heavy yield of which he has heard. Let us
hear from the growers of these big crops.
R.
Wheat Harvest In April.
About the last of April a paragraph ap
peared in the Montezuma paper to the eflect
that a Mr. Whitsett, of Dooly county had
already harvested ids wheat. Wishing to
learn something of the circumstances of
this early harvest we wrote Mr. W. a letter
of inquiry and received the response which
appears below. Our contributing editor also
has something to say about the “Rainey"
wheat.—[Ed.
W. 0. Wiudbv.—I have just learned that
a man named Rainey, in Schley county,
once bought some seeds, among them he
found a single grain of wheat, which he
planted and hence the origin of the Rainey
wheat. I secured a small sack last tall,
sowed it on poor land, December 22nd and
cut it for seed April 26th. It is a white
wheat, hardy—Directed but little by rust and
weighs sixty-two pounds per sealed bushel.
This is all the information I have to oiler at
present—will ascertain more concerning its
origin if I can, and will give you the facts
more fully. John H. Whitsrtt.
Vienna, Ga.
RAINEY WHEAT.
This variety was originated, substantially,
ns Mr. Whitsett’s letter (printed above)
sets forth. We were farming in Schley
county at the time, and Judge Rainey—not
a very distant neighbor—gave us the history
of the wheat as we stood together viewing
its growth. He discovered among his regu
lar wheat crop, a bunch that ripened far in
advance of the general crop. This bunch
he plucked, “rubbed out" in his hands, and
carefully planted tbe following season. This
was perhaps fifteen years ago. In a few years
the wheat became badly mixed by careless
ness in handling, and Judge R. again started
from ono selected bunch. Hon. T. P. Janes,
while Commissioner of Agriculture, pro
cured a small quantity of this wheat from
Judge Rainey, for his own farm, and was
passably well pleased with it It is all that is
claimed for it in Mr. Whitsett’s letter. It’s
comparative exemption from rust, is not
due to any special hardiness, but to its ex
treme earliness. It is not a prolific wheat
as it grows low and the heads are corres
pondingly short We think it is worthy of
trial by farmers whose localities are unfa
vorable for wheat and yet who insist on
growing this cereal. The address is Hon. T.
P. Rainey, Ellaville, Oa. R.
Sugar Cane and Ingar Mills.
Editor Southern World—I want some
farmer that knows something about cane-
mills to answer me through the columns of
the Southern World:
1. Has the Victor cane-mill any equal in
capacity, strength and durability? Dure &
Mauouri, vendors of the Kentucky mill, say
they are superior to the Victor.
2. Another question: How much per
thousand, are sugar canes averaging five feet
in length, worth wheu molasses (sirup?) is
worth 76 cents per gallon?
Yantlyco., Ala. J. D. Grimes.
Answer.—1. We invite the attention of
readers who are posted, to the above in
quiries. We have had considerable experi
ence in growing cane and making sirup and
sngar, in a small way, but never used a Vic
tor, or any other than the ordinary Southern
made two-roller mill. We have no doubt of
the superiority of most, if not all, of the
improved two and three roller iron-framed
mills, over the ordinary mills that have been
in general use. Doubtless, many of our read
ers have tested one or more mills of different
makes, and we hope they will give Mr.
Grimes and other subscribers, the benefit of
their experience in answer to botli questions.
2. It is difficult to give u satisfactory an
swer to to this query, unless it were more
explicit. If the cane is to be stripped and
hauled, the price would depend greatly
on the distance. We venture to say, how
ever, that canes averaging five feet in length,
would be well sold at $10 per thousand stand
ing in the patch, not considering the loss to
the farm of the bagatte or “backings" which
is considerable. Fifteen thousand such stalks
would be considered a good yield for one
acre of cane in Southwest Georgia. This
would be a stalk for every seven inches (rows
five feet apart), and at $10 per thousand
would amount to $150 per acre.
Subscriber, Brownsville, Tbnn.—Is the
enclosed sample Bermuda grass. If not,
what is it? It runs on the ground and roots
at every joint.
Answer.—The specimen is the genuine
Bermuda, a most valuable grass for summer
pastures in the Southern States. It is not
desirable where the winters are long, as the
first severe frost kills it to the ground, and
it docs not put fortli very early in spring.
Its roots and rooted stems are perennial in
the cotton-belt. J. 8. N.
Bermuda Onus Need.
J. S. N. seems to be at sea on the subject
of Bermuda grate. It does seed in the South
ern States. Seeds here on my own farm
when protected from stock. I have here in
my lot a small plat started from the seeds
sown from my own hand. The seeds should
be strown on well prepared ground after all
danger from frost is post: say, about 15th of
April, though, if well sheltered, may be
sown earlier. Young Bermuda is very
tender and easily killed either by cold or
heat. The farmers of this section do not
consider a farm complete without at least a
ten-acre lot of Bermuda. For sheep hus
bandry it is beyond comparison the superior
of all other grasses. Sheep keeping in fine
condition the entire winter on Bermuda
grass alone, if like last winter; and the ex
cellence of mutton fattened on it is unap
proachable. If J. S. N. will send me his
address I will send him sopie genuine Ber
muda grass seed this fall. W. H. J.
It is not a little remarkable that Bermuda
grass has been grown in Georgia and other
Southern States for the last century without
being propagated by seed until now, and
that W. H. J. should have gotten hold of a
variety that produces seed. Is he sure that
be has the genuine Bermuda— Cynodon dacty-
lont We have a joint grass in Georgia which
resembles the Bermuda somewhat, and is
often mistaken for it. This does produce a
few seed. The joint grass has generally only
two splkelets on the seed stalk, while the
Bermuda has from three to five, generally
four. We have the Bermuda now in bloom
and, apparently, ripening, but we search in
vain for seed.
If Bermuda had been producing seed in
Georgia since its first introduction it would
now cover the State. It would have been
propagated by the droppings of stock and
by washing rains, until it would have
“taken the country.” But such has not
been the case. It has only been propagated
by the roots and stems, which have been
shipped hundreds of miles for this purpose.
If W. H. J. has a variety of genuine Ber
muda, which produces seed, he has a
bonanza to which a gold mine or cotton
factory is a trifle. We have given the Geor
gia Bermuda grass so thorough an examina
tion as to be perfectly satisfied that it does
not produce seed with us. We will be
obliged to W. H. J. if he will send us to
Department of Agriculture, Atlanta, Ga., a
sample of his Bermuda grass in bloom, and
a sample of the supposed seed when they
mature. We have so often received speci
mens of the joint grass under the name of
Bermuda, that we will not be satisfied that
W. H. J. has the genuine Bermuda 'till we
tee a specimen of it. If he has the Bermuda
we will wait with intense interest for a sam-
ple.of the seed. J. 8. N.
§orticultnral jfeeynrtmmt.
Grape Culture.
In the lastnumber of tbe Southern World
the inquiries of W. R. G., and others, of
Talbot county, Georgia, were partly answer
ed. In that number they were carried as
faros the planting of the vines. They wished
also to know something of the pruning and
cultivation of the vines, gathering, picking
and shipping the fruit etc.
While it seems presumptuous to attempt
to answer these inquiries in a single commu
nication, we will, nevertheless, attempt such
an outline as will furnish the gentlemen
making the inquiry an adequate idea of what
they are about to undertake. Having been
in “close communion" with the farmers of
Georgia for the last twelve years, we ore pre
sumptuous enough to believe that we know
what they need and so far as we are able,
we are ever ready and willing to contribute
our “mite" to their fund of information.
But to our answer
THE FIRST YEAR
after the grape vine is planted it should be
cultivated just as a row of cotton would be.
This no one understands better than Georgia
farmers. If the proper preparation was
made and fertilizers applied before planting,
no additional fertilizers will be needed the
first year, but as farmers are apt to neglect
theso most important—yes necessary—pre
liminaries, we will say that unless ample
provisions are made for tho support of the
vines for several years at tbe time of plant
ing, annual applications of bone meal and
ashes previous to the winter plowing will
be desirable. If the soil is well supplied
with vegetable matter, an application of five
bushels of lime per acre will prove benefi
cial.
The second year.
Some heroism will now be required to do
justice to the vines. Beginners in vine cul
ture can rarely be induced to prune with suf
ficient severity. The vines if properly
treated will have made some considerable
growth the first year. At some time between
November and March cut back to one cane
with two well developed, plump eyes, and
in the -pring when the vines begin to bud,
pass over and rub off all except two vigor
ous shoots. Have a stake six feet long,
firmly planted by each vine. The most ex
peditious manner of planting these is to
prepare the stakes by sharpening one end,
and blunting the other, of each stake—drive
along the vineyard rows with a wagon load
of these. The driver, of both wagon and
stakes, stands upon the wagon, provided with
a heavy maul or mallet, the latter preferred.
The assistant holds a stake in position by
each vine as the wagon posses through. The
driver stops his wagon opposito the vino and
standing upon his wagon establishes the
stake with a few blows of his maul or mal
let.
When the new canes have made a growth
of a few feet, pass through the vineyard
provided with a bunch of soft strings, and
tie up the canes to the posts or stakes, using
care not to bruise tbe tender canes. Keep
down the grass and weeds during the grow
ing season and the work of the second year is
finished. The new canes will put forth
bunches of grapes the second year, but not
more than one to the vine, if any, should be
allowed to remain, and this only on vines
of extra vigor, the object now being to in
duce a vigorous growth, especially of root
surface, for future use.
THE THIRD YEAR.
Two canes were allowed to grow the socond
year. During the winter following, cut
back one of the canes to two eyes and the
other two to four, according to the vigor of
the vine. In early spring, rub off all surplus
shoots leaving one vigorous cane on the one
with two oyes and two on the other. One
of these must be encouraged to grow for
new wood for the fourth year, the other two
to bear fruit. When the bundles of grapes
are in the bud, pass rapidly over the vine
yard and pinch back the fruitful canes two
leaves beyond the last bunch, leaving the
cane, which is to supply the wood for the
next season to grow until it attains a length
of several feet when it may be pinched back
to increase Its stockiness. The details of
each years’ pruning cannot be given here,
but there is a general principle which must
guide the vinttculturist which must be
thoroughly understood by those who would
attain success. It is this: Provision must
be made each year in the treatment of the
vine, for both fruit for the current season
and wood for the next For the details of
this part of the work the inquirers are re
ferred to Mr. Hussman’s book on grape
oulture—a very valuable little work filled
with such practical details as the novice in
grape-culture needs. The grape produces
only on the new wood and the object of the
culturist should be to provide this in full
vigor for each season.
OATHERINO THE CRAPES.
If to be shipped, the grapes should be
gathered in a fresh, firm, almost ripe condi
tion, the degree of ripeness depending upon
the variety and the distance' to which ship
ment is to be made. For shipment or for
wine-making, the grapes should be gathered
when dry; for table-use we prefer them
gathered while the dew is on them. There
are packages of various sizes and forms to
suit the convenience of the shipper and con.
sumer, but no matter what the size of the
package, it is of the utmost importance to
have the grapes securely and fimly packed.
As the gentlemen will have ample time to
investigate this part of tbe subject, before
being called upon to put it into practice, we
need not go into details.
Let us remark in conclusion, that we re
gard the grape as the most reliable fruit
grown in Georgia, and we believe, if prop
erly handled, it may be made a source of
great wealth to the State. The Commission
er of Agriculture might render valuable ser
vice to the people of the State by the publi
cation of a short manual on fruit culture, in
which he might give a select list of tried va
rieties, and instruction for cultivation,
handling for market, wine-making, etc.
J. 8. N.
Peeling Peaches with Alkali.
E. G, H., Grantville, Ga. “Will you
please inform me as to the best method of
removing the peel from peaches before evap
orating them. Have heard that a solu-
lution of lime would be effectual. Any in
formation will be thankfully received."
Answer.—A strong solution of potash is
commonly employed for the purpose, com
mon home dripped lye or the concentrated
lye of the stores will answer the purpose. .
The proper strength cun readily be ascer
tained by experiment. When the solution
will promptly remove the skill without in
jury to the flesh of the fruit the proper
strength lias been attained. The fruit is
placed in a copper wire basket and dipped
into the hot solution and then intocold water
after which each is rubbed over with the
hand to remove any particles of skin still
adhering. This method is much more eco
nomical than peeling with a knife as it re
moves the skin of the peach only without a
particle of the flesh.
There is a very simple little machine
which retails ut twenty-five cents, which
very effectively and expeditiously extracts
tlie stone and at the same time slices tho
peach reatly for drying. It takes out the
stone witli less wuste of the fruit than can
be done with tbe knife and slices tbe ]>each
more uniformly than can be done without
muchinery. Farmers having any consider
able area in peaches or other fruit are again
urged to procure some good evaporator and
utilize all surplus. Besides utilizing the
fruit and making it os profitable as by ship
ping to distant markets without the risk of
loss attending shipping the fresh fruit, the
evaporator may be utilized for drying any
of our summer vegetables for winter use.
Okra, beans, squashes, potatoes and toma
toes may be evaporated and stored away for
use during winter when very few farmers
have an abundant supply of fresh vegeta
bles. After these vegetables are evui>orated
all that is necessary to prepare them- for
cooking and making them as good as when
first gathered is to replace the water which
was removed during the process of evapo
ration. J. 8. N.
Cnbbngc Worm and Lincoln Bng.
N. A. G. Clinton, S. C. “Please Inform
your many readers of Southern World,
what will destroy the cabbage worm and the
cooter or terrapin bug which is more de
structive than tbe worm."
There aro two worms which are injurious
to the cabbage, viz: the green worm which
eats the leaves indiscriminately and the
striped worm, which confines its ravages to
the bud, just as the cabbage is heading-up.
aud really does more damage than the green
worm, though never so numerous as the lat
ter. The only remedy that we have found
at all effectual against these pests, is salt
used as such or in solution. It is said that
Pyrethrum, called also Persian insect pow
ders and Dalmatian powders, if mixed with
water or made into a decoction and sprinkled
over the plants, will destroy the worms; we
have never tried this, though we have ap
plied the powdered Pyrethrum without*
effect.
We have applied flower of sulphur anc(