Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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r XOXX-MftM W. GOMXXBtilAL " FXKT1LIZKB8. An Euay read by Maj. J. L. Coktr, of Ifartsville, before the Darlington Agricultural Society, Aug. 14, 1877. It become* us us farmer* to reduco our expenditures wherever possible?to substitute, as far as wo maj, home-mad j articles dor those which we uow purohase from abroad?to increase the balance of export* over imports. If the income from articles exported and sold, exoeeds the cost of articles imported ' we are oertainly making progress. Our .policy should be to gather iu the riches of other countries, by selling them our productions ; at the same time producing for our selves ^wliyjre^ uient, and it is so frequently demonstrated bofore our very eyes, that we need uot look abroad for the many evidences of its truth. Acknowledging this, we concede at ouce, that home-made fertilizers are to be used in preference to commercial fertilizers, in all cases where they are equal in value and io coet. But it seems that I am expected to show that we should dispense with commercial fertilizers altogether, and this is no easy task. For while I am very olearly of the opinion that we should devote far more attention to the home production of manure, I am not oouvinced that we should relinquish the use of guano, superphosphates and thtmioals, as fertilizers, to supplement and improve those produced on the farm. It would seem to be indioated by the processes of nature, that the one creature of exalted Intelligence, placed upoa-anrth bj^the creator, should restore what of value has been ^'transferred by gradual but by constant movers ment, from the land to the sea. Every mountaiu stream is bearing along with its waters the soluble matters extracted from the bosom of earth. Evrery rain lifts from earth's surface particles of the soil and bears tuem down through branch and croek and -river, uutil into the lap of ocean are deposiH' ted the substanoes gathered from the laud. It seems proper that man should take baok from ooean the riches with which Bhe has become engorged and should thus keep up the equilibrium, which would otherwise be lost. So from the cemeteries of gigantic sea animals, he exhumes the monster skeletons, and gives them to the soil. He also removes the deposits of guano gathered from the sea by birds, and distributes these. And the ibg the re&aindcr by suitable agencies iuto fertilizing material l'or tho denuded land.? So too he brings back from ocean its salt and lime, and by his activity and iutelli<*eni*ft lift rrtnnir? thn rjivni'fis of tinifl. Tha o ? - ~r o -w best experience of the farmers of Luropc and America, is in oppositiou to the doctrine that we should rely on home-made fertilizers alone. Our own experience in this section is decidedly in l'avor of the judicious use of good commercial fertilizers? But I would be glad if our farmers could be convinced of the paramount importance of preserving what we have at home, aud of improving the value, as well as of adding to the bulk of, domestic manures. We are in a favorable position for makiug manure from stock, for most of us have command of extensive tracts of wood laud, \ nure. ~ This may be deposited at small expense in our covered lots and stables, or by a system of foldiug directly upon the land where it is to be used. These weodlands furnish us ample supplies of litter for pens, lots and stables, and of rich earth for com posting with such fertilizing material as our interests require us to purchase. I can hurdly determine the relative proportion of stock to paature lands, as the factors whioh enter into the calculation are variablo; but I will say that niOBt of us can largelj increase our stock if we will provido wiutor food for thctn; aud us we iucrcasc our stock we can increase the quantity of manure from this source. We can also make a wonderful chauge in the quality of this manure; first, by better feeding, and secondly by sheltering our stook at night. This sheltering is not difficult or expensive. If we are not able to build good stables, we can make roomy log pens and cover with pine straw, and this answers the purpose very well. Let no farmer feel justified in going abroad for his manure until he shelters his stock and makes stablo manure where ho now makes a very poor article of lot manure. I think we will find the systematic use of the penning or folding plan in pleasant weather, to bo the easiest and best waj of enriohing the land to the extent that this plan way be practised. By this weans the manure is dropped just where it is required for use, and by frequently plowiug the land, we way bury the droppings of tbo cattle, and thus prevent loss from exposure to sun and rain. X have never soen much profit from any system of composting, outside of the lot and stalls, except where the materials are mixed as placed together in the furrow before planting. This method of composting wo should resort to whore cotton seed or commercial < l lili/iM'S arc ii-cd, on I: ??1 - > vege- . i.iol" mutter, .? ul we way draw : We will, upon our ion ts for half loiicu i< i\\.- and 1 I straw and rich surface earth, until all our wants are supplied. But there is another branch of the subject to which I must refer. There are oertain plauts possessed of great value for fertilizing purposes. Those now used among us are, first, the ootton plant of which we use the seed and stalks, secondly the pea plant, and thirdly tho weed whioh naturally succeeds cultivation. As to the first we ueed not descant upon its value; it is already appreciated. Nor is it necessary to urgo its production for the purposes of manure.? We supply ourselves with the seed in our efforts to produce the staple. 1 will only say that every good farmer husbands his cotton seed as ho does his corn, and uses all ho cau net for manure. Bat as to a pea crop tor manure we neeosome B^hgfTvHP * have here a crop unsurpassed by any other. | Very rich in Nitrogen and Potash and Phosphates, a tap rooted pluut, deriving a large , nnrtiou of its nnnritnmnnt frmn ?>- !? r w.*, l? is admirably adapted to gathering and storing away the elements of fertility which are wanting in the soil. We have thought well ot this crop as a food crop, but have not appreciated it as a means of restoring fertility to the land. I cannot too strongly press upou you the importance in this respect. Plant it; resist the entroaties of thoso who advocate green manuring, and let it fully mature; then consign it to the soil, burying it well and you have applied what is more valuable than five hundred pounds of the best commercial fertilizer with which we are familiar. But if you cannot spare so largo aud so valuable a crop for manure, feed it off to hogs and even by a steady rotation of cotton, corn, small grain aud peas, with the use of both home-made and commercial fertilizers, we may rapidly improve our lauds. Aud uow as to the weed crop, it is for those who are willing, or perhaps are unable to undertake the expense and labor of plantiug and cultivating a crop solely for manure. Rest a portion of the land, and you will get a valuable crop sown by nature's baud aud growu without mac's labor. You perceive that I have tried to bo practical in this essay. I might have told you of many uew theories for manure making at home, of many uew plants highly lccommbtided for improving land, but I aui firm in the opinion that no plants have as yet beeu found adapted to this locality, suciicstions are such that our farmers muv . adopt them without any violont changes in their arrangements. They need not tear up their stakes and begin auew. I do not believe all our former practices are to be condemned. It is now quite the fashion to denounce the Southern farmer. He is called slothful improvident, unmethodical. lie is told that if a Northern man were iu his position, he would show him how to be enterprising and successful. The Southerner is said to be all wromg iu his methods and his opinions, and is exhorted to imitate the Northerner, or the Englishman or eveu the Chinese. Have you noticed whether or uot these monitors, often Southern men, and farmers, are themselves eminently successful with the plans they commend to others ? If not wo will prefer to follow the auicenuf iaimers wnom we know. We believe the Southern farmer has done as well as any others could have done under similar circumstances. l)o our oitisens appoar to disadvantage beside any others when they ocoupy the same grouud. l)o they in business circles in our great cities ? Do they in our armies as soldiers ? Do they in our halls of Legislation as statesmen ? Do they in the colleges of the land ua at nrlonta ? If* nrvt IaS no ?l> !< n.lf uti vkuUVUM! * JLA UUV lOV US QW|f tUU) DCIl* depreciation, and with confidence in ourselves and in our Qod who mado us the equals of any others, let us copy after none, but work out our own methods and go ou bravely to success. "Is This Skat Occupied?"?An old but vigorous-looking gentleman, seemingly from the rural districts, got into a car and walked its full length without receiving an invitation to sit down. Approaehing one gentleman, who had a whole bench to himself, he asked : "Is this seat occupied ?"? "Yes, sir, it is," impertinently replied the othor. "Well," replied the broad-shouldered agriculturist, "I will keep this seat until the gentleman comes." The original proprietor withdrew himself haughtily to one end, and looked insulted. After awhile the train got in motion, aud still nobody came to claim the seat, whereupon the deep-chested agriculturist turned and said : "Sir. when you told me this seat was occupied * you told me a lie"?such was his plain Ian- j guage?"I never sit near a liar if I can 1 avoid it; I would rather stand up." Theu * appealing to another party, he said : "Sir, ( may I sit next to you ? You don't look * like a liar." Wo need hardly sry that he ' got his scat, and that the original proprio- , tor thought that there wns something wrong s about our social system.?Halt, (laxcitt J ' A Vicksburg paper says a negro magis- ' trato in that county lately sontcneed a negro prisoner to he hanged for *t rlint; a h and t (It.it the vntoir'-: ul'l i nly It iv ' en > e:trri. d out il ll?o vvhi.'o ;>e p! had .* mi- ? lei ion ii tu prevent ir. ' i 1 ' " U J.I LAY III Q DOWV PEBMAHEHT PASTURES. The first thing to be done in laying down arable land to grass is that the land Is well cleansed, and as iuuohjfc possible freed from those weeds which, ififleft to germinate unmolested, are likelyfto be troublesome Vor many years to coin2 Therefore, tho yfcir before tho seeds art sown, it will bo uecojnsury to rnako a gw>d sumuierland sowifo thereupon. * * * Tho seed btfl should be perfectly even and fine, and light ly harrowed befofe and after sowiug. T sowu by hand, an experienced sower shoul bo employed, and a still day chosen for thf purpose. Whetfeor corn fgrain Ed) should or should not be. sown witn the graaj seedsis a matter of dispute, hut tjjttoosygencral barley or wheat. Some tc is sure to rob the grass, and ttftlally to smother and binder tho growth cf the finer nwta Kill. nlKnro ?/v. -? 1 ? ? vw ; MW? V?UWI0| ?VA*u v\|uai VUUUUCQUU, maintain that the shelter afforded by the growing oorn is of great use to the youug teeds ou strong land. Most of us would be inclined to adopt this latter view, us tho ralue of the corn crop is an important element in the consideration of this expensive jporation. Oats are thought to be better ;han barley or wheat for this purpose, but ;hey should be thinly sown. When the young grass is three or four nches above the ground it should be rolled, ind if sown without corn, the weak places nay be mended by resowing; if sown with jorn, then the resowing should be done immediately after tho corn is harvested.? Much depends, of course on the choice of jrass seeds, and great oare~3i required in .heir selection. Auother very important olemont in the jonsidcration of this subject is the quality )f the soil. A good medium loamy soil is ho best adapted for permaueut pasture.? Where the laud is too light aud sandy, no >roper accumulation of vegctablo mould .akos place round the roots of the plant, vhich, by a continuous underground growth, md the action of the earth worms, would innually dcepeu and improve its own seed )cd. These conditious cannot be fulfilled in i saudy soil, which, owing to its porosity, ;auscs a decay of the roots more rapid tbau heir growth, and is consequently sensibly bit by the plant in dry and parchiug seaious. In very stiff, cold cluys, on ihc conrary, there is an absence of all porosity in )ede tbo urowth ot the rooto'of tho plants ind tho creation of rioh huuius t^y tho earth worms. Both these extremes of very light md very heavy soils are unfavorable to tho ;rowth of good herbages. $ Let us suppose, that tho grubs has boon properly laid down, ou suitable Jpud that has jeen duly drained, cleansed aud leveled? still our real work is not yet done. However promising the youDg grass may look, we must uot take liberties with it, und suppose it will bear the de;<letorj practice, which is resented even by old aid well esablishsd pastures. Therefore I cannot igree with those who feed young grass tho Irst wiuter after sowing; nor 4o 1 believe that a heavy coat of manure ii suited to plants in so tender u stago of gnwth. The prapjur nnuriu>. would be to f$?i the young layer a light top-dressing ^i^sfibrt and well rotted xauuure early ip tift wiuter, which will both protect the plant from tho effects sf frost, aud encourage its early growth iu the spring. I would jfoll aud very lightly bush-harrow the layei^n March, (or when the land is in tilth iu the spring.?Ed.,) and then mow it late, say at the end of Juue or the beginning of July, so as to allow the best sorts of grassjo shed their seeds, which bappeus in the middle of Juue. It is to the future, and dot the present hay stack, we must look, since any illtimcd parsimony aow, or any premature desire of realization, will deprive us of permanent profit fur the take of a very doubtful prcsout advantage. In the uutuj.n the layer may be grazed frith cattle, but not with sheep, for thoy hitc iOO close, and pull up the youug grass by the oots. Nor should the cattle remain on for oo long a period j and any hafts of rough ;rass thoy leave should be mown. The next leason will be critioal and trying, as two exhaustive crops will havo been taken from he land, and, therefore, a liberal coat of jood farm-yard manure should be spread on he pasture as soon as the cattle are removed rom it. Above all, it is necessary; in order to ceep pastures in a profitable state, uot to now it too often, unless an adoquate return tan be made in manure. It is not sufficienty considered that the hay crop removes nore nitrogen from the land than rye, oats, vi nuvav, auu turn uui Uinjf in uu iuurn made to the mown meadow in theshape )f special manures, bu\ the stook fed on the iftermath are often driven off at night to relp to enrich the arable lands. Cat} wo vouder that the procasfcof detciiorhtion ihould proceed so rapidly in pastures tbus .routed, and that the most valo&Dlo grasses rcgin to die out.? Uuv. C. T. CoitRANCK, \f England. The general directions given in above oriole are excellent. but the difference of scmuis here and in I'highind necessitates sonic hilen iice in pi .iet ieo. I'or instance, it i i ccniiiiiiciiued t ? rcsocd spots where the | stand is poor, io Juno, or as soon as the grain orop is harvested. This oould not be done in our hot, dry olimate?the following September would be quite as early as the young plants oould venture above ground with safety. But we cannot commend too highly the advice, to let tho plants seed the flrst year and thus correct defects in the stand ; and to avoid weakening the plants by grazing or mowing, before they have become strong and fully established. Pastures aro very frequently ruined by tho desire to realize from them too soon.?Ed. So. Cultivator. oat8. Editor Southern Cultivator.?As science requires "tables," I was in hopes to fl'Hinr Mh trr " WBMtlStone experiments with oats made the pot wesson, nut a destructive drought of nearly 60 days, commencing April 13th, rendered most of them uoinatructive, especially so iu those instauces where I hoped to demonstrate (partially) tho comparative value of oertain salts, applied as a top dressing in March?only ouly cue raiu, and that a slight one, fulliug after tho application. In there cases, there was no discernible difference between natural soil, Nitrate Soda, Phosphate Lime, Chloride Sodium, and Sulphate Lime. These salts were applied separately and also in combination. It was pluiu that the oapacity of the natural soil only was exhibited. The variety sown waa the rust proof oat. I shall repeat this experiment the coming season, making the application much earlier (December or January,) aud hope to be more successful. As "tables" are not essential to the practical farmer, however, I shall proceed to tell what my experiments iu another direction have taught me, and I am almost dogmatic enough to defy any one to disprove my conclusions in reference to oat culture by actual test. It is not wise, however, to be dogmatic iu reference to agricultural matters, for, as a rule, almost, it seems that the experience of one is disproved by that of another. I have been a close obsorver and student of oat culture for several yoars, aud the result of my observation and experience is this: That the time to sow is from September 15th to November 10th, tho earlier on poorer soils?tho happy medium is October 10th15th. On rich and very rich soils, from Or?fcr?h/?r 1 fki li tr\ Mnvonihnp 1HHi Thnf n rMK^BWCmua muj i?aui?^??umj??v> ' mrt*y/~ is the best soil for oats, but that they can bo profitably grown on any soil, if judiciously manured. That the phosphate lime is the special manure for oats, where they follow cottou or peas, and especially so ou clay soils. That the manure should be drilled in with tho seed. That the seed should bo put uniformly 3} to 5 inches deep ; that ou all but very rich friable soils drilling at 18 inches and cultivation increases the yield under liko circumstances of manuring, 50 to 75 per cent. These, Mr. Kditor, aro the maxims I hold in reference to oat culture, and 1 can confidently recommend them. Many are agreed as to the proper timo for sowing, but a very large number of farmers still hold to the opiuion that February is the time to sow oats, and yet they admit that they rareliC tnako really profitable crops. Ijcc tbcm once understand that October sown oats, put uuiformlv 4 inches deep, and that havo a good hold on the soil by the 15th Nor. are not endangered in the least once in 10 years, yea 20, in this climate, and thoy will see their way clear to profitable oat growing.? Notwithstanding the uupropitious season 1 made a fine crop this year, as my neighbors, who came frequently to examine and admire, can testify. At the lowest calculation, made 40 bushels on ratbor poor saudy Ifirwl nnrl Itiif tKa tlrAimlif wnnM . > ^ IV# v,,w wlwuouv "VMIVt VVi taiuly liavo made GO. The oats were sowu in cottou in October, siding the cotton with a shovel and sowing seed in furrow. Covered by breaking out the middle with a scooter. Tue cotton had been picked over twice. In January the stalks were beaten down, and the oats cultivated 3 times afterwards. The eoton rows were 3 feet apart, and the cotton was ao sided as to make oat rows 18 inches apart. Made no special application of manure to the oats, but the cotton had been manured. This is a good way to work oats, for it in economical. On our old cotton lands, the aoid phosphate o( lime is the only fertiliser needed to make magnificent crops. It should be applied in the furrow with tho seed, from 2 to 4 hundred pounds per acre. It is with oats as with ootton, too mueh nitrogen to be guarded against. Twenty to forty bushels ootton seed, however, may be applied with profit, in addition to phosphate, but, as 1 remarked before, such application is not necessary after cotton or peas. As drilling and cultivating oats is not my invention I have no personal theorizing at stake in the matter, but I give my experieucc. There aro numerous oocasions, no doubt, wlicii it will bo found more profitable to sow broad cast and reap less, but as a rulo the "intensivo" farmer will gaiu by adopting the drill. From 1 to 0 acres can be cultivated in a day, depending on the ldi.gth of row, old the oxj*t?sc is very ?' . ill A twelve, year old boy with a donI; y is . boost lir.-t class stock fur the purpose. One more remark and I am done. In this soction for several years we have been able* to bny from one %nd a half to two bushels of corn with one of oats, in the mouths of October and November, the neriod when oorn is harvested and oats in demand for seed. Now, as it is a well determined fact that the yield of oats is three times greater than corn, (in respoot to bushels) on same soil, evon when oats are broadcasted, here is 45 to 60 bushels corn from ordinary soil. To what extent this J is the case in other sections of the State, and how long it may continue to be the oaao here, of oourse I do not know, but it is reasonble to expect that lor many years yet a bushel of oats will purchase ono bushel nf w* ?v? u. AHW vugu* vu VUWU1 A^U UO HI surest crop that' we oaa plant, and it is to bo hoped that the advice of the "Southern Cultivator" will not go unheeded this fall. S. A. C. "Stick to Dai?."?A fanner's son writes us the following: "I am tired of farming and want to come to town to make a living for mjself. What do you think of it ?" Well, wo think you are a fool if you don't stay at home. The eity is overrun with 'dead beats' and tramps, and if you have a dead sure thing of making "bread and meat" on the farm, you'd better stay where you are, and dig potatoes, than oome hero and go to the Workhouse and peck rook. Stick to dad. Stay on the farm.? You are worth more to yourself, to year neighbors, to your Slate and the country at Urge than all the one-horse mutton head profsssienal gentlemen that are living from hand to mouth in this city or State. You stiok to tho plow, the mower, the reaper, freeze to that farm like a fly blister to a negroe's lip, raise rye, corn, hay, barley, oats, potatoes; chop wood,maul rails, burn brush, curry your mules, feed oxen, raise stock, snd instead of hancrinc around the street oor ncre dependent upon lunch housea to k?ep sand out of your craw, you'll be at homo on your farm, living a life of "independent happiness," while thousands of "nice young men," too pretty and prood to work, and too lazy to steal, will be lighting out "over the hill to the poor house," merciless beasts and lazy subjects of utter dependence upon> public charity. Young man, if vou know which side of the bread of life the butter { mi P rti? lk? fnnlinli < ing to Louisville to "make a living for yourself." 25 acres of fcpd and a chaplike you to till it, is worth more to tbw county than the bank in this city and the smartest capitalist we know of to run it.? You stay where you are. Follow the plow, and engineer the dooilc, willing mule that pulls it. Our word for it any voung, noalthy, stout farmer's boy who will give up his chances for "a dead sure thing in life" and come to town on an uncertainty is not smart enough to take care of bimself, and should be arrested and sent to a lunatic asylum for a darned fool. Stay where you are,?LauirvxUe Courier-Journal. Four South Carolina Widows.?At Prosperity, a station on the G reenvill^e aa<^. the sound of the whistle, four widows whosw names and deeds should be printed in letters of gold We shall tell of them?to spare blushes?first. No. 1. This lady?m, in fact, all tho others?lost her husband during the war and was left in straightened circumstances. Did she sit down and grieve at her fate ? By no means. She has raised four children, besides fine crops, and to day she has muob of last year's cotton and flour on hand, is free from debt and is able to pay cash down for what she wants. No. 2 looks complacently on all of her last crop of cotton, and with a sense of perfect rest and absolute fullness on 3,000 pounds of flour, neither of which she has sold because she has no use for the money ?here's a widow for you. The only thing which disturbs her rest now is what to dsv"-with her new fodder, every place being, with the old. She might dispose of some of it to the Editor of the Herald, who has been <v standing to tho rack for years, fodder or no ) fodder. She, too, like a true woman, has raised children and set them up under their own vines and fig trees. No. 3 struggled through the years whioh bare rolled on sinoe the late unpleasantness, raised six children, given eaoh at majority $500 in cash. Last year she bought a tract of land, for whioh $1,400 in good money was paid. Has corn, fodder and other things iu abundance. No. 4, like unto the others, has made a splendid fight and brought np a large family in the way they should go, has of last year's crops abundance, pays oash in trade and loans her earnings out on interest. m + m a - ? ' v^uikuuun uiaj ueei uu luugni uj inclosing the plum or other fruit troea infested? cherries, peaches, etc.?with a chicken yard fence, and colonizing a flock of chickens within. Then, nftcr the fruit is set, by a slight shaking of the trees every morning, while the insects are still inactive, they will drop off and boconio an easy prey to their ready enemies beneath.