SOUTHEEN CULTIVATOE. 
147 
cessful experiment in planting corn, and by shallow cul 
tivation, making 104 bushels per acre. He adds, on the 
subject, “we would just as soon think of breaking the 
bones, tearing the muscles &c., of our children to make 
them grow faster, as to break, &c , the tender roots of our 
corn.” Now, I am among the farmers who believe tliai 
deep culture is decidedly the best. I cannot say why 
deep plowing in cuiiivuiion is the best, except it results 
from the factthat, while plowing deep enough to reach and 
raise a moisture (of absolute necessity) we necessarily 
cut the roots of eitlier cotton or corn. In this connection, 
I must remark, if cutting the roots of corn be injurious, the 
bringing about a moisture is certainly of more than a cor- 
responding advantage. Let our JMr. Norwood try the 
deep cultivation as faithfully as he did his “light and clean 
culture,” and then give us a second report. 
In closing, I sum three things to bring to the notice of our 
Editors: 
1st. Which position will you sustain I — Mr. Norwood’s 
*'light and clean culture” in the cultivation of a crop, or 
that taken by myself, “plowing deep enough to cut the 
roots, and to cut the roots on both sides, as both cotton 
and corn produce most in the hill, when roots are broken 
both sides.” 
2nd. There is some importance in farming to manage 
properly our lands when baked or “crusted over.” As 
Mr. “P.” speaks one way, and I another, which doctrine 
will you support! — shall we break the “crusts” as quick 
as possible, or not ! 
3rd. Our Editors and myself are at points in two cases: 
first, as the propriety of turning land over while breaking 
deep without we had manure enough to make it all soil, 
and, second, as to the mode that deep plowing — breaking 
up deep — brings about its advantages; you think that the 
roots of plants can easier run down and follow the mois- 
ture ; while I am inclined to believe that moisture rises 
easier and more abundantly the roots always to be found 
near the surface. 
I know you will not hesitate to review your doctrine on 
this or any other subject: as I do believe that from the 
honesty of your hearts you are engaged to procure all the 
right ways in farming for ourgood. I am not certain that 
I am right in any particular experiment, I mention my 
experience to hear you on the subject and to profit by re- 
search. W, R. 
CuUodon, Ga., March, 1856. 
[We will reply to our respected correspondent, fully, in 
our next issue. — Eds. So. Cult. 
SWEET POTATOES— THEIR CULTURE, ETC. 
Editors Southbrn Cultivator — I have seen several 
communications in the Cultivator \a.\.e.\y on the subject of 
planting and cultivation of Sweet Potatoes. I propose 
giving my plan, and if any man can give one to make 
Sweet Potatoes with less work and keep them clear of 
grass, I would be pleased to hear from him. 
I have my land well broken up when it is in the right 
order, which is repeated once or twice, according to cir- 
cumstances, always breaking as deep as a good scooter 
will admit of VV^ien the slips or draws are of size fir 
planting and there is a “season,” have the ground run off 
in rows 3 feet G inches wide with a scooter; then, with a 
one horse turning plow bed with two furrows on each 
side, this will make a bed about 4 inches above a level 
surface. I theu have the slips planted 15 to 18 inches 
apart. A very slight “season” will insure their living. 
If the “season” be very slack or their be no “season” ai 
all, plant as above; then with a stick say 2^ feet long 2 
inches in diameter, the lower end rounded to a poini, 
make a hole about 1 inch from the slip deep enough to 
hold half a pint, and have the hole filled with water; and 
as soon as it disappears, or before, Ivive the hole slightly 
filled with dirt. The slips will soon start to grow. 
About the time the vines commence running, with a 
turning plow run one furrow on each side of the potatoes; 
this will leave tile bed about 8 inches wide. If there is 
any grass between the rows, those two furrosvs will cover 
it up as the bar of the plow is run next to the potatoes ; 
the little bed that is left is easy put in order by the use of 
a weeding hoe in the hands of one that is willing to work. 
About the time the vines have run half across the rows, 
have them placed on the ridge; then, with a shovel, 
plow out the whole row; run the first furrows so as to 
throw the dirt to the top of the ridges; then, follow with a 
weeding hoe and put the ridge in good shape, and place the 
vines as they should be, across the rows. The potatoes 
are now about laid by. Siiould any grass or weeds spring 
up after this, it is best to pull out by hand or scrape very 
shallow under the vines with a hoe, as it will not do well 
after the vines have spread over the ground to turn them 
about and plow the ground ; it will cause them to take or 
make roots at the joints, and thereby injure the growth of 
the potatoes. 
At digging time, which, with me, is when the time of 
the year has fully come, frost or no frost, if the weather be 
dry, I have a plow run once between each row to turn 
the vines, then pul! the vines from each side of the ridges 
to the middle of the rows; then, with a long scooter run, 
one furrow on each side of the potatoes. 'J’hey are then 
soon gathered by the use of a hoe. This process covers 
nearly all the vines in the dirt, wnich pays as much or 
more back to the land than the potatoes took from it. 
1 could give good reasons, as I think, for preferring 
to bed the land after the seasons have come for planting, 
and for preferring to water them, if need be, after plant- 
ing, but it would make this simple communication of great- 
er length than I would wish it. 
Yours very respectfully, 
John Farrar. 
Atlanta, Ga., April, 1855. 
THE OAT CROP NOT AN EXHAUSTER— WINE, ETC. 
Editors Southern Cultivator — I write for the pur- 
pose of endeavoring to correct what I conceive in my 
humble judgment to bean error in most farnvers in sup- 
posing that oals is the most exhausting crop that they 
can put on their lands. This error arises in a great meas- 
ure from not considering cause and effect. They find 
their lands impoverished after being sown in oats, and di- 
rectly attribute the cau.se to the oats without reference to 
any other ; ccompanying circunrstances. Every observ- 
ant planter at the South knows that crop •r crab grass 
comes up after oats, and that the common hog-weed, as it 
is called, comes up after wheat or rye. It is the usual 
custom that as soon as the crop of small grain is removed 
from the l:-*nd, the stock of cows, sheep, horses, mules and 
hogs are tinned in to graze for the balance of the summer. 
The weeds that fiillow wheat or rye are not eaten by the 
stock, but shade the ground from the sun in the summer 
and is returned to the earth in the £dl or winter. On the 
other hand, ilie stock constantly feeding on the crab grass 
leaves the surface exposed to the scorching rays ef the 
mid-summer sun, and leaves no vegetable matter to be re- 
turned to the earth in the fill or winter. 
If farmers would keep their stock out of their oat fields, 
and plow under the grass and stubble, as is done in their 
wheat fields (fiir the stuck does not destroy the weeds in 
the wheat fields), we woukl not hear so much about oats 
imfroverisliing the soil I have sown aus on the same 
land four years successively, and by keeping out Ine stock 
(except hogs to eat the grain) and turning under ihe stub- 
ble «nd itrass, have had a continually increasing yield 
and the fourth crop was much the largest. 1 have two 
