DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF 
‘u. o«.a. so. M.x.'' 
OUTHERN AGRICULTURE 
VOL. XIV. AUGUSTA, GA., JULY, 1856. 
NO. 7. 
WILLIAM S. JONES, Pcblisher. 
. DANIEL LEE, M. D., and D. REDMOND, Fuitors 
d:^ see terms on last page. 
^latttatintt €tflitmin| anii lEiscellan^. 
WORK FOR THE MONTH-(JULY.) 
THE PLANTATION. 
Cotton . — IVork this crop steadily, to encourage the de- 
velopment and retention of forms and bolls. Shallow, sur- 
face culture, with light sweeps, followed by the hoe, will 
be found the best method for the accomplishment of this 
object. Do not allow the grass or weeds to get a foothold 
either in the row or middles — wage a steady and relentless 
warfare upon them during this month, after which they 
will not give you much trouble. 
Corn . — In many sections, this important crop is already 
laid by. Where it is not, however, it will be well to give 
it a constant surfoxe v^orking until prevented by the 
spreading of the blades across the rows. Allow no weeds 
to appear in your corn field — both cannot flourish on the 
same ground. Do not use the plow among your corn 
after the first two workings. It breaks and tears up the 
young rootlets, and does fdr more injury than good. At 
the last working, sow Coio Peas broadcast, and cover 
with a sweep, cultivator or harrow. Plant, also, Piirop- 
Hns, in every second or third hill, and when well up, thin 
to one plant in a hill, and work carefully. 
Cow Pe«.s should now be sown broadcast for hay, at the 
rate of a busliel or six pecks to the acre. Scatter over the 
surface evenly, and cover with a turning plow ; or, first 
plow your ground deeply, sow your seed, and drag in 
with a harrow'. Cow Peas intended for seed may be sown 
in drills, three feet apart. 
Ptcmpkins may be planted as a separate crop. Prepare 
the ground as for Watermelons ; hills 10 feet apart. When 
well up, thin to one or tw'O strong plants in a hill, give 
these a sprinkling of Plaster or Gypsum (a small handful to 
each hill) when the dew is oh; loosen the earth, careful- 
ly breaking the crust, without disturbing the plant, and 
then let them run. The after- work consists in shallow sur- 
face culture, and the destruction of weeds, until the vines 
cover the entire ground. 
Pulling Fodder, we consider “behind the age” in all 
respects. It should be discontinue(| by all enlightened 
and economical planters. We confidently offer the follow- 
ing substitute : 
Corn Foddxr . — Break up, very deeply, a piece of rich 
land, harrow it finely, and with a broad shovel plow 
lay it off in drills three feet apart. In these drills scatter 
corn at the rate of 40 or 50 grains to the foot, and cover 
with a hoe, rake, board or harrow, drawn lengthwise alon g 
the drill. When well up, “run around it,” pretty close, 
with a long rooter, and repeat after 10 or 15 days. In the 
course of 10 or 15 days more, break out the entire mid- 
dles with the rooter, and finally lay by with the shovel 
plow, running up and down in the same furrow, midway 
between the drills. On good land, prepared and worked 
in this way, the yield wfd be from 3 to 6 tons^ (sometimes 
even 10) of excellent fodder per acre. This is as much as 
can be pnlled from 20 to 30 acres, in the common way, and 
at one-tenth of the labor. Pound for pound, it is as good, 
if not better than pulled fodder, as it contains the entire 
juice and st7-e7igtfi of the plant, which, \x\ the other case, 
has gone to the formation of the ear or grain. The loss of 
-weight and injury to the grain, by depriving corn stalks 
of their leaves before all growth has ceased, is fully equal 
fo ilbc value of the fodder pulled. We, therefore, desire 
that our readers should abandon this “old fogy” practice, 
and give drilled corn-fodder a fair trial. It is not yet too 
late, but should be done immediately. Any one who fair- 
ly tests it w'illjwe are quite certain, abandon fodder pulling, 
forever. See the articie^of our correspondents on this 
subject. 
In moist weather, sow again the Egyptain Millet and 
the Chm^ 'S^gdr Millet [Holcus Saccharatusj for soil- 
ing. It can be cut every 15 or 20 days; feed it to your 
cattle in the stable or lot. You will, by so doing, make a 
great deal of excellent manure. 
Curing Corn Fodder . — The proper time to cut drilled 
fodder, is when all the stalks are fairly tasseled out, or iu 
full bloom. It may be cut close to the ground, with a 
long, sharp knife, or a sickle. Select a dry day, commenc- 
ing early in tlie morning, and cutting until dinner time. 
As fast as it is cut, spread it thin along the row, and let 
It lie and take the sun until after dinner, when the upper 
side will be pretty well wilted. Then turn it over careful- 
ly, and leave it on the ground until 5 o’clock in the even- 
ing, when it must be gathered up, tied in bundles of 
moderate size (say a foot through at the band) and set 
up on the butt end, in shocks of 4 or 5 bundles each — turn- 
ing one bundle upside down, over the others, as a “cap- 
