and spring rains, and yield this up to the growing crops as needed; and 
by careful and frequent cultivation this moisture can be so conserved as 
to last over a long period of drouth. If excessive rains are the character¬ 
istic of the season, they will sink deeply into the ground, and, after the 
soil and subsoil are saturated, any surplus will pass off into the depths 
of the earth, and thence into the rivers, without washing and wasting 
the land. Time may be well spent during this month in plowing deeply 
and subsoiling land intended to be put into crops this year whenever the 
land is dry enough to permit of this work to be done. Do not, however, 
make the mistake of plowing wet land, for this does not save, but makes 
work, and is certain to result in an unsatisfactory crop. The importance 
of deep plowing and subsoiilng is not half so fully realized as it ought 
to be. 
Another important work which should have attention this month is 
the planning of the rotation of the crops to be raised this year. Because 
a field has produced a fair crop of corn, or wheat, or other crop last year, 
is no reason why it should be called upon to produce a similar crop this 
year, but rather a reason why it should not be asked to do so. If a 
judicious rotation of crops is maintained, the exhaustion of land is a very 
slow process, and with the application of manure or fertilizer practically 
an impossible thing. Except upon rich alluvial river bottoms, which 
are practically inexhaustible, corn or small grain crops should not sue-' 
ceed each other without the intervention of a clover or grass crop or a 
root crop. The same rule applies to cotton and tobacco crops. On se¬ 
lecting the land to be cropped this year, let these considerations have 
weight, and as far as possible observe the rule of rotation. 
Carefully save and store in compact heaps all the manure from the 
stable and pens, and increase the bulk of this by adding to it all the trash, 
leaves and other waste products of the farm, and good woodmould and 
vegetable refuse. If the ground should become frozen, take the oppor¬ 
tunity to haul out the compost heaps and manure piles on to the land in¬ 
tended to be covered, and either set it down in large heaps, or spread it 
over the land. This will save time later in the spring, when planting 
presses for attention. 
WORK FOR FEBRUARY. 
Do not burn off grass, weeds and trash before plowing. All our lands 
want humus, and this can only be had by turning under vegetable matter 
and farm yard manure. Before plowing land covered with a growth of 
weeds or trash, run a heavy harrow over it to break down the weeds. 
They will then be much easier to turn under. If the land is in proper 
condition spring oats can be sown. Spring oats, unless sown early, rarely 
make a profitable crop in the South. 
Clover and grass seed not sown in the fall should be got in as soon 
as the land is in good order. 
Tobacco plant beds should be got ready and sown at once. Select 
a piece of rich light land with a Southern aspect, well drained, clear of 
weeds, and sheltered in the north and west. Burn over with a good pile 
of brush to kill all weed seed in or near the surface, and then break fine 
and make rich with well rotted farm yard manure, or a fertilizer rich in 
nitrogen and potash. Mix the seed with ashes or sand, and sow evenly 
over the bed. A tablespoonful of seed will sow a bed 16 feet square, and 
39 
