Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-27

..tI---tiIdt Is, 10 use our most mistaken
endeavors according to the means we
possess, Of stimulating by industry, both
/ agriculture and domestic manufactures,
which will from the nature of things not
only stimulate but establish commerce.
] Take a view of England, France, and
Holland, the most agricultural and ma
nufac;uring people in Europe, and OF
course the most commercial. Take no.
/ tice OF the situation Of this state at pre-
sent: mild climate, the most produc-
tive soil on earth for Indian corn, wheat,
tobacco, and very good for cotton; and
yel inundated with inportations oil Hour,
whiskey, bacon and many other things,
that by cxertion we could furnish half
the States wih. To mend the matter,
the tide OF emigration here is in a man
ner stopped; and harsh as ii may appear,
either by envy, or some political cause,
the fostering hand that has so graciously
flowed on the people OF the west from
the parent states, is withheld, as may be
seen by an attentive observer Of our ma
tional council at the present session.
Those who will not be excited by those
considerations, to manly improvement
OF agriculture and home manufactures,
according to the means within our hands,
are not in their duty to themselves, their
God, and their country; and pity they
were not subjects of some of the tyrants
OF Europe, where few could mend their
situations III life, let their cScriions be
ever so great, unless their eXerlons were
pushed in the darl, avenue Of hattcry,
falshood, and vice.
There is 10 kind of grain in oorknow-
ledge 50 profitable to raise as indiancor;,,
in this state---tbat is, ia proportion with
other grains. 1t may appear foolish 10
give few hints on the culture of that
valuable plant, that every one knows,
That all do not put these il practice, is
evident from the haliow appearance of
their corn-cribs. 1t is barely to plough
as early in the spring as the ground IS
dry, and as deep as the teams can, with
out oppression--all the better to harrow
the ploughed lana before planting, and
in all cases when the earth is any how
dry, cover with one horse plough--ihe
plant will come we'll, battle its enemies,
which are often numerous, and enable
you to plough between your corn-rows
in the real proper time, when the plant
is not exceeding three inches high, not
stint, puttins plenty ofgra:as i: -..ch hill,
and above all, be particular 10 draw out
the unnecesssHy stalks, leaving three or
four in each hill, before they have
grown half-leg high. There is more
corn spoiled BY not thinning at all, or al
most as bad, not before it is waist high,
than in any OTHER progress of the crop
then one band can do more when tic
stalk is quite small, than two when i, is
large, from the snallness Of the plant
Two burrows is as many as can be done,
then one good ploughing Of four burrows
between the furrows will generally COM
pete the crop, Which from an experience
OF upw ards Of twenty crops, viii oltener
exceed fifty bushels to the acre than un-
der.
There can be foundone hundred house
holders residing between Edwarasvllc
and Kask askia, that can with convenience
erect a horse-miil and dsillery--( only
think Of thaO--the corn rotting Oh our
hands, and thousands of barrels Of whis-
key brought by us from other places,
out of our state--in the name OF COM
mon sense why not make these distilling
establishments and save the money in the
state. The oilal Of the grain is quite
equal for the use of stock after the whis-
key is produced. BY good handling, the
production is nearer three gallons than
two, to the bnshel. People who cannot
raise more than one-Gflh as much corn
OF the acre as we can, make money. En-
courage farming and benefit commerce
by kiln drying corn, grinding fine, bolt
ing the meal, and barreling for exporta-
ton, which has one decided advantage.
it keeps fresh longer than -four, and often
sells better 10 warm countries. See
what field Of commerce is to shortly
open of that article to the independent
states Of South America.
Many see the practicabi'ity OF raising
cotton in this state, which can be accom-
| plishcd not only to. the amount Of our con-
sumption, but far greater quantities. 1t
would be desirable to see every Household
der at that culture, and it would be well for
them to spin and weave it after. Our
business is TO raise corn and cotton in
superabundance 1t will be the means
OF encouraging manufactures here to our
own benefit. Cotton is tender plant,
and requires requisite attention, not a
partial application, as we generally do.
Above all, if the ground cannot be
pIoughed in the fall (Which is the bes,)
let it be done early in the spring, which
fertilizes the earth, stands drought or