The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-11-04
AgricultNre.
From tie Nc,c England Farmer.
INDIAN CORN.

It may be amlss to begin to take into CON
sederation the manner OF making the most
of your crop Of Indian corn. There is ii
mode of harvesting Indian corn, probably
new to some OF our readers, and we do not
know of any way by which we can render
our husbandmen more acceptable service
than by stating it, together with the reasons
and authority on which it is founded.
In communication of General Hull, pub
lished in the Agricultural Repository for
January last, we have the following re
marks:
"Thc first weckin September, 1929, be-
fore there was any frost, and the corn was
in the milk, cut up about twenty hills OF my
corn, and the next day bound the stalks with
the ears on, in small bundles, and stacked
them in the field, where the stack remained
until the last Of October. 1t was then car
lied into the barn, and the corn taken from
the stalks. The corn was perfectly sound
and the stalks sufficiently cured to be pack
ed in the NOW. | send a few ears, taken
from the stalks, without selection, for the in
Spection, OF your honorable board. * be-
lief, that a knowledge OF this fact NAV, tlii-
der some circumstances, be useful to the ar
ricultural interests, has induced me to make
this communication. 1t is not uncommon
to have our cornfeldS injured, and sometimes
destroyed, by early frosts in the autumn
To guard against this calamity must be a
desirable object
The same publication contains letter
from John Prime, Esq. of Roxbury, iii which
that gentleman states, that on the island i'll
Winnepisoegee lake, i'll New Hampshire, il
was mentioned to him, by "sevcral good
farmers, as a common method in that part
of the country, to cut the corn near the
"a
barn, and place a temporary fence round
them, by which means my sheep would have
the range of the whole island: was pleas
ed with the thing, and it was done before the
10Th ofSeptember, the farmers in the neigh
borhood were generally topping their corn,
therefore it was considerably dry.
$ was at the island again about the Goth
of November, and found the corn in cribs,
and in very fair order, much superior to
mine at RoXbury, which was not harvested
till about the 10th of November MI the
stalks, butts and leaves, are excellent fodder,
whenby our usual mode the butts are Of very
little value.
:" think considerable labor is saved bs
adopting his method, although a little more
handling in the husking is required, which
however, is much more than repaid by the
quality Of the fodder; more particularly as
1t will give twice the time to lay down the
ground with winter grain, oil grass seed on
ly."
This method of securing Indian corn, IS
we belief, well known, and has been prac-
tised by many persons in this yicinitv but,
we believe, has not been generally adopted
i'll New England.
The same mode Of harvesting Indian corn
is recommended in Mr.. Batler's Fur0,eY'S
Manual and as it is sometimes well to give
" line upon line, in describing agricultural
process, we Will transcribc Mr.. Butlur's
directions:
SIT your hay is short, or YOU wish to SOW
winter grain after Your Indian corn or Sc
cure your corn against the effects Of carly
frosts, you may cut up Your corn hills close
to your ground, i'll fair weather with sharp
knife or sickle, and lay two rows into one, il!
small punches, as when you top and secure
your stalks; bind your boundcs above the
ears and stack either upon the borders Of
your field, or upon an adjoining field; you
may then plough and SOW as upon faIlow
grounds; secure your stacks by doubling
down the tops, and binding the heads With a
pliable stalk; this will exclude the rain.;
which otherwise would damage your corn.
This corn will be ripe at the usual time.
without the least diminuton in its colour,
weight or value but in the opinion of some
OF the best farmers, (who are in the steady
practice Of this mode from choice) with AZ
increased value to the grain. The increaset
value of your stalks will richly pay the OK.
pcnse; you may in this was bring forward
the sowing of your winter grain, ., 5, or
weeks, which will again at harvest rcpa,
the expense of clearing your cornhelds
you house your corn stalks before you husl
your corn, the pitching will be heavv, ant
your places for housngbe difficult and incon
venient and often exposed to your cattle
therefore, husk your corn on the field, ant
empty your baskets into your cart as yo,
husk, always remembering to leave the hush
upon the stalk, by breaking off the cob
shese will again repay your expense in feed
lp, The difference in the mode of huskinr
will at first be considerable; but a l;ttl,
prac 'ce will soon remove this and rende,
'sh .pual. 1t is of high Importance fo
arY la.rmcr toknow every mode of cultur,
Z 5till afford him successful ADVANTAGE il
per, ing lis farm, and in this point Of view
bled lot rank as one of the least
necess.
bed, ant. {