The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-01-19
Vhe Practical EarMey.
From the New-England Farmer.

From the New-England Farmer
To the Trustees of the Agricultural Society
for the County Of Plymouth.
CULTURE OF INDIAN CORN.
Conference.-The following will show the
result of an experiment to ascertain .he
most productive method for raising lhoian
corn, whether in hills or rows. Inns IS tne
fourth year in succession that have maae
the trial, each terminating in similar result
am fully Iconhdent, from my frequent ex-
periments, that the greatest crops WI oT
produced by planting in rows. Othcrs'
suppose, who have made only one single TIL
all, will not agree with me III this; OUT there
is no doubt in nv mind OF the correctness oi
nv statement, provided 1t be planted on lana
highly cultivated, we'll managed ana iree
from stones. Perhaps the very best methoa
of raising Indian corn is not yet found out,
and no doubt there are many erroneous ideas
respecting it; but farmers ought not 70 ne
satisfied with one single attempt, in which,
perhaps, there was a want OF proper man
agement, or an nsufhciency of manure, or
an unfavourable season. ! am fully ef opin
ion that, in farming we ought to be as par
ticular and as careful in planting, hoeing,
thinning, wedding. &c, as in gardening
and we get as well paid for our labour.
In'May, 1925, ploughed rich piece OF
land, where l had the last year large crop
Of potatoes. The plough was large and
made deep furrows. considered once
ploughing was enough at the time, preterins
to stir it more frequently after the gran WAS
up and growing.--This piece contained one
acre; FIVE eighths of which planted III mis-,
and the remainder in rows. Having plough
ed it as before described, l marked it out
by running plough twice in the same place,
making a wide furrow for the manure.
then put about 20 cart loads OF compost and
manure of equal quantities INTO the burrows,
and covered it about two inchesd deep. Marks
were then made exactly two feet SIX lhches
apart by drawing "A straight line over the
centre of the manure. On these MARKS or
lines in that part OF the piece, which was
intended for single rows, small holes were
made exactly nine inches apart ana ABOUT
inches deep, (thus--o-o-o--o-) In each
of these holes l dropt one kernel OF corn
covering it with my foot. The remainder o
the piece then pointed off in sim lar man
ner, but having the holes exactly l8 inches
apart on the line, and making two holes III.
stead of one, [thus--:-:-:-:-). In each
double hole, or hill as it may be called,
dropped two kernels and covered as before
In each row throughout the whole acre, there
was the same quantity and quality OF ma
nure and corn, and there was no difference
of soil, that | could discover The time o.
planting was between the 10th and Nth ot
MAY It was all hoed three times equally
alike, aud hilled as little as possible. In .Nu-
gust topped the stalks and bound them II
small bundles. The harvesting was done ir
October, when it was all husked and meas
ured, and produced as follows, viz: the
part pl lnted in hills or double holes yield
ed forty-four bushels, containing FIVE eighth'
of an acre-and the other, yielded thir
ty bushels, containing three eighths OF an a
ere.
The expense of cultivation, as follows
viz:
Ploughing one day, two hands. three
cattle, So s.
Planting three days two hands, a o.
Hoeing three days, two hands, a o.
Furrowlng and ploughing corn II day,
man, boy and horse,
Cutting stalks two days, one man, ! 3
Harvesting, &c. six days, one man, a o.
Sl7 s
Although entered my claim for prem
um on corn, yet, as have not come up
the quantity required, have no right to es
pect the oHered reward Dut lhIlhlnS
might be Of some general benefit, hay
thought proper to give you statement {
my proceeding, wishing to be put risI
wherever may be in an error.
In looking over the various agriculture
reports of our Commonwealth, ! tlnd tn,
tht same experiment has bern made herr
tofore by different gentlemen, pl 1duclng q
same result as above. III 1920, ]. Hume {!
Esq, received a premium. from tbc Ma
Agricultural 5ocisty for raising one hundrt
aud a. ven bushels Of sheled corn upon o.
acre Of land, pIAetedin in drills. Oliver Fisk
Esq, of Worcester has also received Il
Society's premium for ascertaining by E!
pertinent that, corn when planted in row
produces more than when planted IN hill
Other evidences might be shown, but II
presumed to be unnecessary.
l AN. gentlemen, respectfully yours, &c.