Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-24
.AG RIcULTURE.
TaoM vHE AMERICAN FARMER.
INDIAN CORN.
Richmond. Jan. o. 1875

Sir-i have been induced to make this cornmu-
nlca'ion To you by two recent notices in YOUR
Journals the one OF the unusual lux uriance of tho
stalk OF corn produced in the state of Moth Car
oiinai the her, Q. the size and productiveness or
an ear oil corn raised by gentleman on the cas-
tern shore OF Virginia. With regard to the stalks
otcorn which have grown my form, cnn at
hrm nothing with precision having never made
these subject OF particular attention. That tYley
should be very tall or that the ear should shoo,
at any extraordinary distance from the earth, I
nave always regarded as disadvantage, the plant
being, by either cause rendered more liable, to
the influence OF the violent gusts by which we
ace not unirequenily, visited during the summer
isman iron, Virginia. (Mr. Upshur,( certainly
indicates considerable fertility IN the soil in which
1t grew, and great perfection in this product of that
sou, nevertheless, the specimens OF Indian corn
herein described (and which by the FIRST safe OPP
po'tuniy shall be forwarded to you,t will, think
Tor the present at t,disappoint that gentleman
determination OF surprising all others in superior
samples OF Indian corn. l shall send YOU four ears
taken from my crop Of 1928. The first of them
is y inches IN length, inches and I-S of an inch
IN circumference at the larger end, and contains
A2Oo grains. The second year is in length 8 inch
e., IN circumference at the larger end 8 l-4inch-
es and contains li2e g aims. The third is in
length Ia inches, in circumference at the lar
ger END ID inches and contains Io56. The
fourth ear measuring in Nhgth 9 IL inches; in
circumference at the larger end 81 inches and
contains lola grains. The length of these ears
has been taken SO far only as the cob is covered
WIN grams; and 1t is somewhat curious that the
number Of grains increases inv, rseIy with the
iens,h Of these ears. Connected with The nro.
uucu0h OF tiis corn, are some facts, not unworthy
perhaps, OF being uoted, inasmuch as they mani
resi-. L think, in strong light, the importance Of
Eool AuSpanGTy, and tend also to show that the
:nulan corn cannot De the ekhauster of land which
Dy many II has long been deemed. The ears of
The corn atoyc mentioned are part Of the twelfth
successive crop OF corn made on the same land /
PFe'ehu 10 no experience or skill in agriculture
my walk in lishaving led me topursuits sfa Who'll
~ different character. My course of busbandry
has,however, been this. About twelve wears since
commenced the cultivation Of small farm in this
vicinity, consisting with the exception Of a few
ACRES OF bottom land, appropriated exclusively to
Sra'es'oi nigh land only The soil of this farm con-
.alhs considerable proportion of sand, and had
been much Impoverished by the improyident
course o! tllage, long and generally prevalent in
th4S part OF Tie country. itw what is here IL
su%iy deIominaied old field, producing chiefly
me prom grass and few dwarf pines;it would not
perhaps have produced three barrels or fifteen
bushels OF corn to the acre. caused this land 20
be ploushed into beds FIVE and a half feet in width.
these were opened by single plough, and ma,
nuFe being placed in the. opening burrows, the
cora was planted therein at the interval Of three
!eel between the stalks. On the succeeding wear
manure was applied TO the middle spaces between
me beds; these last were then reversed with
Two horse plough; the beds formed by this opera
Ion opened as already described, and the corn
planted in the same manner by this process the
land whilst yielding an annual corp has been rradu
ally amelioratedthe stalks Of corn have conseouent
~ peen brought nearer each cher, till at length
they have been planted ar the distance of it. only
apart; and the two last years, 1928 the average
prouuct gathered from this land has been six bar
els or thirty bushels to the acre. An error was
at irst committed Gas must Je expected i'm every
noviate by raising. or rather by leaving the beds
TOO nigh, or convex on the surface; but this was
corrected and they now are reduced nearly To a
'eYei 10 Tie progress OF tillage by the five hoed
culuvator, merely leaving race as a guide for
placing the manure for the succeeding crop. In
The course OF improvement here deIineated, the
manure has been almost exclusively supplied by
my farm stable, my COW yard Tin which every
corn stalk. and every other species of litter have
oeen carefully depoSited,) and from my stable in
town. in which only three horses are kent. But
j Ind myself drawing into prolx commentary
what was designed 10 be simple notice OF an in
stance OF iuxurianl vegetation. will therefore
win the remark, taking into view the
product Of my corn, the regular contribution from
The land, End the progressive smeIoration of the
soil, think may venture TO anticipate your um-
pirsge upon my title 10 Mr. Upshur's barrel oil
corn, profered TO The person who shall surpsss
INN. The species Of corn, described by him |
am unacqus,nted with, or know ii not by his de-
scrption. The ears shall send you are of = kind !
cSIict the g3uTd seed corn It's valuable for it,
increase, for being easily crushed ia grinding, and
yielding consequently a large proportion of veryi
white meal. One Of the ears shall send has some !
STAINS upon 1t; these have been produced by these
circumstances: alter the crop was gathered and
thrown into bulk, before being shucke9, there
came ON long season Of warm rain. by which |
some loss was sustained. BY the same cause ma !
ny ears were discooured, but close examination
vii show that the grains have perfectly formed
and ma.ared ]
Yours respectfully,
y. V. DANIEL. [