Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1832-04-05
CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN.

CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN.
La ORANGE, OCT. I6. 1891.
Mr.. Smiih; The modes Of cultiva-
tien and napassmento of different crops,
are perhaps % various % the tlisposi.
tions and ideas Of Che cultivators q
few suggestion, notwithstan ling. might
not b entirely useless to those engaged
in the cultivation Of Indian corn, 80
essential in most every part of the U.
States. In the 6rst place then, &c.
lection Of seed 10 Of more Importance
than many sre aware; such ears should
be chosen for that purpose 40 ripsn
early, and mature perfectly, giving
parliamentary to those stalks which
have borne two or moro ears the pre-.
ceding season under no circumstan-
ees, where il 10 desired to insure full
crop, should early planting be neglect.
ed. Why is il that 30 many planters
defer this till the very advance ed season
compels them 10 turn their attention to
il, Is a question which will forribly &C.
cur to themselves, when once they
have tested the advantages Of q con.
trary practice. The whole course Of
my experience in agriculture, proves
satisfactorily. that early planting has
incomparabiy the advantage Of late
planting; the young corn may not look
50 well when IL puts up, nor grow OF
so rapidly, still il roots better, stalks
better, and will almost always bear
more and larger ears. is less subject 10
the ravages of the cut worm and de.
predations Of birds, ensures q better
and earlier stand, which in all crops
10 all.important, sc. Land which is
broken should in all cases be ploushed
horizontally; to effect this, you en-
counter necessarily, some delay in the
outset, bot afterwards you can reverse
your beds, and plant again in the same
way. If your fields are planted al.
ternately in corn and cotton, (the
Southern system, beds four feet apart
are suited to both crops, the distance
in the drill being discretionary, de.
pending on the soil and locality, say
from 80 to 40 inches apart. In general,
there is nothing gained by cTowdine
this crop too much: and erowdinp
u otherwise as you may, never more
than one stalk should be left in place |:
1t IS il sometimes happens, early corn
IS cut down by frost, it sustains no in
jury whatever therefrOm, unless the
cold has been SO intense as to pene-
trate to, and injure the roots, which
rarely happens, when the corn has
been properly covered.
Alter the crop appears above the
ground. no'time should be lost in run
ming IL over with hoes; this dressing
10 admissible much earlier than any
suppose,-it will, after this, grow more
rapidly and vigorously, having the soil
about its roots light, level and fine
SO soon as the grain rots, and the birds
no longer infest it. the operation Of
thinning must commence if the wea.
ther IS dry, and the tender corn breaks
and leaves a bud TO vegetate again, a
small sharp paddle may be used, and
passed beneath the roots Of the stalk
you wish TO take up. leaving, in all
cases, the largest and most vigorous
plants. In preparing the soil for the
reception OF this crop, from 8 TO 5 fur.
rows may be thrown together, consli.
tutiDg bed that may be split with a
bull tongue or small plough n careful
person may step the required distance
and dropthe corn TO the toes, or a staff.
passing through piece, Of the required
length at the bottom, can be used
This bedding, together with breaking
the remaining balk, should be done
with a good double plough running
from 6 TO inches deep, depending on
depth Of soil, and great care should be
taken 10 break the ground close, that
-, TO leave no ridges Hnbroken be-
tween the farrows, so much being
inert soil and q barrier 90 the difluHiou
OF the roots; after this, one timely.
deep and close plOughing, will in gene.
raj, on ell new lands, ensure an alum.
nant crop, ell additional labor be;ng
injurious TO the crop and time mispent.
Aud sny plantation must have been
previously nnisnanaged, IL more than
two Ploughings after balk breaking. is
required. In no case should TuTrow
be stFeek 10 : field Of cora after the
hSst shoots end tsssels appear, I have
known good crops, with fbe season and
on rich soil, made after late plough
,ogs, bot never yet knew an instance
IN which the crop vas not materially
ihjoted by q. When the last plough.
IDg - given, evefy prudent landholder
vii provide . sBtiieIeney Of the stock
OF Gov pea, 10 SOW down broadcast
preceding the plovghs, say from 10 5
Peeks per acre. These protect the
'ssds irons the intense rays oi . sum
mer's sun, prevent IL from washing.
leave rich deposiso Of the vine and
leai, do no injury whatever 90 the grow.
'ng corn crop, and vhwn matBsed,
which is after early feet. the corn
naH BE- aafhrrrn AID h..na alrairaI IL.