Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-09-15
From he v T.. Farmtr.
U Ting CORN STALKS

N Mr. IEssGN9EN-l have made small expert
8m1nt the iss asoo, 10 ascertain the damage, #
#any that results 10 the corn crop, from topping the
#sa,as IN the usuol Why. And ufuenccd ty tn,
4 quest oi several lnd, duals and the thought TINT
pclhaps u hi ht lddd 10 better knowledge oflhs
4 important branch Of agriculture Che growing of
y cjm.) | am induced TO forw ard the particulars To
] 'oa for publication. Although | ain aware that
-Fesseag enters largely, and perhaps necessarily,
mo the calculations and business Of the farmer,
am also aware that experiment cannot be conducted
with too much precision indeed, that experiment
! to be relied on, must be conducted entirely wthoui
guessing. Therefore, have been somewhat par
tcu.ar In conducting this And test some OF your
readers may 10 l'tle sccptcul in regard TO the
suit and perhaps unwllIiu. to allow hat the course
winch has been pursued 10y ouI ancestors, froa time
mmemorlal is not the best course, | viii give the
details and if apology be deemed necessary
for beng 20 very minute can merely say, that as
'he experiment seems 20 me so deeply to Involve
'he interests of corn growers, II may be well 10
i've de eied statement of the case, that any
interested may be able 10 dtaw their own differences.
AMI #, in your opinion, ii is worthy place in
your useful Journal, likely to promote tho inter
est OF n w-Enshnd farmers, you are at liberty to
publish oil, OF d part as you think best
For few years past, | have rot cut my corn
stalks until the corn was harvested, guessing that
II was course preferable 10 the commonly
pursued in this part OF the country, of topping the
stalks while in u green state. But for the purpose
ofsenIing tins pou, more clearly, and with lit
- i-oa5ie as TIE would admit, selected, about
'he OH Of September, row Of corn in a field OF
aooo' i've acres, intending TO take that would
average IN quality equal TO the field hro ghoui,
mat mSAt al the same time te able to ascertain
""a 'oiera6le certainty, the product of the who'll
H'I'' he manure having been spread on the sur
'"ce oil the ground and narrowed IN engthwlse o.
'"' burrows, and the corn planned across the fur
'o"s, made II apparently less Difficult, II select an
average row. On this row | cut the stalks from
nun the h'lls beginning at one end and cutting the
"'S' NIL, then leaving the next uncut and so pro
escuhS alternately, cutting one aud leaving the next
u'eo' though the row. | had intended to confne
'"e t" Experiment. to this row, but finally was led to
eN'eha II SO lar as to include four rows and mum
o'''hs Them aereeably to the order in which they
we're stand ng IN The field, this row may be called
No, = Iherc were ninety two hills IN the row
~ '"o s,aiRs were cut from fortysix hills, all o
U'eh IN me manner that is here termed joining
(' e. cut off between the car and the frs, Joint a.
oo'e '"e ear though hey were somewhat, more
NC man is usual at time OF cutting few Of them
"I:e nearly dry. The soil was a sandy or gravel
yam. ahcienty covered with pine, oak and ches
III "oelng the corn no hills made bu
care was taken hat the surface of the grount
SON. '
NY estlmate Of the number Of hills on an acre
was made IN the following manner, and if an
"aons " my cacqlotion, shall be corrected b,
0o'ie OF your readers
:" a" area OF u feet square, Cor 40 600 sauar
''''e wcfes'xy-tworows with aity-foug HILL