Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-04-09
ON THE CORN CROP.
From The proceedings Of The Ne1o for. STATE Agr'-
cultural Society
d.


cultural Society
BY J. BuEI.
There is no crop more beneficial 10 the American
farmer than Indian corn. An eminent agricultur
lat, the late John Taylor Of Virginia. called it The
meal, meadow and manure" Of the farm. 1t il
convertible into human food in more forms than
any other grain its value in fatenng domestic an
finals is not exceeded by any product Of the farm
and no crop returns more to the soil than this does
in the form of manure. There are two important
requisites however, to iis profitable cultivation
The first is, that the soil be adapted TO its growth
and the second, tina. the crop be well fed and well
tended for food and attention are as important to
the plant as to the animal. Ordinarily speaking,
it costs less to take care ola good crop of corn, on
proper corn land than it does off bad crop on land
not adapted to its culture. The first is light and
dry. The latter stiff, wet or grassy. put the
average expense ofcullivnting and securing an acre
a$l5 (a) including fair rent, though i. ordinar.
y exceeds this sum. The farmer, therefore, who
obtains thirty bushels from the acre, estimating the
gnn at so cents per bushel, gets fair compensa
ton for his labor, and the use of his land. What
ever the product falls short Of this is an absolute
bss; and whatever it may exceed it is nett gam.
Thus the man vino gets but twenty bushels from
the acre loses upon this estimate, $50 worth OF his
| labor, on four acres. He who raises so bushels an
acre, Oh the other hand, realizes nett profit OF
| 500 from four acres-making difference IN the
profits of the two farmers in the Management. Of
four acres OF corn, one hundred and trenty dollars!
These data are sufficiently accurate to show the I'M
porlance of the two requisites have suggested, and
The value OF little calculation IN the business OF
farming. The habit OF noting down the EXPENSE
" well as the product Of crop, and thus ascer-
aning the relative profit and loss, is highly advan-
'ageous to the practical farmer, and one which can
not be too strenuousy nculated. 1t will perhaps
be said, that ought TO add the value of the manure
which is employed in the large crop but reply
hat Offset this against the increased forage which
this crop furnishes. Besides, by applying the ma
I1lre in the unernlented state in which it Is general
- found in the spring. it will be beneficial to the
suceeedng crops, as though it had lain and ferment-
din the yard, and been applied in the usual way
IN the autumn. (b)
TIE soils adapted TO the culture 81 Indian corn,
are such as are permeabIe to heat, air (c) and the
fools Of the plant, and embrace those denominaed
INDY, gravely and oamy. Corn will not succeed
well on grounds that are stiff, hard or wet. The
roots grow to as great length as the stalks, and
NE soil must be loose to permit their free extension.
The manurss used are generally yard and stable
ssuns, and plaster Of Paris, (sulphate u Ime) Inc
aFs! ought to be abundant; as upon the fertility
which IT induces, depends the profit OF the crop
Long or unfermentcd manure is to be preferred. II
encompasses rs the wants of the plant require II
Wnle its mechanical operation, in rendering the SOIL
nsh' and porous, is beneficial to the crop. 1t should
oGequally spread over the whole surface. before
sploughed under 1t then continues TO afford fresh
pasture to the roots till the corn has maured and is
""s place to benefit the succeeding crop II Pu'
,'0 the hills, the roots soon extend beyond It's M
.uence' 1t does not SO readily decompose, ana inc
so'eancn' crop is preudced from its partial d'str'
u.Von IN the soil. In. a rotation OF four or i've
years. IN which this crop receives the manure TWEEN
v,a'e or thirty ordinary ouds may be applied 10 one
re with greater profit, than to t,co or hree acres
1e'y addition tells in the product and there Is
saesy any danger Of manurng 100 high tor tlls
a'. o.l'e crop. Gypsum is applied broadcast CO
hs l iast ponghing or narrowing. or s're~eo on
=. - tis after hoe,ng. | pursued the first metnoo'
a 1s rate OF bushel to the acre. "a
4. ~ os" preparation for a corn crop il clover
o'nef grass lay, OF lea, we'll covered with long
''''o''' recently spread, neatly plousAsd, and haF'