Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-14

| OtS hiSluiiSS Ol VIII i III
last spring planted about four acres ot
corn upon low, argillaceous soil, late in
the season. The piece was well manured
but no manure pnt in the hill For long
time the plants appeared less promising than
those Of my neighbours, who put manure
! in the hill. But when the roots reached the
under-sward and the nntriment equally diff.
fused, the growth Of this piece was remark
ably rapid. The plants being thick set, and
OF uncommon height the tops and blades
covered nearly the whole surface. The
prospect appeared favourable to yield Of
10 bushels to the acre. While (other far
mers had topped their corn ia practice
which have not adopted,) mine was in
vigorous growth, only small portion being
out Of danger from frost. In that STATE,
two successive frosts struck it so severely as
to kill the tops and blades. But the cars
remained green, and to appearance un.
touched by frost, and the husks did not
adhere TO the ear as they Go when severely
frost bitten. My opinion is, that the frost
did no greater injury than the knife would
have done, had the piece been topped at
that time; and also that had | topped it
previous to the frost, the effects of the frost
would have rendered it valuelcss, except for
fodder.
Some farmers top their corn in order to
force it to ripen earlier. They remove the
covering 70 let the rays Of the sun have
greater effect upon the cars. And some
believe. that BY this process they can turn
the whole current of the juice into the car!
In respect to the last point, our preceding
remark affords sufficient answer. Ex-
permcntal knowledge vii! convince any
one, that the corn will ripcn earlier in Ra-
lures way, than by adopting the mutilatiny
process. The truth is, that we may safely
follow nature, but TO change her course and
improve her laws,is beyond the capacity of
man. The great Author Of nature created
every plant in the vegetable Kingdom,
perfect in its o'on kind. It's, therefore,
the hight Of arrogance and folly to attempt
to improve upon what is already perfect.
While by the mutilating process, we III
crease the quantity Of solar light shed upon
the ear, we at the same time diminish the
quantity of heat, the latter being perhaps
more necessary to the plants growth, than
more light. In autumn, at the usual time
of topping corn, more light falls upon an
isolated tree in the open field, than upon
any one tree in thick grove, or forest.
Yet it is true, that the latter tree has more
heat than the former So in a compact,
well shaded corn field, the heat is retained,
ifnot generated, more than it would be by
cutting away the outrageous foliage TO let
in solar light, thus exposing the denuded
stalk to :fia full force Of the cold, searching
winds of that season. In the spring
season, when the plants are small and tender
there is an abundance of light, but such is
the low temperature, and their exposure to
the winds, that as Il natural consequence
they often appear feeble and sickly, and
slowly increase in size.
We know ofno tree or other plant, whose
condition would be improved by cutting off
its top, or main branches. Should tree
be entirely stripped of its foliage, in mid
summer, it would surely decay and probably
die. IF bore fruit not fully ripe, the
fruit would shrink and never become palat.
able. Should the min branches be cut off,
its growth would be so stinted, that it would
not recover until after several years, if at
all. In transplantirg trees, young, or Of
many years growth modern experiments
have proved. that mutilating the tops and
the roots, at the same time is very destruct.
i've to the tree; because the through which
the sap circua,es, are organs just aa es.
scntial as the roots, TO the nourishmcnt OF
the tree.
Another justigcation assigned for rhe
practice Of topping corn, is to gain great
CT supply of folder for cattle. But the fact
is, that the farmer by cutting up his corn at
the roots when it has come to maturity,
will have greater quantity of foldes, than
he would in thotothcr mode, and he thereby
saves much labour. 1t is admitted, that
the stalks cut green, containing more of the
saccharine juice, afford swcctcr folder.
But ifthe main object be to raise good corn,
that juice should 60 TO nourish the car.
Wecould extend our remarks, and ad.
duce other argumentsto to fortify our main
position. But should YOU deem these
cursory remarks worthy of publication, for
the purnose Of elici;ing public injury, or
engaging the attcntioa of writer's more
competent than mysclfto establish the truth
of the theory, and to put an end to one Of
the most unwise and injudcious practices
ever adopted in an enlightened community,
| shall not regret this humble effort TO pro-
mote the agricultural interest.
WILLIAM CLAGGET.
Portsmouth, N, II. Fs5. 6, 1886.
*In England. transplanting full grown trees