Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-08-30
From the Farmer and Gardener.

Several publications in the Register have
stated the increase of Indian corn, lnatured
with the blades and tops. The common
usaGc in this country, which | have followed
is. to gather the blades as soon as they be-
Gin to spot, and to cut the tops immediately
upon securing the blades. About the first
Of ofSeptember last, | stript the blades from
several rows in one of my corn fields, lea
wing row alternately undislurbcd; and cut
the ions about the 7th of the month, in like
manner. As designed 10 make fair and
satisfactory experiment, suffered both blades
and tops to be much withered before | took
them from the stalks. The last of Novem-
berI gathered the corn from the stripped and
unstripped rows, when it was dry, and IN
rood condition. and put it away in my barn
in separate parcels. III the shucks, from
both of which husked out, the 9th OF the
present month, one hundred ears, without
particular selection, and now subJom their
weight and measurement. | am sensible
that this experiment will not precisely cor
respond with others which may be made.
The result Of such experiments will be mtiu-
cnced by the quality OF the sol, the good
ness of the crop, the manner of planting,
and the maturity of the corn al the time the
blades and tops are gathered. My expert
ment was made from field planted four
feet each way, which had an early, vlgor'
o,,s growth, unchecked by insects or drought
and which produced more than iorty-hve
bushels to the acre. made other different
trials upon the parcels | have mentioned,
both bv weight and measurement, which l
think unnecessary to state, as they all ten
de,l to the same result; but perhaps, ought
not omit to mention, that the weight of the
cobs of the unstript corn was double the
weight ofthe stript, as it proves that SUBJ
sracing the blades and tops dries up that
part of the plant which immediately sup
plies aliment to the grain. To this cause
also attribute the perfection ofthe grain to
the end of fthecob of the unstripped corn,
Wills, that on the stripped had, for the most
mart, withered or perished.
100 ears ofIndian corn matured with { 5aIbs
blades and tops-weight on cob,
do. shelled, o4
do. measurement, 26 quarts, lpint,
100 ears of Indian corn stripped of ~
blades and tops-weight on cob,
do. shelled, Al
do. measurement, 2l quarts.
| have long desired to abandon gathering
fodder but it is hard to depart from COM
mon usage, especially, if the deviation has
the appearance of negligence. The month
ofSeptember is usually devoted by farmers
to this work; the dews are then heavy, and
highly injurious to labourers it's the sea-
son for intermittent fevers, which believe
are often contracted in this employment.
The month of September might be most
usefully devoted to drawing out mari and
other manlres, and preparing tallows ioI
wheat. When the wheat is sown and the
corn gathered at full maturity, the corn
stalks with the blades and tops. afford some
proyender and excellent litter for cattle.
Few farmers have such Aoa'ing capital, as
Justify them in entering upon the schemes
of Improvement without calculating the cost
and probable result. The provender atfor.
ded by Indian corn cannot be abandoned,
unless an equivalent be supplied. A farm
divided into four or five fields, of forty acres
each. and one of them annually in Indian
corn, will not produce fodder, even if the
land be in an approved state, beyond five
hundred pounds to the acre-equal to ten
tons. Four acres set in orchard grass and
clover, will, if marled and manured, in two
cuttings yield ten tons of hay. a gentle
man in an adjoining county, in whom | have
entire confidence, assured ME that from one
acre, very highly improved, he gathered slS
tons in one year. estimate the enclosing
marling, manuring, and settling to grass four
acres, at one hundred dollars per acre, and
the land thus diverted from the usual pur-
noses of agriculture, at twenty-five dollars
ner acre. amounting in the whole to five
hundred dollars. The capital thus invested,
is not sunk, but is safe and sound, and the
interest upon this sum, together with the cost
ofcuring and securing the hay, which es.
innate at forty.five dollars, is the price to be
paid annually for hay, in lieu of blades and
tops. 4 field of forty acres of Indian corn
which now yields, under the old system OF
gathering, forty bushels to the acrc--equa
to one thousand bushels, if my experiment
or that of others, be not entirely fallaclous
will produce an additional fifth, amounting
70 one thousand nine hundred and thrty-three
and y third bushels; thereby producing q
gain of three hundred and thirty-trree and
third husbels-eeual, at fifty cents bushel