Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-10-25
From the American Farmer.
China Tree Corn.


China Tree Corn.
There are few subjects on which such
opposite opinions have been formed and ex.
pressed, as there have been in regard to this
corn. Whilst in some places it is denoun-
ced as humbug and cheat, 10 others il
is declared to be valuable and prolific
variety, and is considered worthy the atten.
ton Of the farmer. We have heretofore
published communications highly fayorably
to it from Mr.. Sangston and Dr.. Muse,
and we present second one this week from
the pen of Ed.P. Roberts. Esq. who has
felt il due to Mr.. Thorburn to give this Sec
ond testimony in its favor. We frequently
hear ofdisappointmen,s in the result ofPlan.
ting seeds, which in many cases are produc.
ted no doubt from unsuitable location, or
other similar circumstances, but there is as
little doubt are as often from the want of
genuineness in the seed. AS we arc anx.
ious to do justice to every one, We most
OF Mr.. r.
The CHINESE Tree CoRN.
j. S. Skinner, Esq.-Dear 4Si..-In
publishing note on the subject Of the
Chinese, Tree Corn, of the 3lst Of July last.
you appended a note from correspondent
of Fairfax County, Virginia, who remarks,
that he had "planted two cars of the Chi.
nese Tree Corn upon land we'll manured
and limed-the result will prove it absolute.
ly worthless, and more like rush than
tree"
have read also 10 your paper an article
from that excellent paper. The RankAS
Farmer" whose editor affrms, that " the
China Corn is a complete deception pracils.
ed upon the creduIous and con6ding public"
and adds with great severily,-and if the
Chinese Tree Corn was the worthless thing
represented, with equal justice, that the au.
thor Of the deception would be entitled to
the severest apprehension. The same ar.
ticle contains the declaration of Mr.. How
ard, the able conductor Of the Zanesvi2e,
Gazette, that il was not an early corn, and
that some farmers observe that it will re-
quire Two years to mature this corn."
! have no doubt that each OF those gen.
temen have spoken conscientiously upon
this subject, and am equally certain, from
the result ofmy own experiment, tina. they
have been deceived in the variety Of corn
they have purchased as the Chinese Tree
Corn ; for it is impossible that results SO
different to my own, could, under any other
circumstances have occurred.
As | promised you in my former note
that " in the fall would measure my little
patch, and give you faithful account offs
yield" now proceed to redeemthat pledge"
and do it with the more cheefllness, as |
conceive it but an act Of justice due 10 Mr..
TRorburn, that those at least with whom his
corn has succeeded we'll, should speak of it
as it deserves, in order that so far ss their
moral influence may 60, his name may be
rescued from the fate OF those who practice
deception" either upon private individuals,
or the public.
With these explanatory remarks, | will
state its yield, and such other characters.
tic traits as it strikes me to possess.
My patch was planted on plot of ground
in my garden, SO by % feet in dimensions,
making 73s square feet. The soil
was deep rich loan, which, ssI described
to you, highly manured.. |. had the bsne.
fit of good culture, and it's working vas al
ways done at the right time. On the 18Th
Of September, I gathered and housed my
/ little crop, consisting of 254 good ears. re-
jecting all the nubbins. While the corn
was in the roasting ear state, as ! observed
in my former note. pulled "a good ears. If
then, | add these to those pulled on the
18th Of September, it gives the product Of
26s ears on 7Ss square feet of ground, and
as there are 4s.56O square feet in an acre.
the yield calculating that each ear will shell
half a pint Of corn,* was at the rate Of l2e
1854 bushels per acre. But this is far
short ofthe actual yield, as one of my cows
found her way into my garden on the nighs
measured an 8 inch ear, the yield OF
which was' a'I halfa 9 pint. "