The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-06-09
CHARLOTTE. n. JUNE @. rsA1
RER.EE ECO.sD.NY:
From The Farmcrs' Adrocate.
CORN-E EXPERIMENTS.

crops cultivated IN the United Stales, par
icularly in the middle and southern parts
II is highly essential tina, the best modes 0
culture be adopted.
! As IS the case in almost every other bu
! siness we find variety Of opinions prevail
ms, and some OF them very conflicting, for
instance /: one tells YOU that the culture
should be- such as to frequently cut or break
the roots, aud thus cause them to branch
out more numerously, aud by tina, means
secire a greater portion Of nourshmen, 10
Elephant. Another condemns this practice,
aud argues that the roots should be disturb
ed Us little as possible in the after culture.
These contrary opinions, together with
mary others that might be enumerated re
nam subjects OF controversy for the want
Of experience. We have no doubt that the
losses actually sustained by improper man.
agemen,, in this crop alone, are greater TO
/ many Of our farmers in one single year,
! than would be required 10 balance the OK
ira rouble and expense Of testing the mat
ter TO their full satisfaction. II is matter
Of real wonder that farmers, men whose
success depends on the production oflhe soil,
should be so remiss 10 ascertainlng the best
modes Of cultiya,ng tina, soil, by simple
experiments made with that view, as the
extra trouble and expense would be a mere
nothing, when compared with the udvan
iase, that in all probability would be derived
10 the case of cullyatlng corn il is very
evident, that one or tho other modes above
meutioned must be erroneous, and highly
prrJldcial to the crop; hence, by making
an experiment OH small piece Of ground
say an acre, or oven half an acre by
treating separate parcels in diheren; ways
and accurately noting the results. the maj,
ter might be easily tested, and very little
Of either loss or disadvantage sustained in
making the experiment, with strong pro.
bablty of resulting in an invaluable bene.
f; 70 the farmer, by establishing the bes,
modes Of cultivation.
Il would be unreasonable to suppose tina,
the same practice throughout could be re-
commended as the best, for every quality Of
90! hvHve the PruP,'oty Of oooh farmer
making such experiments as will determine
the best process for his own. There are,
however, some general rules that apply,
with slight notifications, in nearly all cas-
es; and which every farmer, whatever the
quality Of his ground, mus ,measurably ad.
here 10, iC he would expect profitable crops,
or preserve his land from deterioration -
Plough deep before planting. If your
soil is thin-doube plough as has been
heretofore recommended, to avoid turn
ing up the clay. Pulreri=e tell. The
soil should DO made fine and loose by
ploughing, rolling and narrowing. A stone
affords about as much nourishment 10
growing plant, as cIod of dir, of the same
SIZE hence, every clod diminishes IN dc
gree proportiouate TO lis size, the nourlsh
meut which tho soil would otherwise impari
to the plant. Adop, regular system, or
rotation Of crops; and LEI that rotation IN
clude as mauy years, as the course you
find most profitable 10 pursue, will admit ;
and lei the time be as long as your system
will allow, between the growing Of two
grain or exhaus,ing crops, on the same
piece Of ground. Cultirate well keep
the surface loose and open to the tree action
of the atmosphere, as decisive experiments
prove that much Of the nourishment Of veg.
etables is derived from that source.
In regard 10 the best mode of cultlvatng
the corn crop, in which farmers are partic
ularly interested o, present, we will merely
give our opinion in short, without discuss
ING either the merits or dement's Of any
particular system. And although fully de.
cided in our own opinion, we hold ourselves
open to conviction, if on further practical
ties, we find the balance of proof against u.s.
As it might reasonably be supposed, that
the seed for this crop was now IN the
ground, the next object is its culture; and
if the ground has been properly prepared,
but little moro vii, be necessary, than by
frequent light or shallow stirring, 10 de-
stroy all weeds, grass, &c, that may spring
up, and keep the surface loose and mellow.
Blu, if the seed has been planted without
properly preparing the ground, as the prac
tee with too many OF our farmers is, the
sooner this negligence is remcdled the bet.
ter aud 10 effect this object with as little in
iury as possible 10 the corn, we know of no
better plan than to commence early, either
before the corn is up or as soon afterwards
as may be, aud before tho roots have be-
come extended to much distance, run deep
and close with single coulter or bull.,ongue
plough. By this process, performed early,
the ground is opened for TIE free extension
Of the roots afterwards, without much inlu.
~ to them at the present. And notwlth,
standing our utter aversion 10 any system
of culture, that tends TO mutllate or break
the roots of corn, we would in this case re.
commend tho above process, even at the
expense of few, in preference to leaving
them TO force their way TO limited extent
through hard unbrokeu soil, in quest of a
scan,y supply of nourishment. After this
operation is nell performed, the same re
marks will upply to this, as IN the first case
in which the ground was well prepared be
fore planting. But in all cases, excepting
small parcels for testing the merits of diff
feren, modes. MS before recommended stl,