, 1842-01-29
Culture of Corn.

liz ioiloNllS Naiudtle rules LOT the cullNalon
Of corn, are laid dow by Jno. NJ. Milliiin, Esq.
of Hamilton, Ohio.
Il. If the ground intended to be cultivated
in corn has a sod upon it, it should be broken up
n the fall or winter preceding if the weather be
suitable, if not, it should be ploughed in Febru-
airy, or at least in March. If not level, it should
be rolled, and if not mellow, it should be har-
rowed before planting.
2. If stubble or corn ground, no stubble or
stalks should be removed, unless taken to the
manure pile-should be p~loughed six inches
deep, and if not mellow, should be narrowed.
3. While small, the corn should be narrowed,
and mellow by the repeated nse of the cultivator.
4. On sod ground, a plough should never be
used in the cultivation of corn.
5. On other ground, the plough should never
be used after the roots have extended any dis
lance from the hills, and at no time unless indis-
pensably necessary to prevent the ground from
baking.
6. The fbres or small roots ofthe corn should
not be cut the cutting off Of every fibre de-
prives the stalk Of some part of its nourishment.
Z. The earth should not be thrown high upon
the hills, as it induces the throwing out OF addi-
tional spur roots. A very slight portion of
mould may be placed arouud the hill.
8. The ground in the cultivation of corn,
should be kept as level as possible, to permit the
roots to extend in every direction, and TO retain
moisture. Ridging cuts the roots-p-events
the extension Of the surface roots-drains the
water from the hiIls-exposes more surface to
to a crop in a dry season."
In addition to these, it is only necessary to say,
that where the depth of soil will allow of it, it is
of great advantage to turn it over by double
ploughing-running one plough, say three inches
deep, which turns over the sod; whilst a second
plough follows, in the same furrow, and throws
the light, mellow soil from below, over the sod,
to the depth of five or six inches, covering it up
completely, to remain undisturbed by the subse-
quent tending. Manure will always pay well
for its application. A practice opposite to that
laid down in the last four rules, is one most in
furious, and too frequently practised. 1t is "di-
rectly at variance with every well established
principle of vegetable physiology, and is opposed
by the experience of multitudes of the most sue
cessful corn growers in the country. Liebig, in
his invaluable work, asserts, and no one can con-
trovert his position, That the size of a plant is
proportioned to the surface of the organs which
are destined to convey food to it. A plant gains
a new mouth and stomach with every new fibre
of root, and every new leaf But the notion in
question, supposes that the best way to make a
plant flourish, is to destroy all its mouths, and
compel it to form new ones, if nature is compe-
tent to the process. Corn is always benefited
by frequently stirring the ground, and as plough
ing does this, the advantage conferred has by
some strange process of ratiocination, been sup
posed to be the result Of cutting the roots"
Most of the crops of corn recently grown in
Kentucky, giving the enormous yield of from
80 to nearly 0 bushels per acre, were planted
in drills, just far enough apart to allow a narrow
cultivator to be run, and a single plant left every
8 or 10 inches in the row. The ground was
in fine condition, and the plough and hoe were
scarcely ever used. 1t has now been clearly
proved, that drill culture for this crop is the
most economical, yielding the greatest return for
the same amount of labor and particularly
when such a machine as "Bachelder's Patent
Planter" is intellectually the most efficient
and complete planter ever invented.
HovEs CATTLr.-James Cooper, ofNew Jersey,
gives the following as a cure for this dangerous
complaint in cattle:
"Make a twisted band of straw the size of the
wrist, and place it in the mouth of the animal,
drawing it tight and making it fast over the top OF
the head, just behind the horns; this will cause
the beast to endeavour to rid itself Of the incon-
venience by chewing the band, and the act Of
moving the tongue and jaws will open the outlet
and permit the air to escape
A COW dangerously attacked was treated in this
way; as soon as the straw was applied, the ali
rushed violently from the stomach, and the COW
was saved.