The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-04-27

without it.) now is the time to use it with
most advantage. 1t greatly facilitates the
operation of timing, Ioosens the DIRT close .
to the corn, and enables you to draw 1t
neatly about it, which at this stage OF Its
growth is all-important; for, from the
weight of the stalk and weakness OF lis
roots, much will be found to have fallen
down.
Having got over the thinning and hoe
ing, start your cutivators again, and run
them until the corn IS high enough to take
the dirt from the plough. :
Some of the most ludicious farmers OF
our State, at this stage of cultivation,
use the single coulter with great advan-
tage, run close TO the corn; it looscns the
ground nine or ten inches deep, and gives
free access to the roots, moisture and ar.
On stiff lands we arc inclined to think the
coulter should never be dispcnccd with;
The corn should now have one good
deep ploughing, the dirt thrown to IT.
and the middIcs thoroughly broke up
This is the only ploughing which seems
absolutely necessary; the alter culture
can be effected with the cultlvator, which
in experienced hands IS fully competent
to keep the earth loose and clean. .
We have said nothing OF tho shovel
plough, because we think the work can
be equally well done, without as with 1t,
and the multiplication of implements only
tends to increase the expenses Of the lar
mer.
Generally speaking the corn crops sui
fer more from neglect in harvest, than at
any other time. 1t is the busy season OF
the year, and every hand on the farm,
young and old, is summoned to the wheat.
field. Wo to the farmer whose corn-held
is grassy when harvest begins: if he
caves the field now, he can never get the
upper hand of the grass afterwards: His
interest, then is, to keep his cultivators
running and hire labor for his harvest,
even at double price. When the corn be-
gins to silk and tasscl lay it by, even if it
should be overgrown with grass; or at
most, send in your hoes to chop down the
all weeds; for the injury done to the
'oots, by any farther cultivation, could
lot be repaid by the destruction OF the
yrass: it is at this time that the strongest
lraft is made upon the fertility OF the soil,
o develop the shoot and push the car to
and any injury done to the
pongioles, the sole absorbents OF the
God from the soil, would materially inter-
ere with that important process. \
The corn having boon lard by, tho flcid
or the first time, since the planting, en- !
oys a season of rest, and the holy-day
continues until the time to gather fodder
rrives.
Much diversity of opinion exists on this
'oint. Some contend that the fodder
hould not be gathered at all, as the lnju-
y sustained by the corn is more than
quivalent to the value of the fodder
Iowever plausible this may be in grass
Countries. where fodder is of secondary
it has no application to us,
ven if it were true. Fodder is as inds-
,cnsable to us as corn, and the farmer
Who would buy his fodder in preference to
tripping his stalks would be justly con-
idered as fit subject for the lunatlc asy-
un. But the fact is, as one OF your
Committee showed by an experiment last
ear, and which was reported to the :
Society in detail, that if the blades be
trippcd after the shuck has turned yel- !
ow, no pcrceptible injury is sustained by
he corn. Corn thus stripped, was COM
Jared with other corn in the same field,
Which has beel neither topped nor strip
,cd. and there was no difference either in
yeie hit or measure. The conclusion,
therefore,, is, that it is a matter OF per-
cct indifference, so far as the yield of
,orn is concerned, whether the stalk be
irst stripped or first topped, whether it
,e topped and stripped at the same time,
,r whether the tops and blades be lett to
Try upon the stalk.
An equal diversity of opinion exists, as
O the mode of gathering the corn crop;
,ut it is generally acknowledged, that
when it can be done, that is, when the
field IS not to be sown in wheat, the best
plan is to shuck it in the field, directly
rom the stalk, ESPECIALLY in ncighborhoods
where your corn is liable to be pillaged.
With the assistance of the corn-pcg the
:. .,.II,, nc ropiI nc pu1linr