, 1843-05-13
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Louisville Journal.
Cultivation of Corn.


Cultivation of Corn.
In the Louisville Journal of the Isl
of March, is a piece upon this subject.
containing some excellent directions,
but | also conceive that it contains
some errors which might prove %injuri'
Gus to the young and inexperienced
corn-grower. To prevent this write
the following, and not with any dis.
position to controversy upon these
subjects.
The number Of stalks in a hill, and
the distance Of hills apart. should de-
pend upon the strength of the land
and whoever crowds his corn beyond
this will get very little grain, and it
is much safer TO have fewer stalks
than the quantity which the land
could bring to perfection in good
years.
do not believe that corn planted
six inches deepin March, if the wealth
er should prove cold after planting,
would ever come up. My opinion
upon this subject is founded upon on
ly one experiment. Some years ago
| had procured two small ploughs for
the purpose of covering my corn
When commenced planting the first
field, one of the ploughs was broken,
and the field was finished by cover
ing with the hoe and the plough
The rows covered with the plough
never came up, but the corn rotted in
the hill. 1t was covered from three
10 four inches deep. The corn COW
cred with the hoe was put in from
one to two inches deep, and came up
well.
have frequently had corn bitten
by frost, but never had any killed but
once, and then there was a very small
portion in a large field that was Bit
ten. have never planted deep EAR
ly in the season but once, and that
never came up. So conclude that
shallow planting, two inches, early in
the season is better than the deep, as
there is less danger Of its being kill
ed by frost, than of its rotting if the
ground should be cold.
! will suggest what | consider an
Improvement in narrowing corn
Before the harrow is sent into the
field, as soon as the corn is up snffi-
GENTLY to see it., run a plough across
the field in the middle of the row, and
across the burrows last laid of. As
soon as the field is crossed in this way,
one furrow in a row, the harrows
are run right owe the corn across the
burrows last ploughed. One or two
boys follow the harrow to take off the
clods and straighten up the corn. |
take out the centre tooth Of the har-
row that it may not drag as many
clods upon the corn.
The advantages Of the furrow be-
fore the harrow, are these: they stop
the moles, afford fresh dirt to be sift-
ed by the harrow around the corn,
and serve as a place for the harrow
to deposite its clods as it crosses it.
The remarks that | have made
are intended for corn that has been
planted iu hills. | have no expert
ence in running a harrow over corn
planted in drills.
Early planted corn is generally
letter than late; but this is by no
means universally the case. The
best field of corr hal | raised last
year was planted in May. The pro-
du%ctiveness Of the corn crop depends
greatly upon two rains. the one when
it is shooting, and the other when fill
ing. If the corn-grower has good
ground and works it well and gets
these two rains, he may depend upon
a good crop. if planted any time be-
fore the middle of May.
SAM'L ID. MARTIN.