The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-03
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AGRICULTURAL.
INDIAN CORN.
Hou much can be raised 10 the Acre

Hop much can be raised 10 the Acre
1t has often been question by many far.
mers, whether one hundred bushels of sheled
corn can be produced on an acre. The fact,
however, of its having been done has beer
so repeatedly established, that it can no
longer be disputed. If we look at the mai.
ter more neariy,we shall see ground II hope
that we may do even more than this. If we
suppose the hills of corn planted at three
feet apart each way, we shall have upon an
acre 4S40 hills. Now, upon the farther
sup2osition that four bearing stalks should
remain in each hill, each producing one ear,
and each ear producing seven ounces avoir-
dupois Of sheed grain, the whole amount
of the acre would be s470 lbs. of grain and
allowing 60 lbs. to bushel, $50 lbs. are
the legal weighi,) the yield would be over
stead of one pound and three quarters TO a
hill, as above. each ear should average eight
ounces. yielding two pounds to hill, the
crop would amount to $3.50 lbs. or, at six.
" lbs. 10 bushel, TO one hundred and sixty
one bushels to the acre. But if this can be
done, whv is it not done? Only one an :
swer can be given, which is, 10 general,
want of sufficient care in the cultivation
There is want of care and exactness in not
making The hills, so that the number men,
toned shall be comprehended on an acre.
There is too little seed sown, so that little
chance is had TO select from the hill, for
continuance, the most vigorous and thrifty
plants. Manure enough is not always gv-
en- to the land and by placing manure in
the hill without spreading it upon the land
the plant is prematurely forced in the be.
ginning, and does not find food enough 10
bear it out in the latter part Of the season.
In truth, the habits of our farmers are any
thing but exact in their cultivation. Few
fields of corn do not present many missing
hills 8; and few hills present four thrifty stalks
in hill. We have still much to learn in
this matter; but there is every reason TO
hone, that the time is not distant when, 10 q
careful farmer one hundred bushels Of shell.
led corn TO an acre will be no more uncom.
mon than are fifty bushels at the present
time. remember well when fifty bushels
TO an acre were considered as the maxim UNI
product ever likely to be reached yet the
average yield Of farm in Mortified in thi:
county has been for years no less than sew
enty bushels to the acre.
The mode of managing and harvesting
Indian corn is subject deserving Of atten'
ton. A diversity of practice prevails il
this as well as in other parts of the country
The custom of making hills. that is, raising
the ground in a conical form round the plan
is well nigh abandoned. Many half hill il
but many cultivate it upon an entirely fla
surface. My own experience has laugh
me, that no advantage comes from billing
the corn at all, even in respec: to that poin
which was mainly designed to be accom-
plished by this practice-that Of keeping
the corn in an upright position and prevent
ing its being blown down. When the sur
face is flat, The corn may be blown down; bu
it is more likely to rise again than if it ver
hilled. as, in the latter case, the hill operate
as fulcrum over which the stalk, in bend
ing is broken. The roots are the natura
supporters of the stalk, and plants spontane
ously accommodate themselves to their con
dition. On fiat surface they throw on
J more and stronger lateral roots than wher