Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-05-10
AGRICULT URAL.
From the N. Z. Farmer.
G. o r N

This crop we think better Of, compare
liveIv, than do most farmers 1t is said
in our hearing al most every week, that
farmers cannot afford 10 raise corn: that
it is cheaper for them 10 buy this, and
raise other crops. We are not able from
experience, observation, or any lair baIanc-
ing Of costs and value, TO fluid any one OF
the common productions Oft farm (hay
excepted,) that is more profitable lhan
corn. We know very well that the ground
for this crop should be in good tllth, and
that il wants good dressing Of manure
Suppose that il shall take $50 worth OF
manure per acre, and that all The labor up
on the acre for The season shall cost $40,
and that the interest upon the land shall
be be S.. These sums give S55 as the
cost. Such an acre may be expected 10
yield As bushels Of corn, and give slower
that is equal in value to one ton OF good
hay, or to be worth Sl2. Let US charge
els, or one half Of The cost ofthe manure,
to future crops, and we reduce expenses
10 $40. Then If we take from this the
twelve dollars worth Of slower, the 45
bushels Of corn cost S29. Or the corn
costs 62 cents per bushel. Can the corn
be bought for less than this? You may
buv il in the city for SIS or 90 cenIs-but
you then buy fiat corn-ess in weight
than that which you raise. by or 5 lbs.
Der busheI and not quite as good, pound
Tor pound. Also, it will cost you three,
four, FIVE or six cents per bushel 10 trans
port the corn from the city to your home.
With such views as produce these state
menls, we of course must advise farmers
TO raise as much corn as they intend 10
consume on their own farms. We have
found this crop one OF the surest, and one
which. if it gives no great profit, yet pays
for its cost.
We made hay an exception when we
called corn as profitable as any one OF the
common crops. We are willing to leave
il as an exception. But we are not salts
fed that hay. excepting what grows upon
strong, moist lands. pays better than corn.
You will not usually get more than ton
and an half per acre, on the average. for
three years after you lay down your lands
to grass, unless you apply top-dressings.
If then you allow one-louItA Of the labor
expended upon the crop, in breaking up
and lilipg the soil, 10 be charged 10 the
grass crops If you charge them with
half the manureAaEd charge the SIS year
" FIR interest-and charge 50 for grass
seed, you will find that for the three years
the grass when Standing is 10 cost you
S38. 1t your hay is 10 be cured bright
and fiji for market, the expense otthis viii
be not less than "a per acre. The
whole expense of the hay crop then, wher
pu, into your barn, is about Sl7 per yeal
on the acre, flr each Of the three years
II you keep your land in grass longer
lhun this, il will require lop-dressings
and The expense OF the crop will be krp
up. The marketing ofthe hay will cos
you 81 per ton generally, or dollars or
the acre. This brings the whole cost q
the hay at $50 per acre, or $50 for toI
and an halt The rate at which hay ha
sold for the last year or two, therefore on
-l9 a iittle more than pays the cost. evr'
upon The supposilion that The land IS L
average one and an half ton per acre 70
three years, without top-dressing, Thl
it will oflener fail 10 do than the well till
ed acre will 10 give As bushels of corn
Hay has been the best crop, and perhap
is so now-the belief of this is general
and most persons who can, are putin:
their lands 10 grass. The probable con
SEQUENCE will be fall In the price OF ha,
for few years. :.
But corn is our subject. Where land
= in good lilth. this does well either upo
the sod or upon land that has been on
year or more planted to potatoes or sowe
to grain. With US, it has usually don
better upon the sod kan upon old ground
But with many il is otherwise. We hav
found no difference between that upon so
inverted in the autumn and that plowed !
the spring.
The manure for this crop should B
spread broadcast and well narrowed 9
plowed in. Turning the manure dow
under the sod, does well upon some war;
lands with a firm and warm subsoil. b
generally il is better upon the turrow.-
When powed into old ground, the m;
nure is not generally buried in the botlp
of the furrow, but it is placed in veTlict
LAYERS between the furIows. This IS
favorable position for it, We should ca
but little whether Il was worked III th
way, or well narrowed in. Before co..
is planted, the ground should be wei pu
verified. Afer once blowing. this is be
effected by the roller and harrow v
have no other implement by which '
can do so much in an hour 10 make
acre mellow and TO pulverize it, as ,
roller. This should I've followed by 4
harrow. and the harrow, should be w
loaded.
We haye less faith in the importan
of giving corn a start, by putting sol
manure in the hill. than most farmers p
sess. For we never could see that u
nure in the hill hastens It's Tipeniag