The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-03-26
ID. LAPIIAM
Mount Tabor, Feb. l845.

"grey goose quill" l want to say few words;
however, in the columns Of the Cultivator, on
the subject of raising corn.
1t is the common practice in this section of,
the state to furrow the ground both ways, about4
feet apart, and TO drop the corn by hand at the
intersection of the lurrows. In this way it re-
quires one horse and four hands topant the corn:
one to strike the burrows, one to drop and two
to cover In order that the dropping may pro-
coed, as fast as the horse walks, and not delay
those who cover, the dropper must be very busl-
ly engaged, and he cannot take pains IN dropping
either to place the hills in the furrows so as to
line each way, or toregulate the number OF grains
an The hill. 1t is necessary consequence ofthe
manner in which it is done that the hills will ge-
nerally contain too many grains, (which must be
pulled out after the corn gets up,l and that the
hills in one way will notbe in straight rows, which
makes it very difficult to plow and tend the corn
in the direction of the crooked rows.
You are aware how inveterately most farmers
will pursue their old habit, and how slowly the
most obvious improvements are generally intro
duced amongst the farmers; and how difficult it
is to convince them, that there is any better me-
thod than that which they were taught in early
life, and have pursued from their youth up
These prejudices, however, are fast fading a.
way, and better practices are beginning to be in
troduced by the aid Of an increased diffusion of
science and intelligence amongst the farmers.
Among the many improvements which arc
now gradually coming into general use, is that
of raising corn in drills, instead of the old meth
cd, in hills 1t is very evident, that a greater
quantity Of corn can be raised on an acre in
dIilIs than by the common method and this may
result in two ways. When only the same num-
Der Of stalks Of corn are grown on an acre, it is
evident that by distributing the stalks along the
line Of the drill, instead of crowdng them to-
gether in hills, they can obtain more food from
the soil, and they will be better exposed to the
influence of the sun and atmosphere, and con-
sequently will yield greater crop. But it has
been repeatedly proven by actual trial, that a
greater number of stalks, and consequently more
ears of corn can be raisedon an acre by plant
ing in drills than by the common method.
An acre planted in hills feet apart, and
stalks in a hill, will have 2,722 hills, or l0,SS8
stalks; and if each stalk produces only one good
ear on an average, and 100 of such ears make Il
half bushel of shelled corn, the produce of an
acre will be 81 10 bushels.
An acre planted in drills feet apart, and the
stalks standing 6 inches apart in the rows, will
have 20, ,040 stalks; and the produce Of the acre,
at the same rate as above will be l45 Is bush
els
An acre planted in drills of double rows, 6
inches apart, and the drills 3 feet inches from
centre to centre will have 30,970 stalks; and
the produce Of the acre, at the same rates as a.
bove will be l54 10 bushels
The above examples show most clearly by &C
tual calculation, the great advantage there is in
drilling over the old system, in the greater num-
Der Of stalks, and increased quantity of corn, in
dependent Of the other advantages above stated
of more food and better exposure to the sun and
air.
We will now see what has been done BY ac
tual experience, in raising corn by the drill sys
TEN.
Z. Cornell, Ithaca, Tompkins county, New
York, raised an acre Of the variety, called brown
corn, the produce of which, was l05 bushels IL
pounds. This corn was planted the first week in
June; and portion falling to come up, was re
planted on the 18th of June. The rows were 8
feet apart, and hills l0inches apart in the rows
From The transactions of the N. Y. State Ag
riculturdl Society. Quoted in Gen. Farmer, Vol
8. page Is, 1874.
Asa Williams, of the town Of Barre, Orloan:
county, New York, raised premium crop of corn
in the year 1S43; the following extract is from
his own statement. The land was 'plowed twice
---once each way, about the 9th day of May; a
bout the 10th, planted furrows in rows about
feet apart, and hills about foot apart in the row
---three kernels in each hill. II was hood three
times. making as little hill as possible, and no cul
tivator or drag was used on it. The committed
of the Agricultural society came to the field anc
measured off one acre. They counted the row
in the acre, and then selected one row, whicl
they deemed to be an average row They thel
appointed man to husk and she'll it; the produc
was measured, and the crop on the acre from thc
product Of this row, was estimated at 1877 bush
els and 30 quarts, by measure; and by weight
ut l54 bushels, 81 pounds. ."--Gea. Farmer Vol,
page 43, 1874.
d. Batler, Esq, Of Chcnango county, Nev
York, raised l40 bushels Of corn from one acre
The land was plowed but once, but this was don
in the best manner Rolled and narrowed witt
the furrow. The corn was planted on the 2,
and 23d Of May, in double drills 3 IL feet fror
centre TO centre. The plants standing sing
from l2 to l3 inches apart on the main drll.--
Gen, Farmer Vol. Y, page 43, 1914.
These examples are sufficient to show tn
correctness Of The calculations made above, an
the great advantage whichthe drill system pos
sesses over the common method Of planting il
hlls.---The drill system likewise presents anotii
er important advantage, by the facility will
which its operations may be performed BY mean
Of abor-saying machinery
This communication is intended as an intro
ductionto another (should this be published) il
which propose to give description Of plan
ting machine. which have been engaged thi
winter in constructing. This machine Is con
strncted to dropand cover the corn, with horse
dispensing with the labor Of Gurrowing th