Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-09
Mount Tabor. February. 1915

stAttTtt 4 HbW tAs' stf - AAfAfSs
Mr.. Editor arr on old hard fsted farmer,
and can also blow the bellows and run the
iointer but have had title practice in using
the goose quill" wantto say few words,
however, in the columns Of tie CultNator on
the subject oFraising corn.
II is the common praetee in this section OF
the State, TO furrow Inc ground both ways,
about four feet apart, and to drop the corn by
hand al the intersection Of the burrows. In this
way il requires one horse and four hands tc
plant the corn one to strike the burrows, one
10 drop and two to cover Ia order that the
dropping may proceed. ms fast as the horse
walks, and not delay those who cover, the
dropper must be very busiy engaged, and he
cannot take pains in dropping either the hills
in the flnows so as 70 liae each way, or to
regulate the number ofgrains IN the hill. II is
a necessary consequence Of the manner IN
which il is done that the hills viii generally
contain too many grains, (Which must be pull
led cut after the corn gets up,) and that the
hills in one way will Hot be IN straight rows,
which makes il very difficult 70 plough and
tend the com in the direction Of the crooked
rows
You are aware how moderately most farm
ors viii pursue their old habit, and new slowly
the most obvious Improvements are generally
introduced amongst the farmers and how diff
fcult is to convince them, that there is any
better method than that which they were
taught in early life, and have pursued from
then youth up.
These preIudces, however, are fast fading
away, and better practices are beginning to be
introduced By the aid Of an increased diffusion
Of science and intelligence amongst the farm
ers.
Among the many Improvements which are
now gradually coming into general use, IS that
of raising corn in drills. instead OF the old meth
cd, in hills. II is very evident. that greater
quantity Of corn can be raised on an acre in
drills than by the common method and this
may result in two ways. When only the
same number Of stalks OF corn are grown on
an acre, il is evident that by disturbing the
STALLS along the line OF the drill, instead Of
crowding them together IN hills, they can OBJ
tain more food from the soil. and they will be
better exposed to the influence OF the sun and
atmosphere, aud consequently will Weld a
greater crop. But it has been repeatedly pro-
ven by actual trial, that a greater number Of
stalks, and consequently more ears Of corn can
be raised on an acre by planting IN drills than
by the common method
An acre planted in hills four feet apart, and
four stalks in hill, viii have 6,722 hills, or
I0,S8S stalks; and if each stalk produces only
one GOOD ear on ar average and 100 Of such
ears make half bushe Of SHIELDED com, the
produce of an acre will be 81. bushels.
An acre planted in drills three feet apart.
and the stalks standing six inches apart in the
rows. will have 29,0l0 stalks; and the produce
of the acre, at the same rate as above viii be
no Is bushels.
An acre planted in drills Of double rows, six
inches apart. and the drills three feet nine in
cbos from centre to centre will have 5000
stalks and The produce ofthe acre, at the same
rates rs above Win he I54s bushels.
The above examples SHOW. most clearly by
actual calculation. the great advantage there is
in drilling over the old system. in the greater
number If stalks. and increased quantity Of
corn. iuleppndent of the other advantages
above stated gilmore food ana better exposure
IN the SIM and mir.
We viii now see what has been done by ac-
tual experience. in raising corn lg ii, Irill svs.
tenn.
T.. Cornell Iheca TompJins County. New
York. raised an acre of the variety. called
brown rom the produce Of which. was lQ5
bushels Is ponnds This corn was planted
the first week in June; and a portion failing 10
come ND. WAS re-Dlantod ON the l2n ofJune.
The rows were three feet anarr. and hills zen
inches anart in tho ,ys- From f5e 1Imole
inns The ,Ns,, VoyS ci,,s 4r,ie,,ii,,,qi Saeie
m. Quoted i, Ga. Farmer, Ioi. =. pagc Is,
T314
Asa Williams Of the town Of Barre. Or
losoe Countv n CIV Ncrl, raised y nrou,1lfn
-,(.,, If corn in tbo ,eor lsi2. tho f,'lowin0
evtrost * from his own statement The land
wac s.nIo,tohe1 t,,,ico--,nre earh v-av abont
tho elk do,. of Me-. ob,.,,t tbs IOfl rIor.s,,
-. :; -! II. 60. -, 800, ...,tL ;lt-