Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-03-26
@g,Ge 0d3ette.
PROM THE ALBANY cuLTIyAToR-
INDIAN CORN.

4 INDIAN CORN.
I .Mr. Tucker s--Of all the crops which are
! raised in the middle States Of the union, none
are Of so much importance to the farmer as the
corn plant not only for its valuable grain, but
its leaves, husks and stalks, for fodder and ma
nure no plant which he cultivates being so
well adapted to hold the valuable parts of the
faces and urine of the barn-yard from the pithy
structure of its interior
Corn, for success, requires loose and rich
soil, by which rapid growth is obtained, and
is thus enabled TO overcome the changes incl
dent to spring and its two ordinary and most
powerful enemies, the wire-worm and the grub.
The ravages OF the former, are as we all know,
below the surface, appear TO be proportoned to
the hardness and probable poverty Of the soil,
preying on the main root, efiectuaIy prevent
ing all production Of the grain, if not destroying
the plant The grub, on the contrary, cuts off
the stem near the surface its range Of destruc-
ton more general as regards soil, but evidently
feeding from preference upon the more feeble
plants, and therefore by complyin ing with the
conditions requisite for vigorous growth, its
action is but feeble. So also when corn is
planted upon sod recently turned under, the
grub finding sull its accustomed food.
There is also another observation which
wish to have recorded, being important to prove,
il true, or to set aside, if false 1t is the belief
that the tendency of the corn plant is TO pro-
duce greater yield Of grain in northern eli
mates, and less gram and more leaf and stalk
In southern ones; no State in the union produ-
cling such prodigious crops, per acre, as New
York, for example. Should this be the fact il
will lead the farmers here, and further south,
not to force the plant after it has escaped its
early enemies, but to reserve its strength and
fbafp To AZ
ly giving healthy growth by moderate, and
not excessive, cultivation, previous to that i'm
portant state OF its being.
For the first years of my farming, the ma
nure was spread in the spring, upon a sod, for
corn, finishing IN time to plow for planting
This plan was changed, hauling out and sprea-
ding it in the preceding autumn, blowing as
before. This latter method appeared to be
preferable, giving not only quicker growth
TO the young plants, but evidently better stand
also noticed that the effect of the manure from
remaining upon the surface for so long peri
cd comparatively. was to make the soil loose or
mellow, and to render the wire-worn and grub
no longer causes of uneasiness.
The good effect Of covering the ground in
the autumn for the corn crop, were fully con-
hrIned on an adjoining farm, and the knowl-
edge thus obtained, led TO the plan which at
present pursue. My neighbor commenced
by hauling out the manure which was left af-
ter preparing his wheat ground, which sufficed
for only about one.third of ii. He then pro-
ceeded TO cover the remainder with straw, but
did not finish more than one-half of the part
which was left, leaving. therefore, a third part
uncovered. The whole was plowed in the
spring, in time for planting. Itmay be salts
factory TO state that the field was perfectly level
and the soil Of uniform quality throughout its
extent, but thin.
From the time the corn appeared above the
surface to It's perfecting, a marked difference
was manifest between the two parts which had
been covered and the part left uncovered, hav-
ing examined the corn at the beginning of the
growth otthe corn, and at its completion. The
parts which had been covered with manure
and straw, stood well, being unaffected by
worms. The color was very good and produ-
ced a fair crop; nor could any difference be
perceived between them, as the owner inform
ed me, in the quantity or quality of the grain
when husked, so far as the eve could determine
On the part which had been left without ma
nure or straw, the wire worm was so destruc-
i've, as TO require more than once replantng.
The color indicated less vigor, and the yield in
grain inferior in every respect,
No experiment could be more decisive or
important, as regards the compliant than the
one related. Itestablished two important facts.
The great advantage of covering the ground in
the fall OF the year for corn; the other, that no
difference could be perceived in the crop be-
tween the part covered with straw and the part
with manure; consequently that straw could
be substituted for manure in its culture.
II has been an object Of no small importance
with me IN farming, 10 attain TO certainty, guam
uty with goodness of crops, with the least ex.
N nh nd IN btoff he
the food or manure required for the various
crops TO be grown. That the latter object was
possible, did not doubt, but in no way could
accomplish II so long as manure was required
Tor both corn and wheat. Had grazing been
combined with ullage, there would have been
sufhciency for both these crops, but the farm
being wholly arabic, there was only enough for
one of them.
From beingengagedin anotherpursuitw which
occupied me some years, and other causes d. |
verting my attention from farming. it is only
within eighteen months that | have been able 10 |
make an application ofstraw. My experience
therefore is too limited to satisfy those who re-
qulre comparative statistics, but sufficiently so
TO induce me to believe that shall attain my
object.
The field which was planted with corn last
year, was timothy sod, of about three years
old. II was covered with straw the preceding
fall: The grass at the time Of breaking ii up,
which was just before planting, looked better
than 1t had at any preceding spring; better than
have known old sods when MANFRED The |
corn crop equalled my expectations of it.
The same autumn, also covered four acres
oil mixed grasses for pasture, leaving about
han an acre uncovered by the side of it, which |
had been IN potatoes and highly manuret.-
Inc grass next year upon the covered part was
the best, and better withstood the various spells
OF dry weather which prevailed last year
LARDNER VANUXEM.
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