The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-12-15
sAariellltaral.l
From, thc So,ahern Cultirator.
CORN CULTURE. IS

large planter in the vicinity of Gcor-
| gia; aud besides being gratified with the
example of Southern hospitality so libe-
rally displayed, was cnlightcnedand Ing
structed by viewing tho system and per-
feet order observed on farm of great
magnitude, rs well as tho method adopted
in the culture, which 10 me was unique,
and believe, unknown elsewhere. And
although it is in opposition to the princi-
pie. e.cf 'change of CROP SO almostunivcr-
sally recommended md very generally
l1practieed ,its description may afford food
Tor reflection and examination, and good
must come out of thai, TO certainty.
The intelligent owner informed me, he
had been OH the plantation five years, du-
ring which he had never changed the
crop on any part Of the land; his prac-
tice being as follows. After dividing the
farm into two equal parts Of 200 acres
each, one for the growth of cotton, and
the other for corn, he planted corn OIL one
of these portions at five feet intervals,
with about twenty feet between the plants
in the rows, keeping clean, by cultivating
and hocing; and at the time Of the last
working, he threw out the soil FROM the
middle of each interval, leaving an orcn
furrow, exposed to the subsoil \ ttcr har-
vest Of the corn, this fnrrow was struck
out deep by means of tbs doublc-mnuld
plow, and into i, were closely packed the
corn stubs from the adjoining row, on
which, after being sprinklcd with IL corn
| post. in which lime and salt formed bv far
tho principal ingredients, two iurrows
were turned, and permitted So TO lie until
the spring. when they were puvcrixcd,
and corn was planted, by dropping nj pro-
per distances Oh them; after which the
remainder OF the land between the rows
was plowcd and work in the regular way;
II iurrow being throwncd out in the mid
dlc OF tho inirrsticc, again to receive the
corn stubs and compost after harvest, nd
infnitnM.. He added his crops of corn
had regularly increased in quantity and
quality since he adopted this plan, the
land being decidedly improved by tho
operation.
The same process had been adopted in
the culture of cotton with the same high
~ beneficial results; the dccaycd cotton
stubs, after being beaten down and rakcd
into the open furrow, being substituted for
the corn stubs, and receiving the same
dressing Of compost and Il covering of
earth, by turning Il double furrow upon
! them. AS proof of the decided alvun-
tayc Of such treatment, he informed he
had begun by planting his cotton at three
feet distance betwcru The rows, bl, been
compelled to widen the intervals to five
feet; his plants at first measuring four
feet III height, now reaching seven, and
often more; the cotton Of first quality,
and commanding the best prices in the
market On rcmarking The clean and
neat appearance Of the land, without the
presence of Il weed, he observed, he had
no longer any difficulty in Keeping il so,
the weeds having long since exhausted by
such regular and thorough culture; while
the lime and salt in such profuson, pre-
vented the growth of those that might 9TH
crwlsc spring from the compost employed.
Ibis mode of management, proceeds
upon the French system Of scli:rcnova-
ton, and would seem to prove the truth Of
The axiom. The best and most natural
dressing for :hc future crop is the remains
OF the former, and if this be found cor
rect, of IL truth onc-half the labor of pre-
pairing for and working those crops, could
be dispensed with, by the perpetual sys-
ten OF tnllowing the land, and the cXtrac-
ton Of weeds. Would your readers give
their opinion on subject, novel in prin-
ciplc, as we'll as practice ?-J. w. IN The
| Southern Curiraior.
We copy the above, because VIC have
seen corn grown after the system named,
with great economy and success. We
see no reason why cotton may not be cul-
t!vaied on the same plan. 1t is not enough
! to apply lime and salt TO floor soils, in ad-
dilon to all the cotton aud corn plants,
beside that portion Of them sent to market,
There is small amount Of sulphur and
/ phosphorous in the kernels Of maize,
which neither limo, salt, nor the stems,
cobs or blades of the blade can supply.
| In good soils, by tn" application OF all the
other elements required to form the crop,
the small portion Of he phospIloralcs and
sn!phatcs needed il organizing the seeds
of corn, may be extracted from the Garth
Our res arch $ and experience, however,
go to prove tlu, the germs, or 'chts' Of
OF this plant'arc tho organs hose inds-
pcnsablc elements il is most difficult to
furnish on poor lands When II mouse
'"'H out INC germ Oh u hcfllcl oI corn nc
obtains bone earth, (a mineral without
which it could have no boncs.) as well us
the organized nitrogen, sulphur and phos
phorus tounds in lis muscles, brain and
nerves. The other portions of the kcr-
mel consist mainly Of starch. oil, and su-
gar, OH which alone no animal can suhsist
| Atmospheric air ana water Wa supply
the elements Of the lcA<f:sycgeih pro
| ducts. BIT when you c,nc lGGif,u ic a