The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-03-22


der apart. Every stalk requires its due
proportion of moisture from the earth in or
der to carry the ear of corn to full perfection
and of course. the greater the number of
stalks 10 the acre, the greater the draft upon
the soil for moisture. In planting on a
scale of 8 to IL acres, therefore, 60 for
more space between the hills notwthstan-
ding there has been much said in favor of
shading the ground by close planting, 10 pre-
vent the effects Of drought. 1t is OF consld-
cradle Importance to have straight rows
b .th WAYS the use of tho horse and cultIvator
being much more effective in this case than
in crooked rows; besides, no farmer having
spark of honest pride, wishes to gazc all
summer at so unsghtly and object as crook
cd c"rn rows, or expose the same TO the
gaze of others.
In planting the corn, which is nice opc-
ration. care is used TO scatter it well in
the hills. putting in 6 TO kernaIs. always
dircc, the planters to occupy to IL inches
square in each hill. This may appear a
small matter to some, but It is fact, that
corn planted thus will ear heavier, and there
will be more stalks, bearing two good ears,
than in the common practice of tumbling the
corn into the hill at haphazard is pursued.
Indeed one could better afford to pay man
two dollars day to plant corn in the way
| have recommended, than the common
price, planted IN the common way. The
corn is covered at least three inches deep in
sandy and gravelIy soils, for two reasons.
In this section of The country we frequently
have late spring frosts, which nip the corn
after it is up, and ifcovered but slightly, the
vitality oflhe tender plant is often destroyed
bv freezing down to The roots, whereas, II
covered three inches deep, no permanent
injury is done. Again, we sometimes have
dry weather about planting time, and II the
Garth dries down To the coru after 1t has
sprouicd, it may not come up at all, IT It
ducs it will be long time about it, and at
the end of three weeks will not be nearly
vigorous as that planted deeper. The seed
is planted dry. have tried variety OF
sleeps for seed corn, but have settled down
TO the impression that ii is well planted dry
as any other way. The most cfectual
"scare crow" have ever found, is line ot
white twine strung around the field, and
supported by long stakes.
In working the corn after it is up, the main
dependence is upon the horse and cuIuva-
tor. The construction Of many of the cu'-
tivalors in use is faulty. The upper part OF
tho tooth is so short, and the frame work in
consequence is b:ou h, s" near the ground,
that the implement goes bnbbing about over
the top of tho weeds, aud clogging up with
every impediment II meets, the weeds OF
course are not cut of or rooted up in
thor ough or desirable manner, although |
grant they are somewhat mangled. lna
future communication may give drawing
and description ola cu'ljvator made at my
suggestion, by an ingenious blacksmith IN
this place, which is not liable to the above
objections. AT wedding tune the horse and
cull,vator pass through The rows both ways
perfectly pu!vcrizing and mcl!owing tho SOL.
and as Ike rows are always straight the soil
is worked up close to the hills each way.
rendering the labor Of wedding with the hoe
comparatively light. The corn is again
worked ,tA WAYS with the horse and cult.
vator at the second hoein-, the feeble stalks
arc pulled out, leaving To standing in
hill. and br ,ad fiat hill made. | find ii
cheaper for NE, so far as labor IS concerned,
to earth up little than to hoe perfectly lev
cl and the hills being made broad and flat, i,
is for any thing | can discover, equally as
well as for The corn.
never hoe bu, twice. Having plowcd
the land the previous autumn, nothing green
started up before the winter set in. and the
frost Immediately following, the grass roots
were killed. In the spring the land was
well narrowed and pIowed above the sod;
there were no seeds OF weeds in the manure,
it being well fernentcd compost, and thus
the work Of the season was in great meas
urc done before the seed was planted. AT.
ter the second hoeing the corn has the en-
tire occupation OF the ground, no further
trouble being experienced from weeds OF
any kind. The thorough working of the
land before planting, and also by the use of
the horse and The cultva,or, through straight
rows both ways, at the first and second hoe
ing, has the further advantage ofbrnging the
corn along through the forepart Of the seas
or with great rapidi,y. which is Of essential
Importance, particularly in cur northern lat
itudes. There is no variety of corr that is
not either improved or detcrorated by the
manner in which The seed is selected. As
soon as the earliest ears are thoroughly gla-
zed, 60 over the field, selecting those for
seed that are early and vigorous, and from
stalks producing two good ears. The corn
is Immediately braided up and hung in dry
airy place. have kind Of very long ear-
ed, eight rowed corn. which | have planted
for several years, selecting the seed in the
GoId oach wear i'm the way described, and