Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-03-17
obe g. farm.
From the Albany, Cultivator.
CULTURE OF INDIAN CORN.

the soil. throughout all varied climate, anu w
all its variety of soils, is grower OF thls r,or
TO greater or less extent. it becomes u'", w.,
of Importance that il should be manaecu ~ ~.
best advantage. know Of no better way ~ al,
rive at the desired result than the pfac''I"i oH
perence of successful corn-growers, maze pup
lie through the columns of the agricultural press
We NAV all learn something from one anotncr;
indeed never had hired man even, w my NE
however ignorant, that had not way OF his own
If doiny sohpetIiug from which obtained a new
and profitable idea These considerations must
be my apology for any apparent egotism III Inc
frequent use of the personal pronoun in this
communication.
! do not expect to add any thing now in in'or-
nation upon my present subject, which has been
so often and so ably handled by others before
me. but simply to show by what process have
been successful in raising much larger crops OF
corn to the acre than would be considered an
average yield in this section, at least. The
acreage yield of my corn crop. on 8 to IL acres
annually has not fallen so low as 60 bushels per
acre in 10 years, while in the more favorable
seasons and on my best lands, it will come up
To 80 to 90 bushels per acre. II is proper also
to state, that some of the fields would not cut
500 lbs. of hay to the acre 10 years ago.
The land intended for corn is always broken
up from to inches deep. varying with the
quality of the soil, late in the fall, in order to
that perfect pulverization of the soil which the
frost in winter contributes so essentially to Sc
cure. The blowing is performed with great care
and precision. No baulks-no crooked or lmpcr-
fccty turned burrows are at all allowed, but the
whole soil to the required depth is turned over.
] have been troubled TO find plows that do good
work in a deep furrow-the Centre Draft and
Eagle No. ., a cut and description of which is
given in the April number, vol. ". of the Guilt
yator turns perfect furrow s, o or 10 inches
deep.
The heaps Of compost manure are made upon
this land in August or after, beds being plowcd
up TO receive them These heaps are ranged at
convenient distances to load into the cart in the
spring, and spread on the land with the best
economy of travel, and contain 80 to 40 loads
each, which is the quantity usually applied TO
the acre. Thirtv-fve to forty bushels is called
a load. In the spring the manure is laid on the
land in small heaps the rows OF heaps about
four PAGES apart, and the heaps in the rows a
little less distance apart. because a given num-
Der o. loads, fine manure particularly, can be
spread with more ease and expedition by making
more heaps of a load. and placing them near to-
gcther. than by following the more common prac.
tice of making larger heaps wider apart.
The harrow going twice in place, is started
as as the workmen commence spreading
ly Incorporated with the soil without the loss OF
its valuable properties by evaporation, and also
to divide and pulverize the soil above the sod,
so that the plow afterwards may be used in a
light furrow without disturbing it. Great i'm
provements have been made in harrows by con-
strncting them in two parts. CONNECTED together
with hnges-the play, up or down, upon the
hinges of either half. enables the harrow 10 adj
just itself to the surface Of the land in all places
and whether smooth or uneven. it will always
hug down close, and keep digging" No far
mer who has ever used "A hinge harrow would
he without one for five times the cost of making
When the narrowing is completed the plow,
with sharp point, and roller on the beam,
gnaged to the proper depth covers the manure
to inches, which, after trial of all ways, ]
consider about the right depth for fine compost.
The land is then iurrowed ont nearly north
and south the shape and surface OF the field
will admit, and also east and west. the rows be-
ing ID feet apart each way. prefer this dis
lance TO planting nearer. In my earlier farm
ing operations l used to plant corn corsidera-
bly, nearer both ways, ofcoursc growing a grea-
ter number of stalks and ears to the acre. In a
favorable season, AS TO moisture, probably few
more bushels may be obtained bv closer plant
ing; but in offset the labor is also considerably
increased. There are more hills to plant and
hoe, and the cars being usually much smaller
the labor of husking given number of bushel,
is greater. and no man can husk small ears ant
"nubbins " as fast AS large ones Besides,
find by actual experiment. that closely plan,c,
field will not stand dronth nearly as long as
field planted wider apart. Every stalk require
its due PROMOTION of moisture from the earth il
order TO carry the ear of corn to full perfection
md If course IN, greater number or stalks IN IN,
acre the greater the draft upon the soil for moi.,
ure In nlan,ino on n seal. IF tn u aero.
therefore. 90 for more space between The hill.
Notwithstanding there has bocn much said !,
favor al sboJ;n1 tbe oround bv close rl,n,;,o
to prevent the effects Of drouth' I, is If consid
cradle impor,ance To have s,ra;uht rows ho,
wavs. the use of the horse and cnl,ivator he;n
mnch moro elective in his case than in cro,i,
ed rows . besides. no farmer having sn,rL
honest nrdc. wishes 10 paze ALI simmer n, :
unsigb,lv an object as crooked corn rows ,
exno,e The same to the paze of others.
In nlan,ino the corn. which is nice opera
ton care is used to scatter il well in the hill
nn,,ing in q IN 3 kernels. always direct m
nl,n,er IN occunv 3 IN - inches sonare wi,
each hill This NAV appear a small matter !
some. but il is fact that corn planted tins wi
ear heavier and there will be mora stalks hea,
inc rood ears. than if the common practice ,
tumbng the corn into tie hill at h,p.hazsrd
is pursued. Indeed. one could better alfnrd ,
nav a man two dollars a day TO plant corn in III
way have recommended, than the commo
price. planted in the common way. The cor
is covered 3 inches deem in sandy and or,voI,