The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-04-21
From the american Farmer.
Planting and Culture Of Germ.

| From the american Farmer.
Planting and Culture Of Germ.
TINE OF PLANTING. 1t would be folly
TO attempt TO fix upon any given day as
III" one tol planting corn. tor such is the
difference in the climates of our several
States, that the corn may be up and have
had two or three workings in one. before
the frost is out Of the ground in another
State. We may, however, lay it down
as a criterion, that when the oak leaf is
about one forth IFS natural size is good
time TO plant corn.
Preparation ofhie round-Where the
ground may have been ploughed through
the winter, it should be narrowed so
soon as the frost is out of it,-a'd here
We will remark, that the narrowing
should be thorough, as the finer and
more complete the ,ilth the better will
the corn grow and ripen its grain, and
that the ground should also be rolled.
II the ground is still to be ploughed,
do it without delay, SO soon AS it is in
condition to undergo the operation and
be sure to plough deep.
Unless the ground be very fertile, it
should be highly manfred, for corn is a
gross feeder. and will not produce well
unless it be literally fed whereas, if
you give it plenty to eat, it isone of the
most prolific and profitable of all the
members Of the grain family. No corn
grower should think OF applying less
Xto, on Jo,blo bor,o cart l,,Js IF oto bio
or barn yard manure, or like quantity
OF rich compost, per acre:-and were he
to apply twice that number of loads he
would find his interest in It,-as upon
half the quantity of land, and with half
the force, he would make as much, ifnot
more corn. To grow corn upon poor
land without plenty of manure, is as dis
appointing as it is protitlcss as ruinous
TO man, as 1t is killing to beast.
Qnn'jty ef Seed PER Aere.-A peck Of
seed is the quantity usually estimated as
being sufficient to plant an acre-fve or
SIX kernsIs should be dropt IN each
hill
Preparation ofMc Seed.--Put pint Of
tar into tub. over this pour two or three
gallons OF boiling water, stir until the
tar is dissolved and incorporated with
the water. then put IN bushel of corn,
and continue to stir until all the grains
are coated. To make the grains separate
easily. they should then have equal
quantities Of plaster and ashes strewn o.
yer them, and the mass stirred until the
grains of corn are covered with the mix
ture of plaster and ashes-they may then
be planted. No more prepared corn
must be taken out at time than can be
planted through eacl, day. 1t may re-
main several days after preparation, III
excluded from the arr, without injury,
but does not bear exposure so we'll.
There is another method Of preparing
seed corn, which is SAID not only 10 pro-
tect 1t from birds and insects. but 10 pro-
mote its early growth. 1t is this, dis
solve 2 lbs. of copperas in as much warm
water as will cover a bushsl OF corn;
pour the decoctlon on the corn, and let
il soak "a hours; then drain off the IL
quid, and stir in half gallon ot'oft soap
80 as TO coat the grains OF corn: this done,
add as much plaster as will separate the
grains and render them III for p'a nting.
We have prepared seed corn with the
decoction of copperas and dried with
plaster, and was pleased with the res.alt,
and have no doubt that the addition VI
soft soap, as recommended will prove,
on trial. 10 be an Improvement.
Weak solutions Of sal,pe,re. and Glau-
Der salts, are spoken highly Of as soaks
for the preparation 81 seed corn; the for
mer We have used and though, we'll Of it,
the latter is highly commended by 9TH
ers
Working in DroueM.-Many are OPP
posed 10 working corn during periods of
drought, under the impression That. when
thus worked, i. cause, 1t to fire. now il
corn be worked in dry weather with the
plough, which necessarily cuts up and
tears its lateral and fibrous roots, the pro,
liability is that the blades will wither
and burn up, not because the earth has
been stirred, but because the plants have
been unna,urally deprived oftheir means
Of supplying thems. Ives with food and
moisture from the eartn, and, because. by
the absence of rain their power Of reac-
ton has been suspended. and they can
not re.supply themselves with new
series of feeders. Thus believing, we
hesitate not in advancing the opinion,
that stirring the earth with the Cultiva
tor, is decidedly beneficial, in even the
dryest periods, as all such loosenings of