The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-24
N o 3 s. I.
"a HhaDua1 Z auassasaua
From the Farmer + and plantsr. 4 6

nelnaIRS on tE6 improper UHS OF Tho
Plow in the Cultivation OF Indian Cor1A
We publish the following article for the
especial benefit of such Of our readers as
believe (ana there are many good farmers
who do) that no injury is done the. crop,
but on the contrary, an increased produc-
ton ID the result-by cutting tie roots of
the stalks SO far as may be done by The
plow at any stage of it's growth. We have
frequently had arguments with farmers OH
this subject, who attributed 10 the actual
breaking of the roots the beneficial effects
of the plow in breaking and pulverising The
soil. which from its close and impcryious
texture could not be penetrated by the
small roots Of the plant Such soils force
us to plow against our will 1t is q choice
of evils. five do MOI ploW the roots can
make no progress in search OF food, conses
queniy the plant suffers, If it does not
perish. If VIC do plow, we thereby change
the texture nf the soil SO as 70 allow the
roots that shoot out from the old stumps, 70
penetrate it in every direction and derive
ultimately more food from it than the origs
nal ones could have done, in its brck-iike
state.
This will be the case generallyin such
land provided they continue good mot. hows
ever. ttlc EWCIC- Culgs UDl fH
consequences Of plo,ping loosefing the soil;
but should a drought chsue then, good bye
corn This most farmers have had ocnlat
demonstration Of we presume. We recoi.
ect having greatly injured a very promiss
ing field of corn in this way some years
since, the corn being fully in tassel and silk
We had our doubts as to the pfopriety of
oI>n ts, 4
thick coat of grass having spftiDg up after
resolved on riskng the season, which up to
that time had been good We went To-
work and did cxtermiiate the grass most
ctiectually, aud very nearly the corn crop
with it. a drought set inat the time, and
the consequences was lees than half q crop
on that field, whilst we had a fair yield frotd3
others not so murdered.
II we were to prepare our corn land
properly by having on it a sufficient iilana,
tity Of vegetable matter of some sort eitlisi
eT a grass sod, peaviues, or weeds il iiotla
ssss and turning them down Iowa
;ns 4 a't Sd 6xpil, there would be no 1ie-
re.a IS III thes ata cislt ltnfc nfttiif itff
ae5 llSs s.ssssaastls
srrh suhssRFees eitltesiii tfe ii, 81
.sts ,ssssisesips run heavy sglieg oyer u Is.
sts td, 10 seyel the slTface-thnn ii you hate
enohghSGf manure spread il ereniy, & and
harrow il in with heavy iron tooth haFs
row-ifnot enough, reserve it. 10 be ppton
the hill-and so leave It ILL you are ready
to plant. In preparing TO plant open the
burrows lightly 80 as not to disturb the sod
below--pant as may best suit you, either
in check or drills, we prefer the latter.
The after culture may be altogether super
fetal, either with a p!oW, sweep or cultira-f
tor With the sweep or cultivator, the op-
Grafton is rapid and easy to both man and
horse. In this way a third more land may
be cultivated than by the usual mode OF
piowing the crop three or four times oysr4
with gopher orshoyel plow. We are not
in the habit OF preparing our land and cnl-
tivating the corn crop i'll this manner at the
South. II is more comnonyn the North,
and all the great yields we have seen re-
ported were from sod land thus prepared
and cultivated sa
From the American Agricultural.
Mn. EDIToR:-By request, submit To
you, for Insertion in the Agritalturisi, some
remarks and experiments,oI 4 haze made, I'd
prove that the plow is frequently used TOO
late, and much to the injury of our Corn
crops.
1t is well known to rice planters chat,
when rice is in joint ana forming its ear,
every effort must he made 10 advance its
growth, SO that good ears may be formed.
The same effort TO effect The same result,
is necessary with Germ and all otlIEr grains.
When the ear is about TO be formed, the
atmosphere has loss Influence on the plant
than previously; and therefore more is re-
qured from the roots. If the soil ID fertile,
and wei! broken mp with the plow previous
to planting corn, innnmcrab'a fbrons roots
will run latefally, in search Of nutriment,
TO the distance OF six or eight feGt These
atcras arc very small, and easily separas
ted from the stalkiif cut by the plow wliesl
the plant is young, no injury will be sugs
tanned, and perhaps q henefit: bus they
must not be cut or disturbed in aaiY ways
when far advanced towards maturity.
Without thcir aid al that period, the per-
peGdicular or tap-root, will not be sufficient
10 produce good and we'll filed eafs Ii is
not rofreluently the case, that the pioWis
used when the Corn is in silk, and ut that
time these lateral roots are very numerous
about the surface of tlie around, and must
necessarily be cut, much 10 the injury OF the
crop. have made several experiments
which prove conclusively. that the perpon-
dicular or ortan.reotst are not sufficient with.
out the latefalrootss TO produce good and
well filed ears; and that, if tho piow ID used
too late, a good crop cannot be expected.
For my experiment, selected eight we'll
grown stalks, just before slpotiag out their
tassel. | had tho Garth cut round two Of
those stalks about six inches from them, To
the depth and width of tho spade, and The
earth removed, SO that icouhi see that ali
Of the roots were cut. The earth WAS
permitted TO remajn in this situation pgtil
the Corn was msturea The ataiks leaked
well, and the ears appeared 10 bo5 we'll
filled; but on examination, it YVES found,
that there were but few scattered grains ii,
them. s ,ss .g4.
In the next experiment, 4 ent made
roand two stalks, with b spade 10 It's depth
and width, at tho sanio distance MS above.
1'hise was permitted ID elo4a ieir:ad la,c-
", no earth iiaying beer, roa,ered. he
resultsgas, small cars Ijos well filed
Goasttises On ifleiash