The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-24
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From the Farmer I and Planter. $

Plow in the Cultivation Of indian Corn
We publish the following article for tho
especial benefit Of such OF our readers as
believe (aRd there are many good farmers
who do,) that no injury is done the crop,
but on the contrary an increased produc-
ton is the result-by cutting the roots Of
the stalks SO far as may be done by the
plow at any stage of its growth. We have
frequently had arguments with farmers oil
this subject, who attributed to the actual
breaking Of the roots the beneficial effects
of the plow in breaking and puIyerising the
soil, which from it's close and impcrvious
texture could not be penetrated by the
small roots of the plant. Such soils force
us to plow against our will. 1t is a choice
OF evils. five do nor plow the roots can
make no progress in search of food, coHse-
quenllY the plant suffers, if it does not
perish. II we Io plow, we thereby change
the texture nf the soil 80 as &, e, allow the
roots that shoot out from the old stumpa, to
penetrate it in every direction and derive
ultimately more food from il than the orig.
ina ones could have done, in its brick like
state.
This will be the case generally'in such
land provided they continue goods mot, how
ever, because the roots were cut, but IN
consequence Of plploing loose',iag the soil:
but should drought cnsue then, good bye
corn. This most farmers have had ocular
demonstration of we presume. We recol4
lect having greatly injured very prorniss
ing field OF corn in this way some years
since, the corn being fully in ttssseland silk
at tho time il received the fatal plnWings
We had our doubts aa to the propriets of
the course we were about to pufancs but
thick coat Of grass having sprung up after
blowing, and wishing To cxter,nirate it, we
resolved on risking the season, which upte
that time had been good. we went to
work and did extermiiate the grass most
cff6ctuaily, and very nearly the corr crop
with it. a drought set mat the tiula, aud
the consequence was less than half crop
On that field, whilst we had q fair yield from
others not SO murdered.
II we were to prepare our Corn land
properly by having on = sufficient Guan.s
tjty Of yegetahle matter OF Some sort, eiilis
er q grass Sod, peavincs, orsweeds e hotiiz'
III ri, aaili turning them down foltows
ms: x stiis suGSnil, there wauld be NO ne
cess III sa tie late culture eE tif tf0it
tsi; s.sss So
sncsi SuhstRTees cthcr I;i lite It-of
9ls 9.ls srf;ug run n heavy rol.cr- over 4si,s
a6e!lds % level the uriace-tbenif ron Isasa
enoagh Of manure spread il evenly, and I
barrow II in with heavy iron; tooth hsras
row-f not enough, reserve il To be putoti
the hill-and 80 leave il Till you are ready
to plant. In preparing to plant open The
burrows lightly 30 as not TO disturb the sod
below-plant as may best suit you, either
in check or drills, we prefer the latter.
The after culture may be altogether super
fetal, ciliicr with plow, sweep or cultiYa-s.
Tor. With the sweep or cultivator, the op-
Grafton is rapid and easy to both ,nafi and
horse. In this way a third more land may
be cultivated than by the usual mode OF
plowing the crop three or four times over.
with gopher or shovel piow. We are not
in the habit OF preparing our land aud cul-
tvatIng the corn crop in this manner at the
South. 1t is more common in the North,
and a!lthe great yields we have seen re-
ported were from sod land thus prepared
and cultivated AZ
From the American Agricnitnriat.
MR. EDIroR:-By request, submit I'd
you, for insertion in The AgricaRuriSt, some
remarks and experiments Il have nsade, 10
prove that the piow is frequently used too
late, and much TO the injury oil our Corn
crops. EE ~
1t is well known to rice planters. that
when rice is in joint and forming ITS car, I
every effort must be made to advance its
growth, SO that good ears may be formed.
The salne effort TO effoctthe same result,
is necessary with corn. and all other grains.
When the ear is about to be formed, tho
atmosphere has less influence on the plant
than previously; and therefore more is res
quired from the roots, Ii the soil ID fertile,
and well broken up with the ploW: previous
10 planting corn, innumcrah!e fibrcis roots
will run latotally. in search of nutsiment,
TO the distance OF six or eight feat. These
latcrals are very small, and easily separa.
ted from the stalk; if cut by the plow when
the plant is young, no injury will be sas-,,
tanned, and perhaps a benefit but they
must not be utor disturbed in cay way,
when far advanced towards maturity.
Without their aid at that period, the per-
pendicular or tap-root, will moi be sufficient
10 produce good and we'll filled ears stis
not unfYequently the case, that he piowis
used when the Corn is in silk, and at TINT
time these literal roots are very numerous
about the surface ofthe ground. and must
necessarily be cut, much To the injuryof fihe
crop. have made several experiments
which prove ccnclisively, that The perpen.
d;cnlar or tap-rootgs are not sufficient with.
out the lateral roots, TO produce good and
we'll filed ears; and that. il tho plosy Is used
too ]a,e, good crop cannot he expected,
For my experiments selected eight we'll
grown stalks, just before shooting out tleir
tassel. had tie earth cut round two of
those stalks about elk inches from them, Il,
the depth and width OF tho spade, and the
earth removed, sothat fcoHId see that all
Of the roots were cut. The earth ~ag
permitted to remainin this situation until
the Corn was matnred, The stalks locked
WE'LL and the ears appeared 70 bc well
filled; but on examinations, it was found.
that there we're but few scattered grains in
them. XXI ~ ~
In the next experiment, a ctly.spas made
round two stalks, with a spade 70 its depth
and width, at the sama distance as aboye.
This cut waa permitted TO cleys tnls1udiste-
ly, no earth having been removed Thss.
result was, small oars. tls,t isseiii led. "a