Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-04
From the Farm Journal.
An Old Farmers Method of
Planting Corn.

AA Osu Farmers I'VE NHetnOO Oh
Planting Corn.
Mr.. EDIToR.-Although not the season
for corn planting, | give you herewith
an account of the plan which l always
pursue, and after an experience of near
ly forty-eight years, have found under
all circumstances to produce the best
crops. Many years observation, has sat
isfed me of the fact, that my system will
answer as well as any other in favorable
seasons, and far better during such an
one as that just passed.
[ always make it point, when prac-
ticable, to put corn on sod ground, which
mag be plowed in the fall, and with ex-
cellent effect, but which Sboa5d be, at the
earliest possible period in the spring. [
always plow eight inches in depth, then
score out my ground very deep, leaving
the distance between the furrows three
feet, The corn is then dropped, single
grains, twelve inches apart. Where the
ground is strong, the distance may be
less. My ten-toothed harrow is next
brought into play, being fashioned as fol-
lows : fourteen inches in width in front,
and eight inches behind. This is care
fully drawn through the furrow, thickly
covering the corn, and the field permit
ted to lie in this condition for six or sew
en- days, when, with my twelve toothed
harrow l 60 over the whole, most tho
roughly covering the corn. The effect
of this last narrowing is to retard some
what the first appearance of the corn,
(Which, by the way is not an objection
and to keep down the weeds and grass.
When about four inches high, | Igothrough
the burrows lengthwise with a shovel
harrow, which is another deathblow to
the weeds and grass, and when it has
reached the height of twelve inches |
give it another and final dressing with
one of Harnley's corn plows. This last
dressing efectually destroys the weeds
and leaves the ground in fine mellow
condition.
The advantages I claim for this meth
cd are these:
First the deep plowing gives the roots
of the corn a fine chance to penetrate
the sol to a considerable depth, in search
Of suitable food. The depth which they
reach, secures them in great measure
against the effects usually produced by
drought. A second good result of the
deep blowing is, that in very wet seasons,
the over-moisture will effect the young
corn less than where the plowing is shall
low, because, not being obstructed at a
depth of four or FIVE inches by the hard
pan beneath, it has chance to sink sever
al inches lower
Secondly, the heavy narrowing, after
the corn has been six or eight days plan
ted, completely exposes to the sun and
air, the seeds of weed and grass which
have commenced terminating, and either
kills them completely, or SO Injuries them,
that their future growth and vigor is re-
tarded SO much as to place them complete
pletely at the mercy of the shovel harrow
and corn plow, with which the after dress
ings are given. Again, the last dressing
with the corn plow keeps the mellow earth
around the stalk, and in most cases the
result is, second set of roots which give
increased vigor to the growing sta k and
ear.
BY the plan above detailed l have rare
ly, if ever, failed to have an average crop,
even in the most unfavorable seasons, and
when the seasons have been good, l have
been led to think the yield to be fully e.
quail to any of my neighbors.
As before remarked, this article may
be somewhat out of season but as the
long evenings are approaching, some OF
your readers, who may think it worth
their while to test my plan, viii have an
excellent opportunity of reading and re-
fecting upon the subject, before plowing
time arrives.
CHRISTIAN STOUFFER,
Pine Farm, Mannheim tsp, Lancaster co.