The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-06-23
\ 9Cuulluuniratiulls.
For THE LEDGER.
On and About Corn.


Mr.. Editor I'm number of your paper |
a few weeks since, you requested some arti-
cles on Agriculture; propose to give your
readers few ideas on the preparation and
cultivation of that indispensable article of
life-Indian Ccrn--believing that any sug
gestions on this subject, at this particular
time, owing 10 .he scarcity thereof. will in
duce farmers and planters to read, and pro-
badly be profited, although those ideas may
emanatefrom e,who has gained no celebrity
in the corn making world, and who is him
self an obscure farmer.
In the suggestions shall make, refer to
the clay soils entirely, and to poor land; for
it is the poor and exhausted lands we should
nurse, and endeavor to enrich and reclaim,
and is the most difficult of cultivation. Upon
the rich, loose and loomy soil, corn may be
made with almost any kind of cultivation.
II is like the Yankees mill---it grows by the
force of circumstances !" but not so upon
thin, poor sofia helter-skelter scattering
cultivation is labor lost, and "wont wiu."
If possible, turn over your land in the
fall Of the year with two horse plow or
large twister plow close and deep. The
advantage of this is tho soil derives great
and invigorating properties from the action of
the atmosphere, the rain, SHOWS and freezes
during the winter months, and is disintcgrat-
ed and pulverizcd thereby, and becomes mel
| lou, and lnoaa fnr onr;no rho
clods and compact earth which has been
turned over, are broken up and mellowed !;
allowing this to have been done, then in the
latter part Of February, or first days Of
March, break with long, deep grab plow
across the fall blowing In this blowing 60
as deep as your horse power will allow; and
remember the size of your corn pile at gath
ering time in n great measure depends upon
the depth of your plowing in the spring; and
If, from gathering your cotton crop in the
fall, you cannot give the fall blowing, (al-
though it is highly preferable and greatly to
be desired,) you should then break up rs
early as possible in January or February
with grab plow, as deep as you can GO,
and the horse is able to stand without in
jury; and then before you plant--a week or
ten days-cross this plowing with the grab
plow, again, and do not be afraid of going
too deep-the deep grab blowing (Which is
our substitute and approximation TO sub
soil plowing) prevents the land from wash
ing, because il opens the earth, and makes
1t become spongy, and the water goes down
and Is absorbed, instead of running off, car
rying with il part of the SOIL The action
Of the atmosphere and rains upon that por-
ton Of the clay which before had never been
touched by plow, fertilizcs and gives to il
producing property. In proof of this, see
the effects and results ofpoor red clay which
has been taken from ,cells and deep cuts on
rail roada, afterit has been exposed to the
rain and atmosphere.
| When the foregoing is done, it is time to
prepare for planting. The ground now has
been in either case broke en- twice. Then with
larger grab or small straight shovel, lay off
your rows feet Cor At feet, if the soil is
very thin) and afterwards cross with the
same plow feet, plant or drop your corn
two grains, and no more, in the cheek go
deep with those furrows, so as the grain
shall rest on the water furrow, or as low as
the ground has been broken.
Now for the Manure-for this is a sine
qua nono-and is in the pow cr and reach of
every farmer to procure and have. It can be
| obtained from the cotton seed pile, the sta
bles, the cattle yards, the hog pens, the ash
pie, the chicken house, the sweepings Of the
house and kitchen, and the yard; in fact t,every
thing which is removed for the sake of cleanli-
mss and health, may be thrown on the manure
pile, and will tell when rotted and taken to
the field, should have observed th.t after
the second blowing (or before, If 1t suits
both) all the manure you have saved and
accumulated since your last planting, and
which, with little care and attention, will be
tered in suitable piles, and at convenient
distances. Across then, as before stated
drop your corn In the check and follow with
the manure in every hill, dropping it on the
e"'"' pu'oquhy o'oi TIC check' 80 hht the
grain will not be distracted in coming up,
then cover by running grab on each side,
so as to sift the dirt gently on the grain, (or
cover with the hoe, If the horse power is
needed elsewere0 but the grab is prefera-
bic, rs it distributes the dirt equally, and be-
sides, pulverizes the soil on each side Of the
gram, for the young roots to enter by the
time sou are resdy to plow over the first
time. After the corn is up sufficiently, and
you are through with your planting, then
plow, run next the corn with small grabs,
go deep and plow ont the middles with a
larger grab; orif you have not time to plow
Ont the whole furrow, run two furrows on
each aide with the grab. this will give the