Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-08-21

largest crop of weevils have ever seen a
Makawao. Still cannot boast Of success il
raising Indian corn, and must refer you Il
other members ofthe committee. Mr. Ric,
of Punahou has more than once succeeded
IN raising fine corn at that place. He tell
me. however, that Of late corn has not don,
as well as formerly and he is not sanguin'
as to entire success. He is still making ex
peiiments as to the season Of planting, de
struction of the pelua and other things con
nectcd with corn growing.
Mr.. Emerson has probably more expert
ence in the business of raising corn than an,
one of the committee. His report Is as fol
lows:
CULTIVATION OF INDIAN CORN.
BY ]. S. EMERSON.
The Indian corn crop succeeds the best
so far as my experience and observation go
in hard tenacious SOIL This soil hold,
moisture much longer than a light vegetable
or alluvial soil. 1t also gives less chance tc
worms of all descriptions for burrowing and
depoSitIng their eggs than is found in light.
err soil. Also, in case Of high wind il
holds the roots of the corn much more tena-
ciously than the lighter soil.
vember to the LIST of February or March,
Except in very lew and wet, or rainy sru-
ations, the sooner corn is planted, after the
first ain in November, the more sure the
crop. But in very rainy situations or in low
lands exposed to be inundated by the usually
heavy rains in December or January it may
be safe to delay planting till the heavy rains
have fallen.
PREPARATION OF THE GROUND FOR PLANT
ING.-Let',he land to he planted be plowed
deep and fine, if may be, in midsummer,
and let fowls and pigs scratch and root il a.
much as they please, to destroy roots. worms
and insects and to facilitate their operation
an occasional narrowing would not come
amiss.
When the season for planting has arrived
a second blowing would be beneficial. Then
furrow the land both WAYS in drills, about
A. feet apart, and plant the corn in the
checks Four or five grains should be
planted in each hill, with the expectation of
leaving only three or at most four stalks,
when the corn may have passed its danger
ii ON the grub-worm.
When the corn has been six weeks in the
ground it is usuallysn foot high as it stands
and is sufficiently strong to endure n slight
shock from falling dirt 1t is now time 10 re-
plow, turning the soil towards the corn
Let it be plowed both ways, two burrows be-
tween each two rows, n boy always follow
ing the plow to relieve any corn that may
have been crushed or buried up by the plow
When this moulding process is completed
The hoe may be taken up.
Pass through the field removing every
weed that may he among the corn, and every
poor blade of corn where there are more
han three in the hill. Ifthere chance TO be
four good stalks in one hill and four only, let
hem all remain. At this time let the hill
,f the corn be shaped and :he ground be
eft fair and in condition to impart lis
greatest amount Of nouriShnent 10 The corn.
The hill round the corn should never be high,
Dut large and flat. This one hoeing is all
he &C rn will need, in case weeds do moi
spring up.
Ii the manienie grass or the seeds Of nox-
ous plants are in the soil when planted you
will find it out and meet them as the case
nav require.
The manienie grass, the best friend TO the
yrazier, is a potent enemy to the agrcultu
list, and must be met and fought in the hot
est and driest weather, or the plow and the
zoe will avail but little in tenacious soil and
vet weather.
The expediency of topping the corn before
I is ripe depends entirely on the desirable
less of the food for your cattle or horses
I is no benefit and but very little, if any,
larIn to top the corn after the tassel begins to
Try and the husks of the corn to whten.
A good crop of corn at these islands is
rom 80 to 40 bushels to the acre. have
aised at the rate of so bushels to the acre.
Corn that is acclimated think does better
or seed than that which is newly imported
rom the Northern States.
Craving your patience little longer let
ne now speak on some things connected
With the general subject.
l. On the adaptation of our soil to the
asing OF such grains question which,
IS committee, we were instructed to ex-
mime. There can he no doub, SO far at least
Is Makawao and KuIa are concerned, the
aising of wheat and oats is no longer TO
'e regarded in the light OF an experiment.
Through all KuIa, and in the hill country of
and Ulnpalakua, on the potato
and above Mr.. Torber's plantation, whea |
would unquestionably richly reward the labor
If the culIivator. Ii cereal grams are no,
,rown at the islands in sufficient quantities for
Iome consumption, to say nothing of mod
rate expnrlalon il needed, let it not he said
hat it is from want of adaptation of the soil.
2nd. Time and manner of preparing the
,round, planting, Sc. As the experiment of
aising wheat may lie made on other islands
han Maui, allow me to give you the result of
ny experience as TO fine and method. think
t we'll to commence sowing or plantngas ear
y as November or December Sown thus
arly, wheat will have Time to take root. and
sill Become large tall and hardy If occa-
ionaIIy fed down in early winter. by calves,
% great harm will be done. l would not,