Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-02-25
THE CULTIVATION OF CORN

Should be considered under two divis-
ions-upland and low ground. Upland,
for corn planting should be listed, if very
light and clean, or turned over, if stubble
or fallow land, as early, in the last case, in
the winter as possible. The object in the
latter case, is to give time for the vegetable
to disintegrate and pulyerize the furrow
slice or clods, if any there be, and further
to destroy the cut worm, which is general
ly worse on stubble or fallow land. The
land should be as deeply plonghed as the
depth Of soil will admit, or It's character IN
dictate. Thus a stiff soil, or one that has
hard pan subsoll of tight clay beneath
good soil, should be penetrated as deeply
as possible with pillow, so as not to turn
up much of the subsoil. A perfect filth
should be secured, if possible, by blowing
when the land is IN proper order. No land
should be plowed at any time when so ,cel
it will not crum6le after the pillow, or so
dry that it will even break up into clods.
Upland corn may be planted, in this Sec
ton, from the first to the middle of March.
Low ground, from the middle of March to
first OF May. The distance of corn will de-
pend upon the strength of the soil, number
of stalks to the hill, if checked, and wheth-
er MANFRED. A good general rule is,twelve
to sixteen square feet to the stalk on up
land. Low ground may be planted from
nine to twelve square feet to the stalk
Manure should be put on with listing or
bedding up, and covered in to prevent loss
by exposure to sun aud ran-or covered
in with the corn at planting for same rea-
son. Upland, if bedded should ALWAYS be
planted as low as possible, not to go below
the soil, to enable it to bear drought Corn
pay be covered on upland if very light,
with board, but if stiff or inclnes to bake
two burrows with small scooter, pillow, are
preferable to any method, as small har-
VOW can be run over the ridge covering the
sorn, which otherwise might never get
through. Plenty of seed from four to eight
grains should be put in, as it is easier to
pull out five stalks than to re-plant one. It
Is better to transplant than TO re-plant for
the latter never makes we'll among old corn
unless the replant is numerous. If the
stand is very bad, it is better to pillow up
and plant over. Birds will injure stand
less when plenty of seed is used, and may
be entirely bafled by tarrying the seed
The rows should be laid off with a scooter
(both ways, if checked.) followed one way
by large shovel to reopen planting fur
row; the seed dropped and covered. If
early planted, very lightly, say one inch,
If with board or hoe, but three, If with scoo-
ter or pillow, and scrape off when the sprout
begins to push up. 1t may be covered
deeper later in the selson. The first plow-
ing should be done when the corn has four
leaves, or sooner if stunted by cold or
growing slowly. Plow as deeply as posi-.
bic next to the corn, with small scooter
or coulter following with a large scooter
and plowlng out the row with shower as
deeply as the soil will admit. The hoe
hands should follow the pillow as closely as
possible,t to thin If unmolested by cut worm;
uncover and draw the dirt well around the
stalks. The second blowing should follow
In twenty days, and be deep one near the
corn and throughout the row next the corn
with large scooter or shovel, blowing out
OF the row with turning pillow to hill the
corn well the last furrow in each row
should be run with shovel so as not to
tear up too much of the suosoil. The third
with turning pillow, but shallow near the
corn, and little deeper to the centre in
which and exactly between the checks, if
hill corn, the peas should be dropped and
covered with a shovel shallow. Peas in.
drill corn should be in the first furrow next
to the corn. The fourth blowing should be
done at same interval, and always with
sweeps to lay the corn by flat, and plow the
peas. Low ground corn varies from upland
only in greater depth OF blowing in the
preparation to ensure perfect drainage in
these colder and wetter soils. 1t should al
ways be planted on level, but as low
down as possible not to get through the
soil /; plant after large shovel with two
small scooter furrews, and scrape off with a
board or harrow, if baked by heavy rain or
wind. Corn should be kept perfectly clean
until laid by, frequently stirred and con-
SANITY growing. ]. w.