Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-06-19
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THE RAISING OF CORN.
BIT .. @. WHITTIER.

The mos, important crop we farmers raise, |
Unless ',is grass, is Indian corn, or maize;
Varieties Of which are found 70 grow,
From Canada and Maine, 10 Mexico
From were Atan,ic's stormy billows roar
To mild Pacific rich and peaceful shore,
In every section Of our favored land,
The rows of corn like ranks OF soldiers
stand.
With care twill thrive in almost any spot,
Unless Ills very COLD or very HOT,
IT'S true it grows the largest South ana
West,
best /;
At least, it's best for making bread,
Or hasty puddings, Johnny cakes Instead
Twill always fetch or bring little more
AT market, mill or at the farmers door.
But here upon New England's sterile soil,
It takes manure and money, time and toll
So much indeed Of each, man maintains,
That by his corn alone he nothing gains.
Another man may just as truly say,
His corn will more Than all expenses pay.
They both the art of farming understand,
But cultivate different kind of land
And this accounts, in part, for different
ways,
Which men pursue in cultivatng maize
For some in Autumn plow their planting
ground,
Because, they say, Ills swarded hard or
bound--
In other words, our land is strong and
tough,
We fear will not get pulverised enough,
Unless we bring the cayey stratum where
Twill undergo the action Of the air.
The old, or fine manure, in summer made,
Is heaped upon the field, or near it laid,
And in the spring, they harrow well and
The fresh manure from cellar, yard or she'd,
And ere its strength by sun or rain is lost,
The ground is plowed a second time, or
crost.
Again tits narrowed too, but lightly now,
Then marked or furrowed out, with horse
and plow,
From East to West, three feet or more,
From North 10 South, six inches less than
four,
And now, the cart with old mnure they fill,
And put shovel full in every hill;
Twill give the corn start and make 1t
Stout
And what was spread will help TO fill il out
The corn for seed was gathered in the field,
Or else from stalks of more than usual
yield. ... ..
They only use the middle of the car--
The reason why is very plain and clear
Five kernals in hill they plant or drop,
Then cover we'll and press upon the top.
Before the corn is up, the field is lined,
About the only thing that crows will mind
They've no regard for others rights or law,
They boldly face the men of merely STRAW,
But, like some others take good care to shun
The REAL men, who chance to have gun,
The dark green corn, in rows will soon be
seen, .HE
And then, with plough and hoe, they weed
il clean,
And at the time, The broad foundations lay,
On which 10 build their hills, some future
day.
The work Of building up they soon renew
And every hill is raised an inch or two;
And ere it tassels out, or just before
'Tis time TO hay, they add a little more.
They don't believe the crop of corn is hur
By hoeing up good supply of dirt;
Each time they hoe, set of braces start
Which help sustain the stalks erect in part.
But now they lay aside the plough and hoe
And only watch the corn to see il grow
And when the tops begin to turn or die,
They're cut and stacked, OF hung in barns
to dry.
The stalks are out and carted in, wher
The ears are husked and in the garne
spread
Their recompense for toll they now behold
A sight as rich as California gold
MOST farmers mere, tne course uescIioet
pursue,
While others think another mode will do,
They dom, break up till Spring, the sward il
thin,
The old and fresh manure they harrow in,
And think it best, Instead of making hills,
To keep the surface fat aud plant in drllls
Aud when the com as glazed begins Il
look, -... ....
'Tis cut, and left 10 ripen on the stock
In places where the farmer does not heed
The stalks, on which their Winters stock Il
feed,
They merely pluck the soundest ears, a
And let their "longfaced gentry" have III
rest
They undermine the stalks and let them ia
And thus the greedy porkers CLEAN it all.
We might 90 on and mention other ways,
Which some adopt, and recommend,
praise
Bnt as It's only universal rules,
Which meet the wants of our commt
schools,
So here, in this broad land no special plan
For raising corn, will do for every man.
Aud what conclusion shall We draw fro
hence
That all must exercise their common sense
Boston Cultirator,