Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-04-01

dN'er, as IN Wetness ana urYnsss, such as IS
most similar should be brought within the
same boundary, and subject to the same
treatment IN rotation.
q. Bringing streams Of water and facili-
ties for irrigation, and sunnlp ~e .--.~' 49,
each Geld 30 ,,o important to be overlooked.
:. The area Of each field should be so
determined, as to enable the farmer to Judge
Of the requisite quantity Of seed and ma
nure. tho amour, % crops and time requir-
ed for moving, reaping, blowing, &c.
ToPrING Conn A Mr.. Bufin, of yir-
gllia, has offered premiums for experiments
in topping corn in Virginia aud Maryland.
The question is worthy Of consideration by
the farmers Of Vermont. Corn is one of
our most valuable, aud in our valleys, mos,
abundant crops Is the cutting ofthe corn
stalks a pernlclous or proper procedure
That Is the question and it is worthy the de-
liberate consideration of those who, almost
from time immemoria, have topped their
corn before the kernel is perfectly ripe
The practice Of cutting up the corn near
the root is becoming more general than
formerly prevailed. We think it decided
i''.r- mon the old n-ao,ira ornsnr
the knife on the stalk. We give some Of
Mr.. RS reasoning upon the subject
The leaves OF plants are of the same
use TO the plant that the lungs are to the
animal, SO say systematic Psychologists.
must be permitted TO add, that they.
the leaves, also supply the place Of the
animal stomach. The Juices containing
the nourshment OF the plant are taken
from the earth by roots or radicles. and
conveyed through the sap VI ssels to the
leaves, where they are elaborated and
prepared Just as the food in the stomach
is, and formed into chyle by the func-
tiOns of the leaves and the action of the
atmosphere. Thus prepared. this chy-
lierous fluid then decends through
another sci of vessels TO the various parts
of the plant, to supply the material each
may require for use. a portion of it is
required for the increase Of the body of
/ the plant, woody fiber, 4 C.. another
portion for the formation of flowers at a
later period another portion is required
for the formation, in the case of corn, Of
/ the cob, &c. At last, the grand effort
and great object Of the plant is TO form
seed Tor future plants, that is the grain,
and the great object of the farmer. In
the formation of this, all the powers of the
al 't.a
Of the plant has 10 be converted into
starch, and this is done by the exposure
] to the action Of the atmosphere in the
leaves. Here, also, the glulnous prnci-
pie is formed, aud other notifications
necessary 10 the supply of the material
Of the grain, are effected in the juices in
the plant These Juices now descend,
and the apparatus attached to each grain
of corn takes up and appropriates such
portion of the descending fluid as il re-
quires for the time. In tins manner the
grain is perfected, aud as soon as it is
perfected, the whole plant, except the
grain, is found TO be completely exhaus-
,ed-draiaed, when all the operations
have been perfect, most completely of
all IFS iuces, and become me,c mass
of dry vegetable matter. Now, if all this
be true, who can doubt that the suppress
sion of single Leaf Of the corn plant be-
fore the grain is perfected, must be injur-
ious TO the perfection of the grain: IL
the taking off the tops is delayed ill the
grain is of full size, then The operation
may not diminish the measure of the
crop, but it will certainly diminish its
weight and quality in proportion 10 the
time, in relation to the perfection OF the
grain, at which il was performed"
Let any one measure aud weigh the
shelled corn from an acre that has been
topped TO save the fodder and also that
from an acre that has not been topped at
all, aud he will find the yield in the for
! mer case, less 10y measure or weight, and
: perhaps both, than in the latter ease I;
and the difference will be more in pro-
portion 10 the time OF topping. The
corn plant, being an annual organism,
, has but one object, aud that is the per-
lection Of seed for reproducing its spe-
cies."
Wheat, and all other annual cereals,
:, are of the same nature. FIVE therefore,
7 take from them q portion OF Tins power,
c in the shape Of leaves, and with the
e leaves a portion of the very Juices out of
which their seeds are TO be formed, how
b can we expect those seeds to be as per-
feet as they would have been had the
plants been allowed the use of their
. whole supply of organs and nutrment
surely this argument need not be Pur-
. sued further. 1t seems TO me that il
: must carry conviction TO every mind
a But let us resort to analogy. You have a
}, hog IN the pen iattening for pork. Sup