The Gonzales inquirer. [volume] (Gonzales, Tex.) 1853-current, 1853-07-02
the Inquirer.
The Culture and Preservation Of Corr.

Nh. EDirOk:-Auow me through the Mcdhun
Of your paper to call the attention Of The
planting community to the culture Of corn and
how to preserve it from weYil after matured
and gathered.
have taken up the mistaken notion that be-
cause they are in Texas they must slackcn
their energies and unbcnd their perseverance,.
And whys Because they can make good
crops Of corn and cotton with but little labor.
But that good old maxim that has been appli-
cable in so many elimcs and ages, will still
hold good in Texas Labor rincit omnia."
In this country we arc subject 10 long and
protractcd drouth. Tho question then arises
how We should prepare our land, plant and
cultivate our corn, in order TO escape the in
%juries as far as possible Of the drouth?
AS far as my experience goes VIC should plant
as early as possible, break up the ground
thoroughly and deep, and then we arc sure of
a crop. sec 1t is the practice Of a large
number Of our planters without further pre-
paration Of the soil to run n single furrow be-
tween the old rows, drop their corn and cover
with the plow. Occasionally this plan may
succeed pretty well il the land Is well ~cultiva-
ted afterwards, but it will not do TO tie TO-"
Every farmer then should be well prepared
with good teams and plows, and should break
up his land deep and thoroughly and as carly
as the season will allow. Agreeable to my
experience land should be bcdded out, and
when time to plant (Which is about the middle
of February run n shovel pillow between the
ridges, drop your corn in the furrow, cover
with plows, and just before the corn comes up
run n harrow over II, which will have II in fine
condition for coming up. When your corn is
sufficiently up, run round it with u mail bull.
tongue or shovel pillow, following with hoes,
clean II thoroughly and bring Il 70 n stand and
be sure II Ia thin enough. When your corn
is hip or waist high, plow thoroughly with
turning plows, throwing M much dirt about
the corn as possible. This will generally be
sufficient to lay your corn by. BY following
the above rule have always succeeded in
making fine crops, and while my ncighbors,
who have pursued different rules have made
30 and 30 bushels Of corn per acre, l have
made from 10 to 90. No man should over
make n failure in his corn crop while he
has land so rich and productive; and il the
farmers In Texas were rs energetic as the plan.
tiers in the older States, wo would always have
abundant crops. But many Of our best plan.
tiers have taken up the absurd idea that II will
not do to work in Texas; and while those who
have retained their energy and go-ahcaditivc-
ness are growing fat and rich upon the pro-
ductive soil Of Texas, hundreds of others are
merely making a support, dragging like so many
drones a miserable existence, content with the
little they have, while tho rich diamonds lilo
entombcd in the earth. A little more elbow
grcese, ~ncighbor, and your corn will be much
finer and grow off much more luxuriantly.
1 sec that tho wevil are = little more numer.
Gus here than in any other country I have
ever lived. l have found from several years
experience that corn should 60 through n heat
after gathered and as much as possible without
injuring tho grain. This may be done by
housing IL in wet weather, or by wetting as IL
is housed. This process will destroy the wcvil
in the corn which is generally deposited while
in the fold, and by sprinkling n bushel of salt
over every two or three Wagon loads of corn
you prevent the temperance of the wovil, pre-.
serve the corn and then your shucks will s!iard
fine provcndcr for your horses. You may
hear from ne again. j. ID.