The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-03-29
4or tbe farmfrs.
Efom MsfSs Sol ,g heSo"th.
S,nr,s Culture.

MEssRs. EDIroRs-At your request will try
to write one piece for your journal, the Sois OF
tile South, on the culture of Corn; and if being
enrared in no other business but that Of farm
inc all my life, (now nearly three-score years.
would give merit to my letter, then it will have
plenty, otherwise, throw butlittle. But although
an old man, l am far from thinking tina: old
men as a body, are better farmers or planters
than young ones, when they fully apply them
selves. Indeed, even doubt if they are as good.
But this is not my subject-To raise the most
corn to the acre, with the least labor. My first
object then, is to dwarf the stalk and blade of
the plant in its early growing time. And to ac
complish these objects, my experience would di-
rect me to bed up my corn lands deep and close
in September or October, or before vegetation is
killed by fosts or as soon thereafter as possible
and at the first spell of warm dry weather after
the middle of February, to plant in drills and in
the middle filrrow, which should be at least five
and half or six feet apart, $50 as to give good
room for cultivating Pea crop, as | can never
can raise good one unless | keep the weeds
and grass down. put in plenty of seed corn,
as think it better to thin out than to replaLt.
NV first step, as stated above, to dwarf the
stalk and blade is, to plant low in the water fur
row: the next is, at the first plowing, which
shall not be too soon after the corn is up to side
the drill close and deep with turn plow, with
the bar next to the drill, throwing the earth from
the corn. 4 few days or a week thereafter, fol-
low with the hoes, partially thinning and chop
ping through as in cotton, and apply no earth
or mold to the corn if it will stand up without
it. TO describe fully the work to be done after
wards is scarcely possible, as all experienced plan
ters know that seasons and circumstances direct
and force the work But will say, keep the
earth as much as practicable from hear the roots
of the stalk, Except bare suficiency to keep it
from trailing.) until it begins to tassel and silk,
then with buzzard winged sweep plows level the
earth and keep it 50 as much as possible in the
last workings. When pIowing my corn, rare
" ever run but two turrows to the row, and very
often but one. Light and oft stirring is, | think
of great benefit to corn, at and about the caring
time-Corn think should be worked often, and
very light, either with plows or hoes through the
caring stage and until YOU can gather mess Of
roasting ears. when it may be left to P,ovtaence,
under 4 good feucc. 1t will be apt to Go well.
Corn worked after the manner have cudeavor,
ed to describe above, don't wear that thrifty
Grand appearance i'll its early growth, that it
us,lav does. when worked in the ordinary way
of blowing out, ast hng with the hoe. But
it NAV be naIeto look fresh and green almost
at pleasure as-7yc would h"vo the earth or soil at
our commsnd to apply, vixen mostly needed
at earng'tiine.
Some Of the advantages which I think are to
be derived from this mode Of corn culture are
nAiat in proportion to the dwarting Of the stalk
and blade, 50 may be the addition to the num-
Der Of stalks to Tie row or acre. and so in pro-
portion to the number Of stalks i'll an acre, that
can he kept grown and thrifty in caring time, by
this process Of working 50 is the addition to the
number Of ears at gathering time.
Corn worked by this mode Of culture is apt
to look growing and thrifty through its entire ear
inc and maturing >cason; besides, the joints
beinr short and usually strong, is not so exposed
to the winds, which often trail or blow down our
corn, and particularly when the stalks are tall
and the blad"> long.
The dwar.;ng the stalk and blade OF corn, it
done at proper time, does not affect the size
or weigh Of the car.
Wishing your valuable Journal, the Soil of the
South. much success, | am, very respectfully,
yours, &c. WHITMAN II. OWENS.
GieanmNe, JAM, 1868.