The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1853-10-05
corn-FIat vs. Hill Culture.

ud esefy iand.
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corn-Flat vs. Hill Culture.
In your last number. under the head
Of Spring Work." you express de-
sire 10 be informed as to the relative
advantages Of hilling up corn. or letting
IL remain as planted. merely keeping Il
clean by horse and hand hoeing." Ar
ter experimenting both WAYS for some
time past. have not the slightest doubt
as to which mode is preferable. The
planting being in rows at right angles,
] simply use the Corn Cultiyator cross.
wise, and thus leave the field mellow
and level. This NAV be done as often
as necessary; but. as il is easily done.
! do il three times, and at each time
let man follow up with hoe to re-
pair injuries, which is done in a short
time. and also to destroy the suckers at
the last time. A ten acre lot can thus
be easily and thoroughly dressed very
soon, compared with the tedious hoe
ing and hilling system. Ii is obvious
that this method decidedly economises
both time and labor, as the horse and
driver do nine-tenths Of il on a walk.
But this is not all. The stalk, having
but one SET ofroots, (which are long and
stong,) shoots up vigorously and well
supported. and consequently is NOT
much affected by strong winds; the
growth being steady and strung. the
yield is more productive there being
no furrows. ridges, or hills. but all ON
even surface. il is quite natural that
this is the true way to resist drought.
This was abundantly demonstrated the
last season. SO unusually dry. with my
yield.
III il be desirable to seed the field
with clover and timothy. or either. it
can successfully be done at the last ,ul.
tivating in July, Tor pasture or mead
ow the next season. IL this be done,
the stalks shnuld De cut of close 10 the
ground in the fall. II is surprising to
see the happy effect OF this way and
time OF seeding, can show field
treated thus tie last season. having
grass six inches high, and looking as
rich as an old meadow of two or three
years husbandry.
Persuaded that the cultivator ought
to be adopted, instead Of the old fash,
iored hocing and hilling system, | am
prepared to believe that it will not be
long before farmers will have but one
opinion on the subject. To become
fully satisfied, | think they need but
one trial in fair field. The result
will readily establish this way Of ma
naging corn, for vigorous growth and
yield, for security against the gale. for
resisting drouth, for facility Of seed
ing to grass, and above all, for economy
Of time and labor. An. Y Farmer.
DEEP TILLAcE. - By deep tillage,
saws Mr.. Walker, large body Of earth
is rendered permeable to rains; great.
er amount Of water is received and re-
tanned as moisture for grain crops,
which thus maintained within their
reach more ,equable supply Of this
element so important to the rapid de :
.yelopment Of their physical structure.
The same mechanical means also gives
freer admission to the air, and to the
mamma of the vegetable kingdom, the
nightly and refreshing deMs.
Not only is the soil, by deep tillage,
rendered more pervious to, and reten>
tive of, moisture, it is also made pene-
trable To the genial rays Of the sun, BY
which it is earlier brought to tempe
raturc suited to the vegetation and
growth Of crops. And it follows that,
as the quantity Of earth thus acted up
on is increased, it will longer retain
the temperature, thereby preserving
the crop from retardation and injury
by the sudden changes Of the weather
in early spring. Il may reasonably be
expected also, that the same cause, in.
crease and equality of heat. will secure
the crop more vigorous growth, and
earlier and more perfect maturity.
Farmers Friend.