The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-03-17
The Proper Cultivation of rIndian Corn.


We are aware that there are many successful
growers of this crop, who at the first glance will
disagree with what we are going TO JOt down on
this subject; but as we derive Information
from the highest planting authority in the South,
We shall not be deferred from making the recon-
mcnGations impaired to US by our friend Col.
Wade Hampton, of Millwood, who assures US that
he has grown by far the largest crops he has ever
harvested, both OH poor and rich soils, when this
system OF culture strictly pursued.
The land should be thoroughly and deeply bro
k n up in The winter and well drained, so that no
slagRant water is allow cd TO I'M any portion Of
the field. When the planting season arrives, lay
off the land by single deep furrows, five feet apart,
drop the on rich land so as 10 allow stand
of TWO stalks every eighteen or twenty inches
On poor land the stand should not be SO thick. II
the land is 10 he manured in the drill it should be
done by previous operation, aud at planning time,
the manured bed should simply be opened The
corn seed should be covered carefully with hoes
and all cods everything it completely Puverizcd.
The comes up beautifully and are allowed to
stand until it is from eight to inches high when
the soil is to be thrown from the plants with
turning pIow. The hoe hands follow and after
carefully thinning out the surplus plants, knock
Off the grass and weeds from The line OF corn, and
when Frustrated stalk requires support, it must
be gently earthcd up. Those plants which stand
srouty require not the least addition Of earth
The corn is then left until it auans height Of
three feet and upwards, when a shallow fLrrow
should be run next the rows with sweep or
scraper, and the turning plow used on the second
Iurrow, TO throw the soil TO the plants. The mid
dies then powct out deeply and carefully with
stout, long shovel plows, and with this treatment
you may take off your hat to the crop and 'shly
IL bY.' If poor land is cultivated, and specific
manure should be used at the second working. it
should be scattered even in the shallow lurrow
next the corn and covered by the succeeding fur
row Of the turning pow. COmpOsts, into the COM
position of which guanO enter largely, could at
this stage Of the crop be most advantaGeousIv
and protl;;Lly applied. Such aids TO the produc-
tvcness of the soil would come just at the time
when the plants required il TO perfect the grain,
and this period is the "pnch of the game " with
all the cereals. Manure applied early in the win
ter or spring, is so frequently exhausted before
The plants ready to elaborate lis constituents
INTO grain, that we often large stalks Welding
a poo: crop of corn. The crop is frequently cut
short too, by late and unudicious pIowings, by
" hch the millions Of small roots are severed and
their fructiiying influences lost forever to the pant
The system recommended by Col. Hampton, is
one well adapted 10 the preservation Of all the vital
energies and requirements OF the plant. The crop
is reStraine1--in fact kept under by thus suhjecng
1t to limit of soil which is only sufficient to stun.
UIatc and perfect a medium growth Of the plant |
until it begins OF JON. By the system of tIIage |
pursued, the roots of the plant never interfrred
with in the culture, and they ready to take ad-
vantage of the strength Of the soil in the area be-
tween the rows whenever they allowed to pene.
trate it. The termination of every root has a
perfectly defined mouth to receive nuiriment. Just
at that period when the plants most need it, this
soil Is thrown within their reach, and without in I
they revel in the freshly puverzed !
mould, and are never disturbed until they have
lived their days, and finished the work they were
destined to perform. The nearer we can initiate !
nature in giving the proper food and growth 10
plants, the more certain Of success. In
The cultivation of the cereals, however, different
rule has been adopted by the old system Of tlage, |
and in this recommended mode of cultvatIng corn. .
he restricting of the uxuriance Of its gro Nth in
Is early stages, may be reasonably sustained. be-
cause the plant is cultivated more for the grain
han the forage. When the period Of caring ar
rrves it is allowed naturally to take possession of
he soil, and of course must receive the full benefit
IF an uninterrupted extension Of It's roots. How
many c! our readers in the different sections OF the
South will give this mode a trial and report pro-
5ress = Southern AgricHHUriSt.