Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-06

could not tell whose meal made them so.--
Millers hogs are apt to be fat; and inasinuch
as it is meal that makes them so, ia matters
not, to our present purpose, whose the meal
is.
But it is not hogs alone, that Indian meal
makes fat; it fattens horses, cattle, sheep, and
poultry, as well; and is withal, in some parts
of the country, a favorite article Of food for
man.
Indian corn, prepared by cooking or grind
ing, or both, is most valuable feed for nearly
every animal on the farm, at all seasons Of the
year. 1t keeps without difficulty through the
year. 1t is not, like the potato, subject to rot;
and is one of the surest crops that can be rails
| ed. We are aware that nearly every year, in
this climate, there are days when the farmers
are in general trepidation, first, of late frosts
| i'll the spring, and then of early frosts in the
autumn. But these fears are commonly
groundless; and when they are realized at all,
! it is almost always only to an exceedingly linn
tied extent. The history ofthe country, from
the time of its settlement by the whites, will
show scarcely any general failure of the crop
| OF Indian corn; perhaps one, which was pref
| ty general in New England, but not entire,
and one other, when there was not more than
| half the usual crop.
| There have been other seasons when tho
frost has nipped very early-planted fields, in
the spring, or very late planted, i'll the fall;
| or those in low and cold places: but our state
ment, that, on the whole, Indian corn is one
Of the surest crops than can be planted, is fully
borne out by the facts.
We have observed as a rule, thatfarmers
who raise and feed out at home large quanti-
ties of Indian corn are prosperous men. Corn
fits everything to which it is fed, for market.
Its tendency is always towards cash. 1t
makes the richest of manure, and thus pre-
pares the land for subsequent heavy crops.
Turnips are good carrots are good hay is
good but the more Indian corn the better.
We entertain the opinion, that farmers
would be greatly benefited by cultivating
this crop much more extensively than theydo
at present. And while recommending its
more extensive cultivation, we at the same
time recommend its home consumption. Let
none of it be carried Off except so much
as goes in the form of fat meat, or butter or
cheese. Then farms and farmers will grow
rich together.
A gentleman of uncommon intelligence, a
good manager of business, commenced farm
ing last spring. He kept careful account of
the expense and the yield of all his cultivated
crops and was surprised to find his Indian
corn the most profitable Of any.
We speak first of profit, because we hold no
farming-no system of farming-to be wise,
production and home-feeding of corn would
prove source of increased pleasure also.
For how MANY things are there that carry
more JOY to the farmer heart than the mani
fest comfort and happiness of his we'll an
imals? What would all the other charms of
a country life avail a man, if he were obliged
to endure, always before his sight, the torment
of Pharaoh lean kines 81 admire to visit
my farm writes the great Fisher Ames, to
| friend, "and see the cows as happy as tho
being well born and well fed can make them. -
| We remember hearing, years ago, a gentle
| man long in public life in Massachusetts, give
an interesting account Of the visits which he
made when boy, to the farm of Fisher
Ames, where he went with loads Of corn to
feed out to his animals.
The time for planting corn admits of wide
range; for a difference of several weeks, does
not, ordinarily, make large difference in the
product. The location and condtAcn of the
land, and other circumstances, should be re-
garded as calling for the exercise, as nearly ev-
cry part of farming does, of sound and prae-
| tised Judgment.
| The Hon. J. w. Colburne, of Springfield,
Vermont, who received the premiums Of hsl
county and State agricultural societies for the
best field of Indian corn, last year, planted
son the 10th of May, with the corn planter,
dropping plaster and ashes with the seed,
about six bushels to the acre, the rows north
and south, four feet distance, and hills two
feet. At the first hoeing, the stalks were de-
signed to be reduced to three in each hill, but
in many hills four were left. A mixture Of
ashes and plaster, single handful to each hill,
was then applied, and after the second hoeing,
plaster Alone a table spoonful to each hill
the third hoeing soon followed, all done with
care and neatness, using the cultiyator, aud
eleyating the earth but slightly around the
hills"
Various opinions are entertained, by different
cultivators, as to the proper distance of plant
ing corn. Some good farmers are confident
that they get larger ears and more corn, by
planting in hills four feet apart both ways
four or five stalks in hill-than by planting
nearer Something depends upon the kind Of
corn cultivated but our own experience, if
not the weight of authority, is in favor Of thick
planting.
We have our mode of cultivation, too, DIFF
fering widely from all the common ones but
though our views on this subject are well es-
tablished by careful experiments, it is not our
purpose to present them now. Our present
object is to call the attention Of farmers to the
Importance of raising and feeding more corn
than they do because it viii fatten and glad
den their animals, while it puts money in their
purses. The particular variety to be selected,
the distance at which it should be planted.
and the mode Of cultivation, are matters on
which we do not insist here.
But there is one other branch Of the subject,
too important to pass unnotlced. 1t is very
common to advise farmers to plant only what
they can manure well. This has become one
of the hum-dru1n eommon-places Of 'agricul-
tural literature" We do not subscribe to this
doctrine. On the contrary, we advise farmers
to plant, and to plant extensively, if they cam
NOT measure at all-that is, the first year,
Frequently, an old, apparently worn-out
pasture, which has become 'sturf- bound" as
It is called, and which produces but very little 4
grass, will, if ploughed early in the spring, z
planted early, and well cultivated, yield fair :
crop of corn Feed this all out--the fodder as
well as the grain-save the urine by means Of
ample compassionate return all the manure .
to the field, Next year you will see the inn e
provement which it will make. "Half loSe e
is better than no bread" and by beginning 4
with that, you may soon geta whole one. =
To plant without manure, and sell the crop 4
off the land, is the poorest of all farming; but
to plant, either with manure or without, cul-
tiyate thoroughly, consume the crop on the
land, and secure to it the benefit OF all the
manure. is the beginning Of good farming
N. Y. Ese. Post. ai
Among the passengers who sailed from
New York, in the Pacific, on Saturday, for
Liverpool, were Mr.. John L. o. Sullivan. aa
charge d ahaires of the United STATES to Poztnxca