Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1855-02-22

Oo2 AooOOAoeASA ~ AOO@t
was offered for the best essay on the
cultivation of Indian corn. The COM
mittee to whom the essays were referred
awarded the prize to Mr.. s. T. Drane,
of Henry county. Mr.. Drane we know
to belong to the progressive school, and
may be classed among the best farmers
in the State, and we are glad TO see his
endorsement of the drill system. We
have planted corn. both upon the drill
and upon the check or common plan,
and we have found that, with thorough
preparation of the ground before plant
ing, and timely cultivation, upon the
plan laid down by Mr.. Drane, the ad-
vantages are largely in favor of the
drilled corn.
We think the managers Of agricul-
tural associations in our State would do
well to offer reasonable premiums for
the best essays on the cultivation of the
various farm crops, farm management.
manures, DC.
The following is Mr.. Drane's essay:
Lou Jour.
In writing an essay on the cultivation
and management of a corn crop, the
writer of this will not strive so much to
maintain system in writing as merely
to contribute what he may know from
practice.
Among the many requisites to insure
a good corn crop, the period of break
ing the land according to its kind, whe-
ther it be turf, stubble, or land which
had produced corn the preceding year,
is of great consequence and should be
varied according to its tendency to wet
or dry; and l will remark here that l
have but little faith in the benefits re-
sulting from fall or early winter plow-
ing, because, if it be done earlier than
November, the effects of the sun will
prove injurious to the land thus exposed,
and it will be sure to want rebreaking
before it should be planted.
If the land is broken in November,
December, or January, it is still not ex-
empt from the necessity of rebreaking,
but it is liable, if the winter be wet
one, to excessive washing, and the con-
sequence is, the valuable liquids are
drenched out and the products will con-
sequently be diminished. These re-
marks are intended to apply to stubble
and sod lands.
From my observation and experience,
l would say that February is preferable
in Kentucky to any other time for break
ing turf or sod land, and no farmer
should, if be can avoid it, let day pass,
when this period arrives, without hay-
ing some blowing done, when the ground
is sufficiently clear of frost to do So
Stubble lands may be broken in this
month also, but should give precedence
to turf land. Experience has proved
to me, and I think will convince any
one who will try it, that turf or stub
bic which is turned under in February
will rot as soon as that which is plowed
earlier, while it is not liable to the in
juries mentioned above.
Land from which crop of corn was
taken the year previous should not be
broken before March, but l hold that it
is bad economy, except upon land of
great fertility, to tax it with two conse-
cutive crops of corn. 1t is not only too
exhausting to the land, but it is always
attended with more difficulty in the cul-
tiyation from grass and weeds-an i'm
portant feature in the production of a
good corn crop. The plowing should
be deep and thoroughly done, and, if
practicable, the subsoil plow should
follow the ordinary plow; for upon the
complete preparation of the land de-
pends, in great degree, the success of
the crop. The planting should not
be done until the ground becomes dry
and warm enough to insure the speedy
termination of the seed, so as to make
good stand, to avoid replanting the
vacancies, and sometime furrowing out
entirely, which, if done without re-
breaking, seldom produces good crop,
and is difficult to cultivate. 1t would
be infinitely better for the farmer to at
tend to some other job until the proper
season arrives.
An important point in this matter is
the method of planting. There are, as
1 conceive, but two definite methods of
planting corn, one of which is by cross
ing off the land with a plow, the re-
quired width, and p'nting the crop so
as to form rows each way; and the 9TH
er is to drill it. Drilling is either per-
formed by hand or by some of the
numerous kinds of seed drills now in
use. From three years experience in
planting with Barnhills patent corn
planter, l prefer that to any other meth
cd of putting in my crop. -
The advantages afforded by this
method are: sai 10.
1st. After / am ready to chock Of
for planting 1 can dispense with three
fourths of the Ldborers and tsCo-tkirds OF
the horses, and the. planter may from
this cause alone been abled TO prepare
his land thoroughly while the season is
arriving when he may plant with safe
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